R.D.Blumenfeld on Buffalo Bill

Wedneday, June 22, 1887

"Buffalo Bill" Cody is showing his Wild West at Earl's Court. He is living in rooms at 86, Regent Street, over Hope Brother's shop, and there he finds himself embarrassed by an overwhelming mass of flowers which came hourly from host of female admirers. He has had an astonishing success, both "artistically" and socially, and can now wear evening dress and adjust a white tie with as much skill as he could skin a buffalo calf twenty years ago. He is possessed of a sense of humour too, and laughs at himself as well as at the snobs who are attracted by his titles and his prairie hair.
    His mantel-shelf is covered with invitations to "Colonel the Honourable W.F.Cody." Little do they know that the highest Army rank he ever held was that of scout-sergeant, and that the "colonel" was bestowed on him by the Governor of Nebraska when he made Bill a member of his local staff: while the "honourable" comes from his term as member of the Nebraska State Legislature, which is something like the Essex County Council. They all take the title of "honourable." Bill is modest and unassuming. He told me to-day: "I've been readin' about Bret Harte and Tom Thumb the dwarf, how they were lionised here for a while, but only while there was excitement about 'em; so I'm taking no chances."