Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-20
WHIPPED THE EDITOR
cha.tisement Given Him on Street, by
Lydia Thompson, Recalled by Death
of the Actress - Trial Caused Great
Stir in Chicago and Elsewhere.

London, Nov 20-The death in Lon
don of the famous burlesque actress,
Lydia Thompson, recalled to veteran
Chicagoans scene of great dramatic
vigor, in which she was one of the
principals. Her foil in the impromptu
sketch was Wilbur F. Storey, who Gre
ated the Chicago Times. and who was
one of the most forceful and fearless
editors of the west of his day.
Lydia Thompson was accustomed to
receiving laudatory notices in the Brit
ish press when she made her initial
appearance in America in 1869. She
had her own ideas of just what consti-
tuted editorial license. Wilbur Storey
had just as clearly defined ideas of the
function of the editor.
1t is recalled that his ideas came into
violent conflict with the preconceived
opinions of the dashing blonde actress.
She opened at Crosby's opera house in
Washington street, on Noy. %, 1869.
Her company consisted of a number
of handsome Amazons. who introduced
tights to Chicago. The effect was cleo
trio The young blades crowded the
house night after night. while their eld-
ers wagged their heads and predicted
the shipwreck of public morals.
A return engagement was played IN
February of the next year. 1t was then
that Mr.. Storey took his sharpest quill
from the editorial ink pot, dipped it in
venom and gall, and proceeded to adj
minister lesson in morals. One of his
most bitter arraignments of the actress
and her company concluded:
"Bawds at the opera house! Where
are the police?"
George H. Fergus. of the Fergus
Printing company, who lives at 415
Sheridan road, remembers the startling
document of the impromptu drama.
Lydia Thompson was a very high
spirited woman he said. land she
couldn't let such an affront pass UNI
resented. On the evening of Feb. "a,
accompanied by Pauline Markham. one
of the members of her company; her
husband. Mr.. Henderson, and a man
named Gordon, she waylaid Mr.. Storey
in Wabash avenue near Peck court He
lived in Michigan avenue, I believe, and
was probably en his way home.
"As remember it Mr.. Storey was
walking with his wife at the time.
When the two parties got within reach
ing distance Lydia whipped black
snake from the folds of her dress and
began to lay on the lash. She put all
the strength of her arm into the chas-
tisement until passers-by interfered.
"There was a public trial and much
feeling was reused. The young blades.
believe, were inclined to sympathize
with the actress, but the editor had his
party adherents too.
"Altho Lydia Thompson was strik-
ingly handsome woman. she was sur
rounded by group of blondes that
surpassed her in looks in some In
stances. Pauline Markham. in particu-
lar. I remember, was finer looking
woman than her chief.
"I believe the beating administered
to the editor was the finest bit OF ad-
vertising she had ever done. Mr.. ia
tller, Robert Fergus, was in London
some time later, and her audacity was
still the staple of talk there"
Mr.. Storey's public attack upon the
woman is remembered as characteristic
by old citizens He had a theory that
the editorial chair was the hub of the
universe, and he never hestitated to
write his opinions down with plain
ness that left nothing to be added. His
paper was afterward joined with the
Herald, which in time was absorbed