a fortune, and so will Lola Montez; and those
short-sighted conductors of the Press will be begging for
tickets and quarrelling among themselves as to who can say
the most extravagant things in her favour. Public curiosity
will be gratified at any price; and if Lola Montez is a
capital dancer she will soon dance down all opposition. With
what grace can the public talk about virtue in a public
actress, when they have followed in the wake of an ELSSLER?
If the private character of a public actress is to be the
criterion by which to judge of her professional merit, then
half the theatres would be compelled to shut their doors.

We are as independently correct as any other paper that
exists. We don't care a straw whether we go on with or
without the other newspapers. We will do justice and say
what is true, regardless of popularity. We detest hypocrisy;
and we have no disposition to make a mountain out of a
molehill, or to see a mote in the eye of Lola Montez, and
not discover a beam in the eye of Fanny Elssler, or of any
of the other great dancers or actresses.

"What is Lola Montez?" enquire the public. A good dancer,
says the manager of a theatre. She is also notorious. The
public will crowd the theatre to see her and to judge
whether she is not also a good actress; and if they get
their money's worth, they are satisfied. They do not pay to
judge of the former history of Lola Montez.... A few
squeamish people cannot prevent Lola Montez from creating a
sensation here, or from crowding from pit to dome any house
where she may appear; and, as they will be the first to
endorse her success, they would be more consistent were they
to let her alone until she secures it.

None the less, there was competition to meet. A great deal of
competition, for counter-attractions were being offered in all
directions. Thus, "Professor" Anderson was conjuring rabbits out of
borrowed top hats; Thackeray was lecturing on "The English
Humourists"; Macready was bellowing and posturing in Shakespeare;
General Tom Thumb was exhibiting his lack of inches; and Mrs. Bloomer
was advancing the cause of "Trousers for Women!" Still, Lola more than
held her own as a "draw."

In January the bill was changed to _Diana and the Nymphs_. The fact
that some of the "Nymphs" supporting the star adopted a costume a