Joining more heartily than was expected in the mimic scenes of the Wild West, soon the ordinary routine of daily duties seemed a pleasant diversion. A grand reception in Strasburg, the tour resumed to Carlsruhe, Mannheim—including a visit to Heidelberg Castle, Mayence, Wiesbaden, Cologne (the Rhine legends of Lurline, etc., giving interest to the Peau Rouge, en route), Dortmund, Duisburg, Crefeld, and Aix-la-Chapelle, terminated a tour of Germany filled with the most pleasant recollections. The tomb of Charlemagne (Carolo Magno)! The history of this great warrior was interpreted to attentive ears, a lesson being instilled by the relation that after all his glory, his battles, triumphs, and conquests in which he defeated the dusky African prototypes of the present visitors to his tomb, peace brought him to pursue knowledge, to cultivate the arts and sciences, and that after a hundred years of entombment his body was found by Otto the Saxon sitting erect upon a granite throne, the iron crown upon his head, imperial scepter in right hand, while his left rested on an open volume of Holy Scriptures, the index finger pointed to the well-known passage, “What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Here by the grave of the founder of Christianity stood the latest novitiates to its efforts, who may yet, in following its teaching, it is hoped, make such progress through its aid and education as to furnish one of their race capable of holding the exalted chieftainship, the presidency in their native land—the Empire of the West. Who can say? Why not?
Belgium—Brussels its Paris—brings vividly to mind, in its semblance of language, people, habits, beauty, wealth, culture, and appreciation, remembrance of our delightful sojourn in the capital of (how truly named) la belle France. Visit Waterloo! From Pine Ridge to historic Waterloo! The courteous treatment and repeated visits and kindly interest of that most amiable lady the queen—an enthusiastic horse-woman—her pleasant reference to London in the Jubilee year, combined to increase the gratitude the Wild West voyagers felt for the treatment everywhere received in Europe since, in 1887, the Wild West invaded old England and pitched their tents in the world’s metropolis, London. So after a short season in Antwerp the motley cargo set sail across the North Sea to make a farewell visit to their cousins of the isle, revel in a common language (bringing a new pleasure to the ear), hoping to deserve and receive a continuance of that amicable appreciation of their humble efforts that the past seemed to justify.
EARL’S COURT, LONDON.
Returning to England was next to going home to the wild Westerners, after wandering through foreign lands, and they were welcomed as though indeed “cousins” in the real sense of the word.
A tour was made which was most extensive, for exhibitions were given in Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, Leicester, Cardiff, Bristol, Portsmouth, Glasgow, and then back to London, where Colonel Cody gave a special entertainment in the grounds of Windsor Castle before the queen and her invited guests.
It was upon this occasion that Buffalo Bill was honored with the presentation of an elegant souvenir from the queen, while Mr. Salsbury and the writer were also remembered with handsome gifts from her majesty.
CONCLUSION.
Thus concluded the second tour in Europe. The Wild West had been received and treated with marked kindness by every nation, every city, and by persons of every rank and of every station—press, public, and officials. Every one had shown a willingness to lend a helping hand and displayed a fraternal interest and general appreciation toward them and their country’s flag, so that returning home it is a pleasant duty to record the same, believing that in presenting their rough pictures of a “history almost passed away” some moiety of good may have been done in simplifying the work of the historian, the romancer, the painter, and the student of the future, and in exemplifying in themselves and their experiences the fact that “travel is the best educator,” and that association and acquaintanceship dispel prejudice, create breadth of thought, and enhance appreciation of the truism that “one touch of nature makes the whole world akin.”
