The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-24
! COWBOYS IN old VERONA.
Buffalo Bills Wild West Features
Decorate the Walls of Diocle-
tian's Arena.
Descendants Of the Caesars in Ec-
stasies of Wonder and
Delight.

IA Fantastic Cavalcade Passes Through
Porta Nuova-veronese at the Show
II The Small Boy Was There.
We arrived at Verona few days ago from
IN enice, and one can imagine our astonlsh-
EE4nent, as we rode in the car past the old
arena of Dioclet1an in the Piazza Vittorio
Emmanuel. to behold posted on the very
of the arena, where we had expected,
perhaps, to see the marble busts of Roman
asenators or generals, the head of our own
Rgery American Buffalo Bill, sombrero and
al, says correspondent of the New York
Times. The train went too rapidly to per-
init our deciphering the inscription beneath
" he picture. especially as it was in Italian;
NDut the next day, as we walked about town,
we found the same bills posted up on all
:des: .sBuffalo Bills Wild West. Grande
Arena di Verone per soil due giorni.'' Buff
alo Bill and the Wild West Show were
IN Verona, and the performance was to
Y axe place in the old Roman amphitheatre.
4 cowboys with sombreros and chaparaios
u we're to take the place of nude
Oh ,adiators or Christian martyrs; the Ameri-
81 an bison, Texas steer, and Indian buzzard-
I'll lead were to be substituted for the savage
Npanther, Bengal tiger, and African lion of
lays gone by. The Wild West Show was
10 perform in the ancient home of Roman
&u lture and civilization for the edidcation
&sf descendants of the Caesars, in an edifice
constructed by Roman emperor. What a
Colossal joke on history, on Roman en-
perors, and on the flight of time in general!
HI The first indication of the rising of the
h how above the horizon of Verona was a
Ri olitary cowboy on a buckskin cayuse who
M ode up to the amphitheatre and around it
nth a characteristic ambling gait. With
ne keen American glance he seemed to
AXE in the whole town, amphitheatre.
'alaces, Notifications, and all. He halted
through which Diocletian and his suite,
nd since then Napoleon l., had ridden,
nd called to the attendant within: "Get a
ait on yourself, there. Beardy, and come
nd open this here iron fence" The cool,
HI happy, nasal accent and businesslike way
ME the man did an Americans heart good to
ID ear. Presently, in the direction of the
hallway station, arose a cloud of dust; then
Tut of the dust the stalWart forms of cow
Toys, followed by buffaloes. Indians in red
Blankets, Texas steers and Mexican va
ueros appeared, The singular cavalcade
assed under the handsome Porta Nuova,
p the Corso Vittorio Emmanuel, the win
lows and both sides of the street thronged
Mpith people, past the Palazzo Fracastoro
nd tho Palazzo Marioni, and pairing into
he main entrance of the arena, finally dis
Il ppeared behind the canvas curtain, to the
Ito small regret of the Veronese street
zen on all sides, their faces full of open
tiayed curiosity. some at their windows, 9TH
Yrs standing in groups in the marketplace,
commenting upon the new arrival. sob,
hey are Africans. know it by their black
aces" said one man. And another: cts
lieri.' The inclination seemed to be to
ompare the cowboys with the mounted
oldiery, and the comparison, in dress al
sast, was not always favorable to the new
omers. Later Oh we paid visit to the
rena. The first thing thatstruck us was q
ito the air from the topmost step of the
rena. The Indians had wrapped them
elves in their blankets and were lying
ound asleep in the sun. OF the
owboys, some were busy whistling,
lille Others. were industriously whit
ing. Annie Oakley and two OF
owns and bonnets, of a cut far and away
rom the frontier simplicity of their native
cath, were viewing the amphitheatre. We
card one Of them remark as they looked
i the massive lintels and keystone of the
Id Romans: well, I allow they built this
rena for keeps.'' The bronchos were max
Il lg themselves very much at home and did
Sot appear to scent the blood of slaughtered
Sons upon the stones about them. The
85uffaloes nibbled at the little punches of
eass, now and then shifting significantly ,as
they had no very exalted opinion of Ital-
n grass in general or of this arena grass in
1%1 o,lor ,1>~ Al,
eene to tell us that the creatures we saw
aad not always lived in a Roman amphithe-
n, re or that they were not perfectly at home
.slere.
After leaving the amphitheatre we paid a
Asslt to the camp in the company of cow
10y, who, recognizing us as compatriots,
Volunteered to show us about. The camp
as situated some distance from the arena
u the deserted garden of an old palace.
$ahe tents and painted tepees of the Indians
Sere pitched in two rows In the open
FACE between the tents group of cowboys,
dams and Mexicans, seated upon boxes.
aEsre playing Spanish monte, while others
pre- killing time with game of dice called
suck-a-luck. The little piles of Italian
ldi and lire would change places from
me to time, but generally found their
sting place in the dealers pocket. There
IRE two long tables spread with tin cups
I'd dishes containing fried pork, chunks of
Cl. DOA1eO UedllS etIlu pOGdUOoE, Tie lQelltl-
| fare of the western ranch. Sad
perience had taught the mana
rs that it was better to make
~ innovation in the accustomed
emu. polenta and spaghetti, frogs legs
d sauerkraut not being adaptable to the
dian stomach. Our guide said: "You
=. they live here just as they do on their
tive prairies: the only change is that they
We few boards to sleep on or perhaps an
%on bedstead, as the stones would be too
Id. No. they have never slept in houses
odern improvements are just SO many OBJ
A,cles to their ideas of comfort. They
8efer to camp out wherever they go. Eu-
pe or no Europe"
As we passed a tent where an old woman
So sewing, he said: Il want to present
to our mamma. That's the mamma of
. camp. She's sort of doctor, and doc
s US cowboys up when we're sick. She
axes clothes for the Indians and mends
rs. She's general mamma to the
,wd. You know We have pretty good
ne wherever we go and are well
red for. We get admission to all
, theatres free because we draw a
owd. Why, in Naples we made the
-tune of an old man at whose place We
opped. He had tumbledown house
'ere nobody went. When it was known
were to be there the people focked to it.
made enough money to keep him for
rest OF his life, guess" what will
do when the show breaks up!" we
ied. We'll, have had an offer to break
rises IN Paris, which think will accept.
Hxt Il man GETS old axufr,l r.r,;ol a. hat ort