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14 revisions | Whit at Jun 20, 2020 09:35 AM | |
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20Peoples Press DULUTH AND SUPERIOR, MAY 13, THE WILD WEST. Amy Leslie, brilliant descriptive writer and art critic contributes to the Chicago News a long article in which she takes the same position as THE PEOPLE'S PRESS, i.e., that Buffalo Bill's American Historical Exhibit is the most appropriate and interesting department of the World's Fair. Buffalo Bill's Park adjoins Jackson Park, and is therefore virtually a department of the Exposition, although under a seperate management. The amiable Amy says: Some time ago I listened to a pleasant discourse upon World's Fair art by Lorado T-ft, and though intensely enthusiastic and complimentary, as every one must needs be in commenting upon the exquisite works, about every third model Mr. Taft would dismiss with the significantly amiable remark: "I do not quite know what it represents or signifires, except that is is eminently artistic and beautiful." That is the one absent quality in the gracious art smiling with life at our portals. It does not quite mean anything American, and therefore does not speak to stranger visitors of our nation, but reminds them of their own, and commemoration of signal events are not entitled to so much of a country's homeage. It is one thing to discover a world and another to people it, jewel it with heaven's gentlest benisons and slave for the might, glory and perfection of all its promight, glory and perfection of all its promised wealth. If any memory of the pioneer force in American culture is indicated in the World's-Fair decorative exhibitions it must be very stealthily expressed. In place of gilded Dianas and huge Ajaxes, winged houris and exultant dragons, how infinitely more surprising and dramatic would have been e group of ungovernable praire horses, startling weestern riders and Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, Old Jim Bridger and Buffalo Bill. Of course the primitive slush of illiterate penny-dreadfuls has tarnished the princely achievements of this type of American hero. We are accustomed to a sort of dime-novel or Frank Chanfrau interpretation of these splendid characters and the proof of great worthiness is that even under so uncouth a cloud they have always shone out resplendent. I was more impressed with this forgivable virtue by a visit to Cody's "Wild West" today. There is the American Exposition which will attract foreigners when they are tried of staring at the Indian gentleness of faultless outlines and evidences of superb culture. They willl bring up at the Cody show every time and they will find Americans real Americans, there - if not in teh audience, in the performance, How a heroic statue of Buffalo Bill, with his magnificent physique, picturesque accouterments and scout impertuosity, would, have stood out among the dulcet elegances of foreign art! Clad in fringed deer-skins - than which not Grecian drapery is more genuinely graceful and artisitc - with the high boots which typify hardship and the country's savage estate, his inseparable gun, fiery horse and incomparable inherent pose! Cody is one of the most imposing men in appearance that America ever grew in her kindly atmosphere. In his earlier days a hint of the border desperado lurked in his blazing eyes and the poetic fierceness of his mien and coloring. Now it is all subdued into pleasantness and he is the kindliest most benign gentleman, as simple as a village priest and learned as a savant of Chartreuse. I have just left him in his beaded regalia (which is not dress, but rest for him) and I do not think I ever spent a more delightful hour. His history, teeming with romance, is familar to everybody in tow continents, but his social personality is known to a favored few, in which treasured category I herewith enroll myself. All the gray that has been thrust into his whirlwind life has centered itself in the edges of his beautiful hair. For the rest he is ruddy, straight as the strudiest buck in is troupe and graceful as an eagle. He talks in the quaint mountaineer language which robs Englsih of all its proper crudities. It is a lazy, melodious sort of drawl tremendously fascinating and unapproachable exept by a thoroughbred trapper, a cool soldier and American westerner. His own tent at the show is a dream of improvised luxury. There are couches of tempting comfort and such a bewildering plethora of Indian ornament that further entertainment scarcely seems called for but he thinks of a thousand charming favors and offers them in such an every-day simple manner that one scarcely appreciates that there has been any effort made in courtesy. Mr. Cody is perfectly natural. He has acquired no alien airs or manner in his marvelous travels and successes, has never lost the atmosphere of the boundless plains, the inspiration of discovery and attempt, nor the honest bravery of a lonely scout for nothing much more than hardy sustenance and exciting adventure. He has gathered about him a host of clever men and all tongues are spoken under the white tents of the "Wild West Show." First I was presented to Rain-in-the-Face, | 20Peoples Press DULUTH AND SUPERIOR, MAY 13, THE WILD WEST. Amy Leslie, brilliant descriptive writer and art critic contributes to the Chicago News a long article in which she takes the same position as THE PEOPLE'S PRESS, i.e., that Buffalo Bill's American Historical Exhibit is the most appropriate and interesting department of the World's Fair. Buffalo Bill's Park adjoins Jackson Park, and is therefore virtually a department of the Exposition, although under a seperate management. The amiable Amy says: Some time ago I listened to a pleasant discourse upon World's Fair art by Lorado T-ft, and though intensely enthusiastic and complimentary, as every one must needs be in commenting upon the exquisite works, about every third model Mr. Taft would dismiss with the significantly amiable remark: "I do not quite know what it represents or signifires, except that is is eminently artistic and beautiful." That is the one absent quality in the gracious art smiling with life at our portals. It does not quite mean anything American, and therefore does not speak to stranger visitors of our nation, but reminds them of their own, and commemoration of signal events are not entitled to so much of a country's homeage. It is one thing to discover a world and another to people it, jewel it with heaven's gentlest benisons and slave for the might, glory and perfection of all its promight, glory and perfection of all its promised wealth. |
