stage-land-第2章
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me！〃 or the police attempt to run him in。 Then two villains； three
extra hired ruffians and four detectives are about his
fighting…weight。
If he knocks down less than three men with one blow； he fears that he
must be ill； and wonders 〃Why this strange weakness？〃
The hero has his own way of making love。 He always does it from
behind。 The girl turns away from him when he begins （she being； as we
have said； shy and timid）； and he takes hold of her hands and breathes
his attachment down her back。
The stage hero always wears patent…leather boots； and they are always
spotlessly clean。 Sometimes he is rich and lives in a room with seven
doors to it； and at other times he is starving in a garret； but in
either event he still wears brand…new patent…leather boots。
He might raise at least three…and…sixpence on those boots； and when
the baby is crying for food； it occurs to us that it would be better
if； instead of praying to Heaven； he took off those boots and pawned
them； but this does not seem to occur to him。
He crosses the African desert in patent…leather boots； does the stage
hero。 He takes a supply with him when he is wrecked on an uninhabited
island。 He arrives from long and trying journeys； his clothes are
ragged and torn； but his boots are new and shiny。 He puts on
patent…leather boots to tramp through the Australian bush； to fight in
Egypt； to discover the north pole。
Sometimes he is a gold…digger； sometimes a dock laborer； sometimes a
soldier； sometimes a sailor； but whatever he is he wears
patent…leather boots。
He goes boating in patent leather boots； he plays cricket in them； he
goes fishing and shooting in them。 He will go to heaven in
patent…leather boots or he will decline the invitation。
The stage hero never talks in a simple； straightforward way； like a
mere ordinary mortal。
〃You will write to me when you are away； dear； won't you？〃 says the
heroine。
A mere human being would reply：
〃Why； of course I shall； ducky； every day。〃
But the stage hero is a superior creature。 He says：
〃Dost see yonder star； sweet？〃
She looks up and owns that she does see yonder star； and then off he
starts and drivels on about that star for full five minutes； and says
he will cease to write to her when that pale star has fallen from its
place amid the firmament of heaven。
The result of a long course of acquaintanceship with stage heroes has
been； so far as we are concerned； to create a yearning for a new kind
of stage hero。 What we would like for a change would be a man who
wouldn't cackle and brag quite so much； but who was capable of taking
care of himself for a day without getting into trouble。
THE VILLAIN。
He wears a clean collar and smokes a cigarette； that is how we know he
is a villain。 In real life it is often difficult to tell a villain
from an honest man； and this gives rise to mistakes； but on the stage；
as we have said villains wear clean collars and smoke cigarettes； and
thus all fear of blunder is avoided。
It is well that the rule does not hold off the stage； or good men
might be misjudged。 We ourselves； for instance； wear a clean
collarsometimes。
It might be very awkward for our family； especially on Sundays。
He has no power of repartee； has the stage villain。 All the good
people in the play say rude and insulting things to him； and smack at
him； and score off him all through the act； but he can never answer
them backcan never think of anything clever to say in return。
〃Ha！ ha！ wait till Monday week；〃 is the most brilliant retort that he
can make； and he has to get into a corner by himself to think of even
that。
The stage villain's career is always very easy and prosperous up to
within a minute of the end of each act。 Then he gets suddenly let in；
generally by the comic man。 It always happens so。 Yet the villain is
always intensely surprised each time。 He never seems to learn
anything from experience。
A few years ago the villain used to be blessed with a hopeful and
philosophical temperament； which enabled him to bear up under these
constantly recurring disappointments and reverses。 It was 〃no
matter；〃 he would say。 Crushed for the moment though he might be； his
buoyant heart never lost courage。 He had a simple； child…like faith
in Providence。 〃A time will come；〃 he would remark； and this idea
consoled him。
Of late； however； this trusting hopefulness of his； as expressed in
the beautiful lines we have quoted； appears to have forsaken him。 We
are sorry for this。 We always regarded it as one of the finest traits
in his character。
The stage villain's love for the heroine is sublime in its
steadfastness。 She is a woman of lugubrious and tearful disposition；
added to which she is usually incumbered with a couple of priggish and
highly objectionable children； and what possible attraction there is
about her we ourselves can never understand； but the stage
villainwell； there； he is fairly mashed on her。
Nothing can alter his affection。 She hates him and insults him to an
extent that is really unladylike。 Every time he tries to explain his
devotion to her； the hero comes in and knocks him down in the middle
of it； or the comic man catches him during one or the other of his
harassing love…scenes with her； and goes off and tells the 〃villagers〃
or the 〃guests；〃 and they come round and nag him （we should think that
the villain must grow to positively dislike the comic man before the
piece is over）。
Notwithstanding all this he still hankers after her and swears she
shall be his。 He is not a bad…looking fellow； and from what we know
of the market； we should say there are plenty of other girls who would
jump at him； yet for the sake of settling down with this dismal young
female as his wife； he is prepared to go through a laborious and
exhaustive course of crime and to be bullied and insulted by every one
he meets。 His love sustains him under it all。 He robs and forges；
and cheats； and lies； and murders； and arsons。 If there were any
other crimes he could commit to win her affection； he would； for her
sweet sake； commit them cheerfully。 But he doesn't know any
othersat all events； he is not well up in any othersand she still
does not care for him； and what is he to do？
It is very unfortunate for both of them。 It is evident to the merest
spectator that the lady's life would be much happier if the villain
did not love her quite so much； and as for him； his career might be
calmer and less criminal but for his deep devotion to her。
You see； it is having met her in early life that is the cause of all
the trouble。 He first saw her when she was a child； and he loved her；
〃ay； even then。〃 Ah； and he would have workedslaved for her； and
have made her rich and happy。 He might perhaps even have been a good
man。
She tries to soothe him。 She says she loathed him with an unspeakable
horror from the first moment that her eyes met his revolting form。
She says she saw a hideous toad once in a nasty pond； and she says
that rather would she take that noisome reptile and clasp its slimy
bosom to her own than tolerate one instant's touch from his （the
villain's） arms。
This sweet prattle of hers； however； only charms him all the more。 He
says he will win her yet。
Nor does the villain seem much happier in his less serious love
episodes。 After he has indulged in a little badinage of the above
character with his real lady…love； the heroine； he will occasionally
try a little light flirtation passage with her maid or lady friend。
The maid or friend does not waste time in simile or in metaphor。 She
calls him a black…hearted scoundrel and clumps him over the head。
Of recent years it has been attempted to cheer the stage villain's
loveless life by making the village clergyman's daughter gone on him。
But it is generally about ten years ago when even she loved him； and
her love has turned to hate by the time the play opens； so that on the
whole his lot can hardly be said to have been much improved in this
direction。
Not but what it must be confessed that her change of feeling is； under
the circumstances； only natural。 He took her away from
