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:
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_.
[Illustration: _Lola as a Lecturer. From stage to platform_
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_."
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.
But, before he could do so, Dr. Milton found himself served with a writ for libel. As a result, nothing more was heard of the matter.
In addition to its Mawworms, of which it was afflicted with an appreciable number of specimens, the city of Melbourne would appear to have had other drawbacks at this period. According to R. H. Horne, local society was somewhat curiously constituted. "There is an attempt," he says, "at the nucleus of a 'court circle'; and if the Home Government think fit to make a few more Australian knights and baronets there may be good hopes for the enlargement of the enchanted hoop. The Melbourne 'Almack's' is to be complimented on the moral courage with which its directors have resisted the claims for admission of some of the wealthy unwashed and other unsuitables. Money is not quite everything, even in Melbourne."