painful to say to you. Now, however, I am compelled to do
so.

"I speak to the ladies, as members of my own sex, and to the
gentlemen, as my natural protectors. Well, what I have to
tell you is that there is a certain gentleman in this town
called Seekamp. Just take out the E's, and what is left of
his name becomes _Skamp_. Listen to my story, and then judge
between us. This Mr. Seekamp, who is the editor of the
_Ballarat Times_, actually told me, in the hearing of
another lady and two quite respectable gentlemen, that the
miners here were a set of ----. No, I really cannot sully my
lips with the shocking word he used--and that I was not to
believe them.

"Mr. Seekamp called on me, with a certain proposition, and
accepted my hospitality. You all know he is just a little
fond of drinking. Well, while he was at my house the sherry,
the port, the champagne, and the brandy were never off the
table. He ate with me, and he drank with me. In fact, he
drank so freely that it was only my self-respect that
prevented me having him removed. But I said to myself,
'After all, he is an editor; perhaps this is his little
way.'

"Well, I did as Mr. Seekamp wanted, and as a result, I was a
ten pound note out of pocket by it. I was green, but I was
anxious to avoid making enemies among editors. Yet, when his
paper next appears, I am referred to in it as being
notorious for my immorality. Notorious, indeed! Why, I defy
everybody here, or anywhere else, to say that I am, or ever
was, immoral. It's not likely that, if I wanted to be
immoral, I should be slaving away and earning my bread by
hard work. What do you think?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I appeal to you. Is it fair or
generous of this Seekamp person to behave to me like this?
The truth is, my manager, knowing that he was a
good-for-nothing fellow, gave my printing orders to another
editor. In revenge, the angry Seekamp says he will hound me
from this town. Ladies and Gentlemen, I appeal to you for
protection."

"And here," adds the report, "the intrepid Lola retired amid deafening
applause. Three hearty cheers were given for Madame and three lusty
groans for her cowardly traducer."

On the following night there was more speech-making. This time, Lola
complained to the audience that she had