Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-11-24
1.-THE GREAT JOHN CANTON"
Another Brilliant Production at the
Grand Opera House, Tuesday
Evening, Nov. 3Oth.


Among the many successes that
the Messrs. Shubert have achieved
with their productions in recent
months, the most conspicuous, per-
haps, is THE Great John Canton
powerful drama of American busi-
ness life, written by j. Hartley Man.
ners from Arthur ]. Eddy's novel,
Canton & Co." 1t is this play
that has been selected as the at
traction at the Grand opera house.
In sending to this city this brilli-
ant production, the Messrs. Shubert
pay the local theatregoers a subtle
compliment. The attraction comes
direct from the Lyric Theatre in
New York where it has enjoyed q
long and prosperous run. John Gan
ton is portrayed as man OF tre-
mendous power and initiative. By
methods which would hardly meet
the approval of the modern anti
trust laws, he has forced himself
into position of supremacy in
field of the packing business. BY
crushing competitors his lines have
extended to all parts of the world,
and as the play opens he is found
in absolute possession of this vast
industry The story of the drama
has to do with John Ganton's change
of heart, which comes to him after
his son has made him see the in
iquity of his business methods and
the great responsibility which those
methods entail. There is a delight
full romance woven through the mar
rative, the principals of which are
Ganton's son Will and Miss May
Heating, the daughter of John Gam
tons one-time bitter business rival.
The old mans antagonism to the
match leads him, in a fit of temper,
to disinherit his son and throw him
meek and crop" out of the business.
One of the big scenes of the play
occurs when the young woman, rea-
lizing that she is the cause of the
boys disinheritance. forces her way
into the private Office of John Canton
and upbraids him for his unfatherly
course. 1t illustrates the conflict of
the new and old ideas ss typified in
father and son. There is great
strike in the stock yards. The old
man favors brute force in dealing
with the men. The son, arbitration,
and the outcome serves as a most
illuminative exposition of the labor
question. Throughout this theme of
business is woven the thread of the
love story. Will Canton is injured
in a riot with the strikers, and his
sweetheart, impelled by her fear of
his death, comes to his fathers Of
flee where the young man has been
taken. she encounters John Gan
ten, and a stirring scene between the
young woman and the bitter old man
is enacted. At the close of the drama
John Canton succumbs to a serious
malady which requires an operation.
In the face of death, he sees that his
life after all has been mistake
His pride unbends itself, he takes
back his son, forgives him, and gives
his consent to his marriage with
Miss Heating. The close of the final
act shows John Canton walking un-'
steadily from the room on the way to
the operating table. where the great
surgeons are about to fight for his
life. Neither the book nor the play
tell whether or not the meat baron
survives. This is left to the conject-
ure of the audience. The Messrs.
Shubert have given this play every
possible advantage of scenic equip
ment. The unanimous verdict in
reference to the cast is that 1t Is
perfect.
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