Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-07-21

a novel proposition. He told Milnel
the theatre was the glamorous land d
make believe where some greater pre-
tender who could lead and hoodwinh
the people In a most realistic manner
was necessary to the success of such an
enterprise, and where in all that will
derness out there could such fakir be
found2
Miner told Salisbury he did not think
that would be a stumbling block, that
we had out here IN the west one Of the
finest lockers and one Of the biggest
showmen he ever saw, who was called
Buffalo Bill" Cody, and SO the great
wild west show was born. Salisbury took
it around the world with wonderful en-
thusiasm among his audiences until
Bill thought he was the whole show and
would quit unless it was turned over
to him. Bill could fake Indians, stage
robbers and cowboys, but the balance
sheet and the show went on the rocks.
Bill went broke but, Like the soul Of
old John Brown, the romance, so aus
piciously started, still goes marching
on.
Another nationally appreciated ac-I
tor was James O'Neill, who was also al
stakeholder in the Miner company. He
was handsome man. I have seen
him, some so years ago, fill theatre
to overflowing with ladies on a Satur-
day afternoon matinee. At the outset
he put 50 900 in the company and often
said 1t was usual for him to never again
see dollar OF his ordinary investments,
but that Miner had given him back
his money so many times over that he
was almost ashamed to take it. His son,
Eugene ONeill, world famous writer
Of plays, succeeded to his fathers shares
upon the death Of the latter.
Mr.. Miner may have INDUCED In
some crochets. Who has not2 Some
people were not favorably impressed
by him. He did not always follow
their lines Of conduct His name had
been Miller but he said he knew so
many Millers who had n1isbehaved and
here were SO many pesky insects Of
hat name who fluttered In such an
annoying way around his reading lamp
vt night that he went into court and
lad his name changed 10 Miner. While
ne entertained the highest respect for
he religious beliefs Of others, he had
hone OF his own. He did not take kindly
o the supernatural. He was q man OF
iducation and refinement and possess
d OF considerable wealth and he was
courteous and genteel and rather In
lined to be chivalrous to the members
4 the fair sex. He never married. HIS
lie was lived in the rough and his idea
Yas that the rough was no place for
lady. He contented himself with his
arge family Of cowboys. He often
pent his winters abroad and took oneI
{ them along for company BE was q
yver Of the beautiful Ia flowers, plants
nd works Of art and On his winter
aunts he gathered articles be keenlyI
njoyed In his ranch homes quaint
swelry, garnished with precious st0ness
me linens, tapestries. and choice fab
les Of various kinds and beautiful etch-
lgs. In his viii he said be would
ave q list of his most intimate friends
no were to receive gifts from his col
'ction but he forgot to make UP thel
st. His chief executor, A. I'll. Bert"
avis q foreman OF the company, wasi
, intimately acquainted with REr. Nil
ar'S desires that he made the distrihu-
on without the List.
Mr.. Miner had become so thorough
attached 10 his cowboy family that
} left the bulk Of his fortune to them
I'D the memory Of that manly man Ia
III green IN the hearts o. the bene-
Charles OF his bounty. What rnattersl
then, that no kindred hand sOothedI
last hours, that no stcried urn marks
s last resting place. that 40 auima1d
yer still sweeps his ashes downward
the sea.