The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-10-08

NkI HEN the curtain fell on the
Wv third act of ''Tbe Grain of
Dust" at tho Salt Lake tbeater last
night James X. Hackctt was recalled
three times. That WAS an ordinary
tribute TO a good actor. When the cur.
tain fell on the last act and the
audience should have followed its usual
custom of stampeding for the exits it
remained to applaud, and Hnckctt was
again recalled three times amid an in
creasins storm Of acclaim. That was
An extraordinary tribute to great
actor.
AS often az New York will let him
Mr.. Hackett gets away to shed his
splendor among those of us III the
"provinces who hunger and thirst
after good acting. In this Instance
there is most fortunate combination
Of strong actor and 4 strong play.
And Just as a great artist is more in
terestiug than a great play, so Mr.,
IIackett is more admirable than even
this wonderful "Grain of Dust"
\ facinating little typewriter is the
grain Of dust that blows into the eyes
of II rich young lawyer, who represents
one of the greatest fnanciers Of New
York, Isaac Burroughs. Frederick Nor
man. the young lawyer. is engaged TO
Josephine Burroughs, the fnancicrs
daughter, but throws her over for the
typewriter The result Is ptiless war
fare waged on the young man by Bur
roughs and his interests. lust as the
lawyer is apparently crushed beyond
hope Of recovering his power and riches
he is retained by the great foe or the
Burroughs interests. But now his wife,
believing herself TO he the cause OF all
his woes, quits him and hides herself
In an obscure offics In Harlem, where
she earns her living once more as
typewriter. The playwright has calcu-
lated her character With great care. She
Ia. aa Burroughs has said. grain
Of dust that has blown into Normsn's
eyes and set up a great inflammation
In noWlSo ooes Ene appeal "ri In9 VI SUI
a conquerIpg genius. But he loves her
When she deserts him she writes an In
sipld note saying that cit Will be better
for us both" She quits him IN the hour
OF his failure and distress and returns
10 him when he IL again rich and power
full. A grain OF dust. indeed. But II sne
were a heroine the play would lose hali
its significance. She Is the ono weaic-
can scarcely forgive him Tor that bul
though she sacrifices nothing for nm
he is willing TO sacrifice all Tor her ana
To forgive hor In the bargain.
The last act reveals Norman the Vic
Tor and Burroughs tho defeated. NO
persua sion can move Norman 10 save
Burroughs and her father call ON Nor
man as a last resort and humiliate them
selves before him, but he is unmoved
Then his wife, who has returned un-
old man. After a moments hesitation.
Norman softenH and all his resolution
nelts like wax in the nre OF his love.
Last scene OF all the forgiveness or the
she has learned TO love him.
II is one Of those gripping American
plays that are growing so numerous
trlc power OF American life. but II is n
| cont Aimed and controlled power. To en-
1 act such plays requires the highest ms
tlonlc ability. n romantic drama Is gnliu
play to such an intense and suble drama
| as ""rne Grain of Dust" There can DC
no swashbuclllinG. no bombHst. no strut
! ting no tearing passion 70 tntters,
There must be a repressed power in all
| the tense scenes that would break the
| heart, OF at least blood vessel. OF a
Shallespearian transformer
The play ID filled with vital chnIafters
| that require lust such high histrionic
skill, and it Is a compliment TO dackett
10 say that he has surrounded himself
with a company OF artists. To analyze
the art of the men and women VINO pre-
sent each role so vividly and Impressive
| Iy would pe superfluous. but the writer
| cannot refrain from giving at the leas'
| the poor need of mention to Frazer Coul-
ter as Isaac Burroughs. Fred a. Sullivan
as William Tetlow, the unfaillne friend
| of Frederick Norman; Frank Burbeck as
| lin, silaye and courtly senior member OF
| inc legal firm that represents the Bur
! rouShs interests. Olive Oliver as Mrs
CLAYTON Fitzhueh who is Norman's SIS
UalloweI, who is the grain OF dust