The critic of the Morning Herald at this period (understood to be R. H. Horne, "the Jules Janin of Melbourne") was either less thin-skinned or else more broad-minded than his Argus comrade. At any rate, he saw nothing much to call for these strictures. Thinking that the newcomer had not been given fair play, he endeavoured to counteract the adverse opinion that had been expressed by publishing a laudatory one of a column length, in which he declared: "Madame Montez went through the entire measure with marked elegance and precision, and the curtain fell amid salvoes of well merited applause."
Convinced that here was a critic who really knew his business, and a friend on whom she could rely to do her justice, Lola wrote to the editor:
GRAND IMPERIAL HOTEL, September, 1855.
SIR,
A criticism of my performance of the "Spider Dance" at the Theatre Royal was published in this morning's Argus, couched in such language that I must positively answer it.
The piety and ultra-puritanism of the Argus might prevent the insertion of a letter bearing my signature. Therefore, I address myself to you.
The "Spider Dance" is a national one, and is witnessed with delight by all classes in Spain, and by both sexes from Queen to peasant.
I have always looked upon this dance as a work of high art; and I reject with positive scorn the insinuation of your contemporary that I wish to pander to a morbid taste for what is improper or indelicate.
I shall be at my post to-morrow evening; and will then adopt a course that will test the value of the opinion advanced by the Argus.
The promised "course" was merely to deliver a long speech from the stage, and ask the audience to decide whether she should give the vexed item, or not. The audience were emphatic that she should; and, when she had finished, "expressed their views on the subject by uttering loud groans for the Argus and lusty cheers for the Herald."
Honours to Lola!
But the "Spider Dance" was still to prove a source of trouble. The next morning a certain Dr. Milton, who had constituted himself a champion of morals, appeared at the police-court and applied for a warrant for the arrest of Lola Montez, on the grounds that she had "outraged decency."
"I am in a position," he declared, "to produce unquestionable evidence of the indelicacy of her performance."
"You must take out a summons in the proper fashion," said the magistrate, who clearly had no sympathy with busybodies.