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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。
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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
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STAGE…LAND。
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 her happy；
peaceful home when she was very young and brought her up to this
wicked overgrown London。 He did not marry her。 There is no earthly
reason why he should not have married her。 She must have been a fine
girl at that time （and she is a good…looking woman as it is； with dash and
go about her）； and any other man would have settled down cozily with her
and have led a simple； blameless life。
But the stage villain is built cussed。
He ill…uses this female most shockinglynot for any cause or motive
whatever； indeed； his own practical interests should prompt him to treat
her well and keep friends with herbut from the natural cussedness to
which we have just alluded。 When he speaks to her he seizes her by the
wrist and breathes what he's got to say into her ear； and it tickles and
revolts her。
The only thing in which he is good to her is in the matter of dress。 He
does not stint her in dress。
The stage villain is superior to the villain of real life。 The villain of
real life is actuated by mere sordid and selfish motives。 The stage villain
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STAGE…LAND。
does villainy； not for any personal advantage to himself； but merely from
the love of the thing as an art。 Villainy is to him its own reward； he
revels in it。
〃Better far be poor and villainous；〃 he says to himself； 〃than possess
all the wealth of the Indies with a cle