New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-28
often requires two or three days for its decision,
as It now seems to the average American.
TIE VILLAINS BOOTS.

THE VILLAINS BOOTS
With the opening Of the theatrical season
it is perhaps, O good time to take up o question
connected with the drama which has puzzled a
great many people We say take up question
we do not say that shall answer it, because
we cannot Our idea is simply to bring it before
the public: our prayer is for light. The question
10 which we refer is not why America has never
produced great dramatist; 1t has nothing to
do with the elevation Of the stage; ID is not an
inquiry into the merits of the older Shakcspearean
drama as comrared with the metallic monkey
school now broodng over this fair young nation
hike great sorrow. 1t is SIMPLY TINS: why
does the stage villain always wear high rubber
boots {?
We wish to state authoritatively that villains
in real life do not invariably wear high rubber
boots. Some of the greatest scoundrcls that
ever inflicted themselves on New-York have not
habtualy or even occasionally worn long rubber
boots. or even rubber boots at all Indeed, In
spector Byrnes informs us that arrant lSnaves are
frequently arrested wearing low shoes. lie goes
further and says that his efficient assistants often
apprehend vagram men going about without
even shoes on their feet.
1t may be argued that these IRE hardened
criminals and that the professional villain before
he is found out may love to array himself In
black rubber boots. The man who borrows
dollar of you and never repays it does not wear
rubber boots Rubber-bootless Is also the man
who talks to You about free trade during dinner
So, likewise, the man who smokes poor cigars
on the platforms Of street cars and the man
who crowds past you at the theatre at the END
of every act may wear patent leather shoes.
There are no tall rubber boots on the man who
tells you about his dreams; or the
rho civ fho
his former sicnesses; or the one who
saps you on the back like an arm OF Don
Ouixotc's windmill every time he meets you; or
the one who diagrams his story on the table-cloth
with his knife and fork and piece OF bread and
a salt-celar These are bootless all Still they
are on the highroad to hardened villany. Mem
bers of the Legislature don't wear rubber boots,
and as you sit in the gallery of the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES at Washington you Will notice
that not even the members on the Democratic slde
wear anything Of the kind.
On the other hand, man may, OIL the stage,
wear pair Of rubber boots reaching above his
knees and still not be bad character. Some OF
cur best men don them on fishing excursions.
Because man walks up Broadway with his feet
and legs encased in rubber boots it is no sign
that he is about to carry off a lovely maiden
to his pirate ship anchored out on the Com
munipaw flats.
There seems to be no doubt, then, that villains
in real life do not long rubber boots,
so the question remains Why do they on the
stage? But though the actual villain does not
90 thus accoutred, are we prepared to give up
this tfme-honored feature Of the mimic villain ?
We think not. Danish the rubber boot ana
Danish all the play. What is villain without
his boots? No, by his widely flowing hat-brim,
his low-necx shirt and his heightened strides the
boots shall stay! He shall not basely stoop to
holding the mirror up to nature. Imagine him
one moment without his rubber boots. The red
fire burns fercey in the wings. Above, the
thunder rolls and clashes with hideous sound.
Thick vampire night bIoods over all. Foul deeds
hang on the shuddering air. The villain enters
with jerlIy tread and one hand on his heart.
" What is this / see before me9 Ilah. IT'S
da gger Wow !-hah What dims its wonted
lustre? B-ll-udl Bcr-r-lud / say!-By
heavens Iseeitallnow! Yah!-how!-h
B-e-er-r-n
Here you happen to notice that he is wearing
an old pair Of carpet slippers instead of high
rubber boots. You say nothing-it is not time
for words; you rise up from your seat and leave
the theatre. You have seen enough lie may
see before him dagger or rollingpin-you
care not you have seen before you villain
without high gum boots and it is enough.
Since then, we cannot endure the villain on
the stage without large rubber boots the only
thing that remains is to compel the villain OF
the stage to conform. The Legislature should
Immediately pass law directing every man who
is ANYTHING of villain to appear in nothing
but black rubber boots reaching above his knees
Thus shall we hold the villain up to art.