FISTICUFFS IN THE FOYER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8933, 15 November 1890, Page 2

FISTICUFFS IN THE FOYER.

ARTIST, ACTOR, AND EDITOR AT BLOWS.

The dramatic representative of the Poll Jlall Gazette writes: — "Possibly the frequent allusions to the Pelican Club in "A Million of Money ' inspired pugilistic thoughts in the breasts of certain members of the Drury Lane audience on a recent Saturday night. At any rate there was a spirit of strife abroad, and barely had the curtain fallen on the third act of the new play than it made its presence known. Mr James McNeill Whistler stepped briskly into the foyer brandishing a light cane. Among others, Mr Augustus Moore, editor of Howk, stood there, and him Mr Whistler approached. ' llawh ! Hawk ! Hawk I ' ejaculated the artist as soon as he had reached his mark ; and each time he uttered the word he lashed at the shoulders of the journalist. Then Mr Moore, realising the situation, took steps to defend himself. There was a hasty scuffle, and then the creator of ' Nocturnes' and lay prone upon the carpet The acting : manager and a smart inspector intervened, and the pair were constrained to suspend hostilities, though the editor gave the artist a most pressing invitation to receive 'the vest hiding he had ever had in his life." Mr Whistler, having tendered his card in Jfcu of his person, left the building. He was understood to say that his action was prompted by an attack upon a deceased friend of his which had appeared in the Hawk. " Scarcely had Mr Whistler 4 retired than a second combatant put in an appearance. This was Mr Horace Lingard, the husband of Miss Lingard, the actress, and a wellknown provincial manager. Approaching Mr Moore, who was describing his recentlyconcluded affray to a knot of critics, Mr Lingard drew the editor of the Hawk aside and commenced a recital of his own wrongs. ' You have been writing about me and my wife in your paper !' Then, without further parley, the provincial manager hit Mr Moore lull in the face. They closed in deadly grapple; but before any advantage had been gained on either side, the burly Mr Latham and his ally the inspector once more intervened. The editor of the Hawk dropped his hat in the melee, and that article was crushed into a shapeless mass. Otherwise, there did not appear to be much damage done, though both parties, pallid and panting, looked u.iutterable things at each other lor fully a minute and a half. • First-nights ' are acquiring a new excitement of their own. The entr'acte is apparently destined to be the liveliest portion of the evening's entertainment before long."

Mr C. Lusher, who during his short sojourn ia New Plymouth has made many frjende, left for Au.ck.lau4 D q Friday night.