riors and
their Allies."

Another odd tit-bit was sent to England by the theatrical
correspondent of a London paper. This declared that a masculine member
of her company "jumped into the harbour, mortified at discovering that
Madame Lola had turned a more friendly face on a younger brother of
the Duke of Wellington who had followed her to Sydney from Calcutta."
The artistic temperament.

At intervals, however, other and better established items of news were
received from Australia and, as opportunity offered, found a niche in
the London papers. From these it would appear that all was not going
smoothly with Lola's plans, and that the start of the Antipodean
venture was somewhat tempestuous.

"In Sydney," says a letter on the subject, "a regrettable fracas
recently occurred at the theatre where Madame Montez has been playing.
Stepping in front she endeavoured to quell the uproar by announcing
that, while she herself 'rather liked a good row,' she would appeal to
the gallantry of the _gentlemen_ in the pit and gallery to respect the
wishes of a lady and not interfere with the enjoyment of others by
interrupting the performance. The request, however, fell on deaf ears.
The uproar continued for some time, and was much increased by the
actors and actresses squabbling among themselves on the stage."

There was a good deal of "squabbling" among the company. Its members
were not a happy family. They had been engaged by their principal to
support her. Instead, however, of rendering such support, a number of
them did all they could to wreck the tour. Thereupon, Lola, adopting
strong measures, discharged the malcontents and left for Melbourne by
the next steamer. That she was justified in her action is clear from a
letter which her solicitors sent to the Press:

"Our client, Madam Lola Montez, was unwise enough to engage,
at enormous cost to herself, a very inferior company in
California. Before starting, she made large advances to
every one of them; paid their passages from America (where
they were nearly all heavily in debt) to Australia; and
trusted that, in return for her immense outlay, she would at
least receive efficient assistance from them. But this band
of obscure performers not only loaded her with insults while
they continued to live on her, but on their arrival in
Sydney they one and all refused to discharge their allotted
tasks."

"When Madam Montez