A peculiar combination of character and capacity was needed; and even among the most esteemed citizens it would have been hard to find another who, presenting this new scheme and quite alone in managing it, would have secured the fundamental condition for success in the confidence of the anxious and careful owners of bonds and stocks. Evidently the personal compliment to Colonel Lee can hardly be stated too highly. He appreciated it, and in later years with just self-satisfaction he declared this undertaking to be the "crowning effort" of his life and his "special pride." If he had been conscious merely of having exhibited mechanical and constructive ingenuity he would not have spoken thus; the word implied a just recognition of the trust which had been reposed in his personal traits. But the generous rewards of compliment and of income cost their full price; the burden of responsibility could not always be lightly carried, and Major Higginson says that it was when this enterprise was getting under way that he first observed that Mr. Lee was beginning to look old.

CHAPTER II

MATTERS THEATRICAL: FAMILY RELATIONS

DURING these years of active business, before the outbreak of the Civil War, especially during the earlier part of them, Mr. Lee made leisure for the active cultivation of his taste, or rather his passion, for the drama. From this let not anything derogatory to his intelligence be inferred, for the stage had not then sunk to the presentation of mere brilliant spectacles, at best foolish, at worst demoralizing. What Mr. Lee delighted in were the good old "standard" plays, presented by men and women who were generally well educated and often well bred, and who had real genius for the calling. He knew by heart his favorite plays of Shakespeare and Sheridan, as a clergyman knows the Church Service. He could act admirably in a certain range of parts, and had the chance of life sent him upon the stage, he would have left a name to be long remembered. Doubtless the best amateur is excellent only as an amateur, yet Mr. Lee's Sir Anthony Absolute has probably left in the memory of those who saw it as lively and pleasing a presentment as the best actor ever gave them of that famous part.

Opportunely for him, there occurred in Boston a great outburst of enthusiasm for private theatricals; many of

his friends and of those younger than he were seized with the dramatic passion and developed an unusual capacity. In this movement he naturally took the lead, stimulating and training the others with infinite zeal and with a vigorous resolve not to rest at the point of mere amusement and perfunctory excellence. Beneath his imperious and unsparing criticism some of these amateurs would occasionally rebel, and provoke a little of that plain speaking which was his impetuous habit. But for the most part all appreciated his invaluable services, and justly attributed to them the exceptional success which was obtained.

The first play was given in or about the winter of 1847. A tentative and comparatively an unambitious selection was made of a play called "The Turnout." The parts were taken by Mr. Lee, by Miss Elizabeth Cary (afterwards the wife of the first Professor Agassiz), Mr. Frank Lee and Mr. Edward Jackson. Mr. Samuel Cabot, the father of Mrs. Lee, placed the parlors of his house on Temple Place at the disposal of the players. Colonel Perkins came in to witness the performance, and was so pleased that he offered his double parlors for such plays as they might like to produce during the following winter. Thus encouraged, Mr. Lee and his friends pushed their enterprise vigorously. Later a complete little theatre was built on the Brookline estate of Mr. Cabot. In due time the name of the Varieties Theatre was adopted; and a play-bill, dated 1857, announces the "Second Season," and informs the public that "this favorite theatre has been carefully refitted with improved Machinery and a new Drop Scene."

Later the Messrs. Cushing organized the Belmont Dramatic Club which took its name from their father's country seat. They were much younger men but developed an equal skill, and later on the older and the younger groups came together and united in presenting many plays.

One of the earlier plays given in Colonel Perkins' parlors was "Perfection," which was repeated a few times. Another, given later at Brookline, was "The Waterman," a musical piece; Mrs. Felton, the wife of the Greek professor at Harvard College, presided at the piano, and the parts so far as can be remembered were taken as follows:

Another popular part of Mr. Lee's was that of the King in "Bombastes Furioso;" his brother Mr. Francis L. Lee played Bombastes, Mr. Edward C. Cabot was Buzzfuzz, and Mr. Thomas Cary was Distaffina. Also Mr. Lee and his brother Frank provoked uproarious laughter in the old farce of "Box & Cox.”

Naturally Mr. Lee's great liking for "The Rivals " led to its production on more than one occasion. It is a play not now often placed on the stage, because it demands a stronger troupe than the present star system permits to be brought together; but the amateurs could fill the cast. On one notable occasion Mrs.

Kemble assumed the part of Mrs. Malaprop; but it was several years since she had been upon the stage, and as she was about to appear before this select audience she had a genuine attack of stage-fright, and forgot her lines. On this memorable evening, said the playbill, "A prologue, written by Lady Winchester, [Mrs. Charles P. Curtis] will be recited by Mr. [William R.] Ware." The cast was as follows:

At another presentation Mr. Edward N. Perkins played Captain Absolute, Mr. John Lowell (who was