June 4, 1975 (8 pages)

ee LOLA'S COSTUMES shocked the nation! In the fifties women were draped from neck to toe and even the sight of a well-turned ankle caused men's hearts to flutter. Dr. D.G. (Yankee) Robinson, burlesque artist, added this line to one of his musical hits: ‘But when to see her (Lola) they did go, the ladies thought but didn't know. The Countess lacked some calico which would improve the classic show!"’ be (Photo courtesy of Bancroft Library, University of California.) . CHAPTER FOURTEEN v A WHIP FOR MR. SHIPLEY “‘Among other things,” said Lola Montez in her autobiography, “she had had the honor of horsewhipping hundreds of men who she never knew, and never saw. But there is one comfort in all these falsehoods, which is, that these men very likely would have deserved horsewhipping, if she had known them.” Lola, however, did attempt to horsewhip Henry Shipley, editor of the Grass Valley Telegraph, for making derogatory remarks in reference to her: temper and European friends. An alcoholic, Shipley was a pleasant enough fellow .in his editorial comments when sober, or on the “waterwagon,’’ but when he stepped off, his editorials became sarcastic and vitriolic, arousing the wrath and indignation of his victims. His favorite topic for annihilation was the neighboring town of Nevada, and if the rivalry that has existed between the twin cities through the years was fostered by any one person, it would have been Henry Shipley. Grass Valley Telegraph, September 29, 1853: ‘‘Unlike some other places in California which aspired to the title of ‘this or that’ city, on the erection of the first half dozen cabins, Grass Valley has been the very model of towns in modesty and her citizens content to have her known as a village, simply.” Grass Valley Telegraph, September 29, 1853: “That a mere spice of jealousy should enter the minds of our neighbors is perhaps natural and therefore we can readily overlook the apparently studied ommission of Grass Valley in the published list of cities and towns with their relative positions as indicated by the vote polled at the recent state election. Our esteemed ‘friend ofthe Nevada Journal copies the table from a San Francisco paper, but is careful not to supply the omission of Grass Valley, possibly not being aware of such a ‘burg’ on the map of the state.” That he made the attempt to overcome his weakness for alcohol is noted in the Nevada Journal, November 3, 1854: “‘Our friend Shipley has joined the Sons of Temperance. We know it is improper, unbearable to state anything of a man’s private affairs but we know the victim of these remarks will excuse this liberty on the ground of ‘oversight.’ Seriously, we are greatly pleased with the intelligence. Henry Shipley is a gentleman of true, native talent,extensive practical and classic requirements, a vigorous and polished writer, and goes into whatever he undertakes whether a spree or an oration, with all the zest of an active brain and sanguine temperament. We therefore believe he has joined the Sons in earnest, and will stick to the pledge as he does his honor. We congratulate him on an important step taken in life, for his perseverance must bring abundant reward to his own conscience, in the esteem of the public and his personal advancement.” By the middle of November he had forgotten his pledge to the Sons of Temperance and was off on another spree, this time making Lola Montez, Countess de Landsfeld, the unfortunate victim of his caustic comments in the issue of November 21, 1854. Lola read and reacted. She found Shipley drinking with friends at the Golden Gate Saloon, a few doors from the Telegraph office at the corner of North Church and Main Streets. News of the subsequent encounter electrified the state. The newly installed telegraph system in the Grass ValleyNevada City area enabled the Sacramento Union to receive a firsthand account of the fight on the day it occured. “By Alta Telegraph Line—Our town was thrown into a state of ludicrous excitement this forenoon by the appearance of Madame Lola Montez rushing from her residence through Mill Street towards Main Street, with a lady’s delicate riding whip in one hand and a copy of the Telegraph in the other, ‘her eyes in fine frenzy rolling’ vowing vengeance on that scoundrel of an editor, etc. She met him at the Golden Gate Saloon, the crowds who were on the qui vive. following her footsteps. Lola struck the editor with her whip, but he caught and wrested it from her before whe could hit a second blow. She then applied a woman’s best weapon—her tongue. Meanwhile her antagonist contented himself with keeping most insultingly cool. Finding all her endeavors powerless, the ‘divine Lola’ appealed to the miners, but the only response rendered was a shout of laughter. Mr. Shipley, the editor, then triumphantly retired, having by his calmness, completely worn out his fair enemy. The immediate cause of the fracas was the appearance of sundry articles, copied from the New York Times, regarding the ‘Lola Montez-like insolence and affrontry of the Queen of Spain.’ The entire scene was decidely rich. The appeals of the Countess to the ‘honest miners’ were powerless, and so she invited all hands in to take a drink, but the response was a groan, and none stepped forward to show themselves her champion. The whole affair, so far as the lovely Lola was concerned, was a complete farce. ‘How are the mighty fallen; none so poor to do her reverence.”* The Golden Era, November 26, 1854: ‘‘Lola Montez attempted to cowhide the editor of the Grass Valley Telegraph a few days since for some imaginary offense—but the editor wouldn’t be whipped even by so distinguished a personage as the Countess of Landsfeldt.”” The (Sacramento) Steamer Union, November. 30, 1854: “Madame Lola Montez has again become embroiled in a personal difficulty—his time with an editor. She does not appear to come off with as flying colors’ in the ravines of California as on the Atlantic side.” Lola’s side of the story was described in the Alta California, December 1, 1854: ‘The last adventure of the somewhat illustrious Lola Montez of which we gave an account in Thursday’s paper is thus related by herself: ‘The morning, November 2lst., the newspaper was handed to me as usual. I scanned it over with little interest—saw two abusive articles, not mentioning any name, but, as I afterwards was told, as having been prepared by fhe clever pen of this great statesman of the future, and present able writer, as a climax and extinguisher to all the past and future glories of Lola Montez. I wonder if he thought I should come down with a cool thousand or two, to stock up his fortunes and cry, ‘Grace, grace.’ This is the only attempt of blackmail I have been subject to in California, and I hope it may be the last. On I read the paper, till I saw my name in good round English. The article will be in the minds of all readers of this newspaper, of my barefaced hypocrisy and insolence. Europe, hear this; have you not found me but too truthful, too bold, to say this? Has not the hypocrisy been on the other side? What were you thinking of, oh! Alexander Dumas, ~The Divi LOLA MONTEZ / 9 te eee He a eee és wots .8 4

ee LOLA'S COSTUMES shocked the nation! In the fifties women were draped from neck to toe and even the sight of a well-turned ankle caused men's hearts to flutter. Dr. D.G. (Yankee) Robinson, burlesque artist, added this line to one of his musical hits: ‘But when to see her (Lola) they did go, the ladies thought but didn't know. The Countess lacked some calico which would improve the classic show!"’ be (Photo courtesy of Bancroft Library, University of California.) . CHAPTER FOURTEEN v A WHIP FOR MR. SHIPLEY “‘Among other things,” said Lola Montez in her autobiography, “she had had the honor of horsewhipping hundreds of men who she never knew, and never saw. But there is one comfort in all these falsehoods, which is, that these men very likely would have deserved horsewhipping, if she had known them.” Lola, however, did attempt to horsewhip Henry Shipley, editor of the Grass Valley Telegraph, for making derogatory remarks in reference to her: temper and European friends. An alcoholic, Shipley was a pleasant enough fellow .in his editorial comments when sober, or on the “waterwagon,’’ but when he stepped off, his editorials became sarcastic and vitriolic, arousing the wrath and indignation of his victims. His favorite topic for annihilation was the neighboring town of Nevada, and if the rivalry that has existed between the twin cities through the years was fostered by any one person, it would have been Henry Shipley. Grass Valley Telegraph, September 29, 1853: ‘‘Unlike some other places in California which aspired to the title of ‘this or that’ city, on the erection of the first half dozen cabins, Grass Valley has been the very model of towns in modesty and her citizens content to have her known as a village, simply.” Grass Valley Telegraph, September 29, 1853: “That a mere spice of jealousy should enter the minds of our neighbors is perhaps natural and therefore we can readily overlook the apparently studied ommission of Grass Valley in the published list of cities and towns with their relative positions as indicated by the vote polled at the recent state election. Our esteemed ‘friend ofthe Nevada Journal copies the table from a San Francisco paper, but is careful not to supply the omission of Grass Valley, possibly not being aware of such a ‘burg’ on the map of the state.” That he made the attempt to overcome his weakness for alcohol is noted in the Nevada Journal, November 3, 1854: “‘Our friend Shipley has joined the Sons of Temperance. We know it is improper, unbearable to state anything of a man’s private affairs but we know the victim of these remarks will excuse this liberty on the ground of ‘oversight.’ Seriously, we are greatly pleased with the intelligence. Henry Shipley is a gentleman of true, native talent,extensive practical and classic requirements, a vigorous and polished writer, and goes into whatever he undertakes whether a spree or an oration, with all the zest of an active brain and sanguine temperament. We therefore believe he has joined the Sons in earnest, and will stick to the pledge as he does his honor. We congratulate him on an important step taken in life, for his perseverance must bring abundant reward to his own conscience, in the esteem of the public and his personal advancement.” By the middle of November he had forgotten his pledge to the Sons of Temperance and was off on another spree, this time making Lola Montez, Countess de Landsfeld, the unfortunate victim of his caustic comments in the issue of November 21, 1854. Lola read and reacted. She found Shipley drinking with friends at the Golden Gate Saloon, a few doors from the Telegraph office at the corner of North

Church and Main Streets. News of the subsequent encounter electrified the state. The newly installed telegraph system in the Grass ValleyNevada City area enabled the Sacramento Union to receive a firsthand account of the fight on the day it occured. “By Alta Telegraph Line—Our town was thrown into a state of ludicrous excitement this forenoon by the appearance of Madame Lola Montez rushing from her residence through Mill Street towards Main Street, with a lady’s delicate riding whip in one hand and a copy of the Telegraph in the other, ‘her eyes in fine frenzy rolling’ vowing vengeance on that scoundrel of an editor, etc. She met him at the Golden Gate Saloon, the crowds who were on the qui vive. following her footsteps. Lola struck the editor with her whip, but he caught and wrested it from her before whe could hit a second blow. She then applied a woman’s best weapon—her tongue. Meanwhile her antagonist contented himself with keeping most insultingly cool. Finding all her endeavors powerless, the ‘divine Lola’ appealed to the miners, but the only response rendered was a shout of laughter. Mr. Shipley, the editor, then triumphantly retired, having by his calmness, completely worn out his fair enemy. The immediate cause of the fracas was the appearance of sundry articles, copied from the New York Times, regarding the ‘Lola Montez-like insolence and affrontry of the Queen of Spain.’ The entire scene was decidely rich. The appeals of the Countess to the ‘honest miners’ were powerless, and so she invited all hands in to take a drink, but the response was a groan, and none stepped forward to show themselves her champion. The whole affair, so far as the lovely Lola was concerned, was a complete farce. ‘How are the mighty fallen; none so poor to do her reverence.”* The Golden Era, November 26, 1854: ‘‘Lola Montez attempted to cowhide the editor of the Grass Valley Telegraph a few days since for some imaginary offense—but the editor wouldn’t be whipped even by so distinguished a personage as the Countess of Landsfeldt.”” The (Sacramento) Steamer Union, November. 30, 1854: “Madame Lola Montez has again become embroiled in a personal difficulty—his time with an editor. She does not appear to come off with as flying colors’ in the ravines of California as on the Atlantic side.” Lola’s side of the story was described in the Alta California, December 1, 1854: ‘The last adventure of the somewhat illustrious Lola Montez of which we gave an account in Thursday’s paper is thus related by herself: ‘The morning, November 2lst., the newspaper was handed to me as usual. I scanned it over with little interest—saw two abusive articles, not mentioning any name, but, as I afterwards was told, as having been prepared by fhe clever pen of this great statesman of the future, and present able writer, as a climax and extinguisher to all the past and future glories of Lola Montez. I wonder if he thought I should come down with a cool thousand or two, to stock up his fortunes and cry, ‘Grace, grace.’ This is the only attempt of blackmail I have been subject to in California, and I hope it may be the last. On I read the paper, till I saw my name in good round English. The article will be in the minds of all readers of this newspaper, of my barefaced hypocrisy and insolence. Europe, hear this; have you not found me but too truthful, too bold, to say this? Has not the hypocrisy been on the other side? What were you thinking of, oh! Alexander Dumas, ~The Divi LOLA MONTEZ / 9 te eee He a eee és wots .8 4