The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-30

1t has been Il coed many years since
! the civil war II has been great many
| years since the emancipation proclama-
| tlon freed the shaclles OF a million bonds
men. 1t has been n great many years
! since the reconstruction period in the
| south. But in all those years there has
never been a time when the mass OF the
people of the American union believed
that the freed bondsman was the equal
of the white man, and so long as the
world exists that same condition Will
| prevail.
AT tho Salt Lake theater on Thursday
night the most idely-discussed play
since Uncle Toms Cabin The Clans
| man. was presented. 1t has been SAID
that it Is the sequel 10 the famous story
| OF Harriet Beecher stowe, the story that
"The Clansman" the conditions that eN-
| listed in the south from 1882 TO up into
the seventies.
And the presentation OF "The Clans
man. was witnessed by the largest audi
ence that has gathered In the old play
house this year: indeed, II was a capacity
audience. II WAS likewise n critical au-
dience, and when the curtain fell upon
the last act this audience lett the play
house with the conviction that had they
lived In the south during the reconstruc-
tiou days they would have taken the same
stand as did ''The Clansman,
The play is plain, true story OF the
reconstruction struggle in South Caro-
lima. as its author remembers II and rs
told to him by eye witnesses, The hero
OF the play, which IS dramatized from
the famous novels, "Thc Lcopard's 8
Spots and The Clansman," is young
and gallant leader Of the Ku Klux Op-
posed TO him are an ambitious mulatto
and 4 white abolitionist from Pennsyl-
vania whose daughter the young white
man seeks In marriage.
The first act shows the young ku i>luN
leader dcfyng federal authority by tear
ing down mischievous social equality
proclamation, and the second shows inc
sale of his ancestral homestead 10 satisfy
taxes levied by the carpet -basger gov
eminent In the third act the ku liluN
Klan convenes III a mountain cave TO
perform their mystic ritual and act as
a high court OF justice,
The last act shows the Tnulatto lieu
tenant governor OF South Caroline con-
fronting tbe abolitonist. his friend and
protector. with demand for the hand OF
the latters daughter The effect Is
electrical. The old man spurns the pre-
sumptuous suitor. forbids him ever 10 op-
proach his home again, and says that
four thousand years Of Caucasian devel-
opment have iitted his own family for
something better than 10 end in brood
OF mulatto brats. This rouses the poll
the Ku KluX, headed py the girls white
lover saves the northcmcr and rescues
his daughter from compulsory and de-
grading mesSall!ance.
OF the company much can be said in
praise. Franklin Ritchie Ben Cam
eron. "Thc Clansman,' was an Ideal
leader OF clan. His parting with his
sweetheart, Elsie Stonemau. portrayed ny
Eugenia Hayden. gave an opportunity for
some exceptionally good work upon the
part OF both. Then there was Maude
Durand. an own cousin OF the late Presi-
dent Jefferson Davis OF the southern
confederacy, who, as Eve. was a splen-
did type OF an old southern auntle. Her
portrayal OF this character was not over
r,nta 1aN4f ann IN f~,.N"-
cruor OF South Carolina. Charles j. WI
son carried out the role I'm a perfect
manner. as did NJ j. Jordan, who lmperI
sonated Austin Stouemaa. the radical
leader. The others In the play were. like
the principals, all good.
The stage settings arc handsome. the
scene representing the meeting place OF
the clan was perfect In all details.
The Clansman" will go tonight and
tomorrow night, with Saturday matinee.
4 good house at the Grand theater on
Thursday night witnessed the opening
performance OF "a Millionaire Tramp
The title role OF the piece is taken by
Duke Wolfe as ]. Picrpont, the tramp.
who. in his tattcrs. is unconscious that
he has a fortune OF a million awaiting
him at home. but who learns OF his good
luck after he has made u hero OF him
self I'm his rags. This character holds In
terest In that he is always happy IN his
troubles scattering all about him the sun
shine OF his wit and creating mcrrimcnt
by reason of his facility for escaping
tight place. Lorenzo MuZZar takes the
par, OF DIR. John Staley and does some
very good acting As a former friend OF
Pierpont but present enemy 10 the
millionaire tramp because OF a boyhood
rivalry for the affections OF Theresa
Hampton. n part portrayed by Gertrude
| steele. a goodly sprlnRling OF comedy
! ~ scattered throughout the piece by
James c. Wright as Abe Jones. negro
porter at the village hotel; Msymc Gard
ner as the waitress, and Howard Melville.
the Village hotelkeePer, clty marshal,
village squire, postmaster and general
pooh bah During one OF the acts Mr..
Wright wins much favor with the audi
snCe IN song ana dance turn. Harry
| Armstrong; Fred Armstrong. J. II. Brown.
H. T. Renisch and Elsa Minet flli out the
cast ana do helpful parts in completing
| the details Of the presentation. The piece
| is TO run during The remainder OF the
noon. and. Judging from the nature OF the
/ reception given TO II last night. it should
MI the house at every performance.
Have you seen De Haven and sidney
/ dance at the OrplIeum this week? They
! are the two boys who made such de-
cided nix In Gus Edwards's school Boys
and Girls" last year There arc no more
clever foot artists in the business than
| these two boys. Beside their act there if
ihe Trnpnell family. Eva Taylor e Co,
! Ben Welch. Charles Wayne Il Co. LIE
Clair and Sampson. the kInodrcmo and or
| chcstra This excellent bin runs all the
week with matinee every afternoon
and performance at night
| The sale of seats opens this morning
| for the engagement OF The Man OF the
| Hour" which comes To the salt Lake
theater next Monday. Tuesday aud
| Wednesday nights, with matinee Wednes-
day. The company is said to be almost
| identically the same when the play
| vas first seen here for Il week last Janu-
! AIRY, and no doubt IL Will again meet
! with the same success. Election night
| the returns from all parts OF the coun-
| I'm, L.. hl.Iu cor nj