, 1889-07-30
A LETTER FROM JIM KID
The Former Cheyenne Boy Writes
From Paris.
He is the Star of Col. Cody's Wild
West Show.
Says That Himself and Quinn Ad-
yertise Wyoming.

The city editor of THE LEADER has
just received a personal letter from james
Willoughby, a former Cheyenne boy who
is now known everywhere as Jim Kid,
the Wyoming cowboy" jim is the
champion rider Of Buffalo Bills Wild
West company now playing in Paris.
After speaking of school day Incidents
and inquiring about numerous Cheyenne
people, the great rider says.
Sol. Cody's show is really the greatest
attraction here. OF course the exposi-
ton is a marvellous thing, but a great deal
of it does not interest everyone, while
men, women and children Just swarm to
our show and think it the best exhibition
in the world. There is a big crowd around
our camp all the time and we are asked
all sorts of questions even by Americans.
"All of us have learned a little French
and III sling the lingo at the boys when |
get back. We are treated like princes by
the people. A member of the company
can keep drunk all the time if he wants
TO, and some of them come pretty near
doing it. My health isn't as good as it
used to be and 1 take good care OF my
sell. Besides I'm married now and must
keep straight. My wife is the champion
rife shot and has made a great hit here.
The Erenchmen handle their toy reyolyers
pretty well, but are no good with rife or
i x.shooter.
Il couly make a heap of money giving
riding lessons if | wasn't under contract
with Cody. They all ackno Wedge that |
am the best rider and roper, with Oscar
Quinn. of Evanston. next We are a
great card for Wyoming, a place mighty
few of these lively F%renchmen
ever heard of before. The natives
here are thoroughbreds, a great deal
more like Americans than the English.
They're awful particular about their toys,
but drink like fishes and will bet on any
point. Most of them will fight at the
drop of the hat. The women are all
pretty and gay.
my greatest play here was riding a
big black stallion that had killed two men.
Some Fronch sports bet a barrel of money
that les cowboys couldn't get the best of
lie Retif.' | had never seen the brute,
but was keen to make a name Tor myself
and offered to try him. He was led in
during the show and / tell you l felt
pretty shakey when | saw him. Helooked
mighty wicked. He was thrown and sad
died without much trouble and | got on
his back quick for fear I'd weaken. Well,
| never was so surprised in my life. He
bucked right lively, but couldn't pitch
anything like a fat Wyoming broncho.
Everytme he stood on his hind legs l
waved my hat and the people yelled like
Indians. l pulled out a cigarette and lit
it aud they nearly went wild. They didn't
know that it was a snap when compared
with riding a good pitching COW horse.
He weighed nearly a ton though and
came down pretty hard. | made him car
ry double before | let him 60. All
OF the papers gave a big ac-
CDuub Va ~ III hCAb hblhlh6 NV
the men who lost money on the horse
took me to a club and filled me up with
wine and thought | was the best rider in
the world
Cody has a mighty good show here.
The buffaloes and Indians and cowboys
are talked about all the time and the gate
receipts are a fortune every day. Cody
travels in society and spends a heap of
money, but [ guess he'll get home with
some of it.
Strangers in Paris are robbed, espec-
tally Americans. They think everyone
from the United States is rich and ought
to be charged double. The hotels are
good, but prices awful. The restaurants
are elegant. You can get ANYTHING, but
a simple meal with a small bottle costs
eight or ten dollars unless you can kick in
French and then they are liable to talk
you right out of it.
II have met Bill Nye, the funny news
paper man. We had quite a little talk
about Cheyenne and Laramie people.
He said he'd write a letter about the
show. He and Col. Cody are great
friends.
This is the longest letter l ever wrote
in my life, Ed, but | know you'd print
some of it in THE LEADER and | wan
my Wyoming friends to know how | am
getting along"
JAMES WMLoUGHBY.
fall 4.,d epp .SEoydS, q 4