Reference has been made to Mr. McWatters' association with Laura Keene.
At a certain time Lola Montez became very religious, and continued so
for a while. During her pious enthusiasm she determined to sell her
theatrical wardrobe, consisting of splendid dresses, and dress-patterns
(unmade-up), stage jewelry, of magnificent description, etc. She
requested Mr. McWatters to offer them for sale to Laura Keene. He took
some of the "goods" to Laura, whose purse at that time was rather
limited. She could not gratify herself with the purchase of all, but
selected a very heavy, rich dress-pattern, for which she paid in part,
but on which Mr. McWatters trusted her for the sum of twenty-five
dollars. When Mr. McWatters reported the sale to Lola, she was angry
that he had trusted Laura.
Miss Keene was then running the Olympic Theatre. John Duff was her
manager, together with Leutz, her husband. Laura wished to surprise
them with the story of her new purchase, and had sent it off privately
to have it made up gorgeously. When she heard that Lola was angry at
Mr. McWatters' having trusted her, she sent for the dress; found it
finished; declared that she had already paid for it all it was worth,
but sent Mr. McWatters to some merchant's to have the goods appraised;
whereupon he found that it was not dress-goods at all, but stuff for
covering furniture,--known by all ladies now as "rep." Mr. McWatters
reporting the discovery, Laura became angry, and sent the dress, with
all its costly trimmings on, to Lola. Lola got angry again in turn, and
tore off the trimming (which she sent back to Laura), and burned up the
dress.