His friend Leslie Waters was doing satisfactory service at six dollars. He had by no means lost his love for the stage. He economized on clothing in order to attend the theatre. It must be said that his taste was good, and that he preferred standard plays and good acting to the sensational pieces that too often eclipse in success the better class of dramas. He had joined the Violet Dramatic Club of young men, meeting weekly somewhere on West Fourteenth Street. The members of the club laboriously rehearsed short plays, and offered their services gratuitously, or for a slight compensation, to charitable societies, and thus obtained some valuable training and a share of applause.
Of course Leslie Waters was always cast for a prominent part. Of all the members of the society he was the most ambitious, and the most willing to work. For a long time he tried to induce his fellow-members to essay a long play. He was particularly desirous of playing Claude Melnotte, in the "Lady of Lyons." The main difficulty, however, was in obtaining a young lady capable of playing Pauline. At length that difficulty was surmounted. A young lady of eighteen, from Brooklyn, the cousin of one of the members of the club, who, like Leslie, thought herself born for the stage, offered her services, and was adjudged competent, although rather disposed to overdo the part.
One day Leslie brought to his friend Rupert a circular to the following effect:
"The Violet Dramatic Club beg leave to inform their friends and the public generally that they will produce Bulwer's noted play,
The Lady of Lyons,
At Amaranth Hall, on First Avenue, on the evening of Thursday, May 6, with the distinguished actor, Leslie Waters, in the character of Claude Melnotte. Miss Ida Strassburger, an accomplished amateur from Brooklyn, will appear as Pauline.
"Tickets, 25 and 50 cents."
"The proceeds will be given to the Society for the Relief of Indigent Laundresses."
"What do you think of that, Rupert?" asked Leslie, with a complacent smile.
"I congratulate you on your opportunity to make a hit. I am glad it is you, and not I, who is to play the part of Claude."
"Of course you would hardly be competent. If you would like some light part, like that of a servant, I think I might have got you into the cast."
"Thank you, Leslie, but I have no ambition in that direction. Who is the Pauline? Do you know her?"
"It is Ida Strassburger, of Brooklyn. She is a cousin of one of our members."