stage-land[1].(舞台)-第14节
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wears a hat without a crown； whether to keep his head cool or with any
political significance we cannot say。
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STAGE…LAND。
THE DETECTIVE。
Ah！ he is a cute one； he is。 Possibly in real life he would not be
deemed anything extraordinary； but by contrast with the average of stage
men and women； any one who is not a born fool naturally appears
somewhat Machiavellian。
He is the only man in the play who does not swallow all the villain
tells him and believe it； and come up with his mouth open for more。 He is
the only man who can see through the disguise of an overcoat and a new
hat。
There is something very wonderful about the disguising power of
cloaks and hats upon the stage。 This comes from the habit people on the
stage have of recognizing their friends； not by their faces and voices； but
by their cloaks and hats。
A married man on the stage knows his wife； because he knows she
wears a blue ulster and a red bonnet。 The moment she leaves off that
blue ulster and red bonnet he is lost and does not know where she is。
She puts on a yellow cloak and a green hat； and coming in at another
door says she is a lady from the country； and does he want a housekeeper？
Having lost his beloved wife； and feeling that there is no one now to
keep the children quiet； he engages her。 She puzzles him a good deal；
this new housekeeper。 There is something about her that strangely
reminds him of his darling Nellmaybe her boots and dress； which she has
not had time to change。
Sadly the slow acts pass away until one day； as it is getting near
closing…time； she puts on the blue ulster and the red bonnet again and
comes in at the old original door。
Then he recognizes her and asks her where she has been all these cruel
years。
Even the bad people； who as a rule do possess a little senseindeed；
they are the only persons in the play who ever pretend to anyare
deceived by singularly thin disguises。
The detective comes in to their secret councils； with his hat drawn
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down over his eyes； and followed by the hero speaking in a squeaky voice；
and the villains mistake them for members of the band and tell them all
their plans。
If the villains can't get themselves found out that way； then they go
into a public tea…garden and recount their crimes to one another in a loud
tone of voice。
They evidently think that it is only fair to give the detective a chance。
The detective must not be confounded with the policeman。 The stage
policeman is always on the side of the villain； the detective backs virtue。
The stage detective is； in fact； the earthly agent of a discerning and
benevolent Providence。 He stands by and allows vice to be triumphant
and the good people to be persecuted for awhile without interference。
Then when he considers that we have all had about enough of it （to which
conclusion； by the bye； he arrives somewhat late） he comes forward；
handcuffs the bad people； sorts out and gives back to the good people all
their various estates and wives； promises the chief villain twenty years'
penal servitude； and all is joy。
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THE SAILOR。
He does suffer so with his trousers。 He has to stop and pull them up
about twice every minute。
One of these days； if he is not careful； there will be an accident happen
to those trousers。
If the stage sailor will follow our advice； he will be warned in time and
will get a pair of braces。
Sailors in real life do not have nearly so much trouble with their
trousers as sailors on the stage do。 Why is this？ We have seen a good
deal of sailors in real life； but on only one occasion； that we can remember；
did we ever see a real sailor pull his trousers up。
And then he did not do it a bit like they do it on the stage。
The stage sailor places his right hand behind him and his left in front；
leaps up into the air； kicks out his leg behind in a gay and bird…like way；
and the thing is done。
The real sailor that we saw began by saying a bad word。 Then he
leaned up against a brick wall and undid his belt； pulled up his 〃bags〃 as
he stood there （he never attempted to leap up into the air）； tucked in his
jersey； shook his legs； and walked on。
It was a most unpicturesque performance to watch。
The thing that the stage sailor most craves in this life is that somebody
should shiver his timbers。
〃Shiver my timbers！〃 is the request he makes to every one he meets。
But nobody ever does it。
His chief desire with regard to the other people in the play is that they
should 〃belay there； avast！〃 We do not know how this is done； but the
stage sailor is a good and kindly man； and we feel convinced he would not
recommend the exercise if it were not conducive to piety and health。
The stage sailor is good to his mother and dances the hornpipe
beautifully。 We have never found a real sailor who could dance a
hornpipe； though we have made extensive inquiries throughout the
profession。 We were introduced to a ship's steward who offered to do us
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a cellar…flap for a pot of four…half； but that was not what we wanted。
The stage sailor is gay and rollicking： the real sailors we have met
have been； some of them； the most worthy and single…minded of men； but
they have appeared sedate rather than gay； and they haven't rollicked
much。
The stage sailor seems to have an easy time of it when at sea。 The
hardest work we have ever seen him do then has been folding up a rope or
dusting the sides of the ship。
But it is only in his very busy moments that he has to work to this
extent； most of his time is occupied in chatting with the captain。
By the way； speaking of the sea； few things are more remarkable in
their behavior than a stage sea。 It must be difficult to navigate in a stage
sea； the currents are so confusing。
As for the waves； there is no knowing how to steer for them； they are
so tricky。 At one moment they are all on the larboard； the sea on the
other side of the vessel being perfectly calm； and the next instant they
have crossed over and are all on the starboard； and before the captain can
think how to meet this new dodge； the whole ocean has slid round and got
itself into a heap at the back of him。
Seamanship is useless against such very unprofessional conduct as this；
and the vessel is wrecked。
A wreck at （stage） sea is a truly awful sight。 The thunder and
lightning never leave off for an instant； the crew run round and round the
mast and scream； the heroine； carrying the stage child in her arms and with
her back hair down； rushes about and gets in everybody's way。 The comic
man alone is calm！
The next instant the bulwarks fall down flat on the deck and the mast
goes straight up into the sky and disappears； then the water reaches the
powder magazine and there is a terrific explosion。
This is followed by a sound as of linen sheets being ripped up； and the
passengers and crew hurry downstairs into the cabin； evidently with the
idea of getting out of the way of the sea； which has climbed up and is now
level with the deck。
The next moment the vessel separates in the middle and goes off R。
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and L。； so as to make room for a small boat containing the heroine； the
child； the comic man； and one sailor。
