Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-18
The Maid Of MelOdra ma.

FROM tne LONDON Standard
She is not like other maids, neither are other
maids like her. In dramatic literature she stands
alone except when she is leaning on the manly bos-
ON OF the leading juvenile, or accepting that singu-
larry appropriate assistance the hands OF the low
comedian which that creator laughter Invariably
affords at the right moment She is always being
prosecuted by some person who longs to possess
her. for what purpose is not always subsequently,
titled person, most often baronet, sometimes an
earl or count. But the baronet with shady past
is the universal fsvorlte with the gods and pit,
deeds this individual commits or has CON-
mitted the better he is liked. And even
must at one time OF his career have betrayed some
honest 'gyurl" and left her with abies to die OF
distress and poverty, In order, presumably, that
she may be rescued from such a fate by one of
the characters whose charitable motives are al
ways miscOnstrued. II convenient, the aforesaid
baronet should also have a long suffering wife
somewhere In the background. 1t makes the play
more realistic and natural It'll astonishing what
terrible trials and temptations the poor prosecuted
heroine had to suffer and resist before she can be
finally restored to the arms OF her faithful lover
He also has to have the powers OF endurance
strongly developed, for as the melodramatic maids
life Is not passed on bed OF roses, the cookbook
ing hero. with languishtng eyes and false nous
tache, does not vile away his idle hours drinking
beer and playing SkttleS.
At one time. when melOdramas were appallingly
sanguinary in plot and Oaths, the maid OF melO-
drama used to dress In the most tasteful and
fetching way imaginable. In the nrst act, for in
stance, when she is discovered" in the happy
honeysucked home OF the ancestors, tending ''me
father and boiling potatoes and cooking steaks
for his inner man, her costume and dress were In
comparable. Her abbreviated frock was OF the
most expensive material, made in the latest Pari-
sian style, with just the dainJiest bit OF white lace
petticOat peeping from beneath to excite feminine
envy and masculine admiration. And her stock
ings! Red silken hose with very stricking clocks
encompassed the most charming pair Of legs-we
mean limbs-and her shoes cost a least a guinea a
pair. Her father, 1t is true, wore the homely
corduroy Of the 'orny 'anded son of toll
part and curse his landlord for turning him
out OF house and home, because, forsOoth!
he bad got.behind with his rent. But ne knew his
position and did not aspire TO broadcloth, except,
may be, in the last act. His daughter however
had TO play higher role, and, consequently, why
week, IA to make his 'cheild" presentable? Her
aprons tOO were never sOiled In cleaning up the
house and polishing the CRATES; other girls gar
lively grimy, but hers never did. Neither was it
necessary for her to put her hair in papers-it
other scene and STEP she had TO meet the wicked
baronet In the woods at midnight did she put on
stout boots and jackets and bonnets? Perish the
thought! To show her independence and figure
she appeared in the highest kind or stays with
a light gossamer shawl thrown negligently over
her fair shoulders and met and denounced the
vile monster, who she knew meant to lead
her Into all kinds OF scrapes during the next
hour or so: And what fine words she hurled
grammar was! All her relations spoke in a vile
dialect-Yorkshire and Somerset mixed indls-
criminately-6ut she did not. She spoke the
purest English that the management could get
for their money, and 1t always went down up
among the GOds-the English, not the money. In
london, TOO. she still wore short frocks but dir
ferent one for each scene; and though She feared
the doubledyed villain she did fear the rOgues
and rascals OF the metropolis; no, she relied upon
her virtue and innocence, and they carried her
through. Notwithstanding that she visited gam
bling hells and low public houses for effect not
one would harm q hair in the head OF the "pretty
LASS or the "bIue-eyed gyurl.D And SO She went
on her course, triumphant over all her enemies
until IL O'Clock, when her faithful lOver-counLry
bred, but no accent-would come to her aid az the
last moment-the most perilous OF all-and save
her from ruin and worse, TO the unbounded de-
Light and plaudits OF the enraptured spectators