ties of the United States. Thus
passed several years, and then arrangements were made for a grand
Continental trip. A plan had been maturing in Will's mind ever since the
British season, and in the spring of 1889 it was carried into effect.

The steamer "Persian Monarch" was again chartered, and this time its
prow was turned toward the shores of France. Paris was the destination,
and seven months were passed in the gay capital. The Parisians received
the show with as much enthusiasm as did the Londoners, and in Paris
as well as in the English metropolis everything American became a fad
during the stay of the "Wild West." Even American books were read--a
crucial test of faddism; and American curios were displayed in all
the shops. Relics from American plain and mountain--buffalo-robes,
bearskins, buckskin suits embroidered with porcupine quills, Indian
blankets, woven mats, bows and arrows, bead-mats, Mexican bridles and
saddles--sold like the proverbial hot cakes.

In Paris, also, Will became a social favorite, and had he accepted a
tenth of the invitations to receptions, dinners, and balls showered upon
him, he would have been obliged to close his show.

While in this city Will accepted an invitation from Rosa Bonheur to
visit her at her superb chateau, and in return for the honor he extended
to her the freedom of his stables, which contained magnificent horses
used for transportation purposes, and which never appeared in the public
performance--Percherons, of the breed depicted by the famous artist in
her well-known painting of "The Horse Fair." Day upon day she visited
the camp and made studies, and as a token of her appreciation of the
courtesy, painted a picture of Will mounted on his favorite horse, both
horse and rider bedecked with frontier paraphernalia. This souvenir,
which holds the place of honor in his collection, he immediately shipped
home.

The wife of a London embassy attache relates the following story:

"During the time that Colonel Cody was making his triumphant tour of
Europe, I was one night seated at a banquet next to the Belgian Consul.
Early in the course of the conversation he asked:

"'Madame, you haf undoubted been to see ze gr-rand Bouf-falo Beel?'

"Puzzled by the apparently unfamiliar name, I asked:

"'Pardon me, but whom did you say?'

"'Vy, Bouf-falo Beel, ze famous Bouf-falo Beel, zat gr-reat countryman
of yours. You must know him.'

"After a moment's thought, I recognized th