The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-10
THE BOST0NIANS COMING
Will Probably Appear in Butte in the
Spring for the First Time in Ten
rs-Undaunted Nerve
and Cheek


just arrived from Yeddo. Japan. and are
making tour of America, being the
only troupe of japanese performers
now in the country that are playing
big cities exclusively. Wherever they
have appeared they have been received
with the greatest enthusiasm. There
are IL people in the company, including
two women, and in addition to the Jap
anese, there are a number of the best
speciality people in this country.
1t is probable that the Bostonians
will again be induced to visit Butte this
spring by Manager Mcfarland. The
company is at present in the South
and will go to California by the South
ern route, returning East by way of
Portland and the Northern Pacific. Mr.
Mcfarland is using his efforts to secure
the popular opera company for Butte
and if successful, they will appear at
the Grand in the early part of April
The Bostonians made their last appear
ance in this city nine or ten years ago
and their return has even since been
hoped and longed for
What is the greatest instance of un-
daunted nerve and cheek on record in
theatrical history?" was asked of a we'll
known New York manager by the Sum-
day Telegraph.
That is a fertile field for reminis-
censes." said he, flor actors and manag-
ers, many of them, owe much of their
success to this uncomfortable assur-
ance. H ...
In recent years. he continued, II
think the most monumental-braver
If | may call twas Buffalo Bills cable
10 bo Ito
asking for the loan of the Coliseum at
Rome for the exhibition of his Wild
West show. I don't think that you could
call Mr.. Codys hippodrome a dramatic
production, but / believe every theat-
rical man felt proud of the long-haired,
stalwart Westerner for his sublime eff
frontery. There was some delay before
an answer was received a special ses-
sion of the dignitares of Rome in the
Quirinal palace. having been called to
discuss the startling request of the
plainsman. Going upon the assump-
ton that his sublime nerve would win,
Buffalo Bill ordered conspicuous litho-
graphs depicting his picturesque cow
boys and Indians riding wildly about
the great arena, where centuries before
gladiators had fought to edify the en-
perors and mobiles of Rome The SEN
sation over this in Europe was intense
1t was the audacity of genius, and it
captured and staggered italian states
men. Without realizing exactly what
they were doing, they turned over the
venerable ruin to the wild Westerners
and Rome witnessed spectacle such as
she had never seen before, even in the
days of her ancient glory. Personally
don't see that it was very. great
PROCLAMATION, for the Wild West show
If anything, was an improvement on
the sanguinary diversions of the Caes-
airs. But Cody's achievement somehow
managed to startle the world, and, was
indeed, the one superb and matchlees
instance of nerve in history. Of course
It was all magnificent advertisement
and. as a bit of comedy ranks above
Artemus Wards attempt to purchase
the British lion for his menagerie
Another example of wonderful nerve
Which, in some respects, was far more
daring than even Buffalo Bits, occur
red during the anarchist troubles in
Chicago a decade ago. 1t was after
the bomb had been thrown in Haymar-
ket square that resulted in the death of
number of policemen. Fielding, Par
sons, Ling. SchWab and other leaders
had been convicted of murder and be-
ing members of red-handed conspira-
ey against American law and liberty.
they were in jail and closely guarded
The spirit of lynching pervaded Chica-
go. Citizens ordinarily quiet and alb
sorbed in the details of business,
thought only of revenge. Many stayed
at home, fearing a general outbreak Of
anarchy.
AT that time at the Columbia the
ater, Manager VIII Mcconnell was pre-
senting the drama, Neck and Neck
IN which, as you know, there is a
hanging scene One day in the midst
of all this public fear and tumult. the
chief of police received letter from
Mcconnell, saying that in his play
there was hanging scene, a dummy
being used for the victim. The letter
went on to speak of the difficulties con-
matter, the danger, in the event of
public execution of a revolution, and
of the urgent necessity, nevertheless, of
Kidding society Of such dangerous fac
tors. Mcconnell therefore, proposed
that each night one of the condemned
anarchists take the place of the dun
my in Neck and Neck, and that the
would guarantee to return the corpse
to the sheriff, or dispose of it, accord
ing to his orders. This, Mr.. Mcconnell
urged, would be an efficacious method
of dealing with the felons, for they
would be all out of the way before
their fellow anarchists at large knew
anything about the fate of the con-
demned.
THE chief of police was so aghast
at the proposal that he spoke of it
to some newspaper reporters. Instantly
the press of Chicago, and of many other
cities, pulsated with fiery editorials
against the barbarous inhumanity Of
the Snowman who would make enter
tainment out of criminal execution
One paper, the Chicago Tribune went
SO far as to say that if the citizens
of that city resorted to lynch law, they
should not overlook the manager of
the Columbia theater.
Needless to say. Neck and Neck
did phenomenal business for the rest
Of the Chicago enga cement.
3 There is but one other instance of
daring comparable with this in modern
times. So far as I know" added the
manager. lit took place in a far West
ern town-Spokane, in the state of
Washington, l think it was-and
Charles Dillingham;, now manager of
the Madison Square theater and the
tour of Julia Marlowe, was the hero,