Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-30
GETS BACK TO ITS OLD HOME
BunaIO BiIrs Big show Comes Again
to the 3 enes Of Its
Genesis.

Al Omaha twenty years ago was or
ganized a show which took TO the homes
Of the east the FIRST picture-groups Of west
ern characters, horses, prairie wagons.
stage coaches. buffalo, elk and wild mus
tangs, led by Colonel Cody, Buffalo Bill"
aided and Rbetted by Nate Salisbury. then
a noted comedian. The interest and excite
ment then created was most intense, as
heretofore the denizens Of the east we're
dependent upon the Catlins, Bayard Taylors,
army reports, aud travelled journalists for
descriptions OF the frontier, and to the
romancer, the Mayne Reds, Fenimorc
Coopers and Ned Buntlines for the romantic
and picturesque depletion OF the possible
scenes, incidents and atmosphere Of pioneer
life.
1t was a revelation to see an Indian on
horseback, properly equipped; a cowboy
then a mythical parsonage. often COMPOUNDED
with the bandit or the ~rustler; the sturdy
little mustang; the hardy spanish-Arab,
known as the broncho, with his wild an
tics. his vicious tricks, requiring an ability
in the rider so great that the description
Of the two in contest in Mark Twain's
"Roughing It" was SO wonderful, 30 in
conceivable, and so grotesque, that the
great humorlst was credited with an elastic
imagination that drew this funniest Of i'm
possibilities. So much was this the case
that he found II necessary to publicly an
nounce in the manRgement's behalf that his
description was a fact, that the horses were
the genuine article, and their disposition
and recalcitrant traits were painfully true,
as he had personally ridden on one Of the
equine devils once for nearly half a minute,
and then had realized the stability Of terra
lrma."
1t is Just as true OF life today as IT was
then. but more exceptional, as the march
Of agricultural settlement and general prog
ress have invaded what was once the great
vacuum Of the plains, that neoessitated the
strenuous life depicted. until the Wild
Vests representatives are among the last
of their kind. For SO, the familiarity To
many, which age brings should not in the
unthinking breed contempt" but In IN
verse ratio should enhance the respect OF
the mature. and create renewed interest In
the young and the foreign population in the
picturesque presentation Of ar American
epoch Of the past. These reminiscent re-
marks are justified by the fact hat after a
tour Of the continent and a visit to the cen
ters Of civilization built on the Wild Vests
old-time range and hunting grounds, this
original organization undertakes the dis
tant journey ID Europe to. on its return
commence the beginning Of the end. On its
visit home" to the locale of its inception,
where the requirements necessitated its
existence in reality. Buffalo Bills Wild west
and its lingering relics OF pioneer history
will find changed conditions, created by the
great wave Of commercial prosperity that
has obliterated old land marks to make way
for the march Of local improvement.
Now. aR Of old the ohaarvanf Walton wiIi
be impressed by the genuineness, the vir-
ility, the grace. the beauty, the ginger oi
the action, the wild dash Of the commingled
international horseman. form a series Of
stirring scenes that are a ft preliminary
to the stately and perfect horsemanship o.
Colonel Cody. as he sweeps forward to in.
~troduce his mighty calvacade Of the "Rougl
Riders OF the World" When one sees tn,
opening evoluttons of the Wild West cur.
riculum, he witnesses an animated pictur,
that preceded by years. and even now ex
cells in beauty the effectiveness Of the kinet
oseope, and can then go home satisfied, a
having seen something worthy Of remem
brance for a life time.
A strong addition is the presence Of tn,
United States life saving crew from tn,
Atlantic coast guard. headed by Captain
Grant, with the complete government ap
p%aratus, giving an illustration Of the res
cue OF shipwrecked persons by aid of tn,
"breeches buoy" This is q very educatIv
and instructive feature; a realistic repre-
sentation Of the battle resulting In the cap
ture of San Juan Hill will be given, an
the nifty new wild bueking bronchos will
4 keep the interest keyed up. Two perform
ances will be given at 2 and 8 p. m. tomor
row and q parade in the morning