The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-01-23

declared. the Cohan- hester comedy,
watch was PLAYED in this city AL last
week has a claim to tho title OF fore
most representative Alnnrican drama.
through It's Jomiucnt thcmn-that Inc
American public pleads to be buncocd-
and through ihc distinctly American
method with whc, the theme was han
died tnore arc many peoplr who viii
agree that The Fortune Hunter" Is
representative American drama in theme
and treatment with "A more convincing
claim 10 that distinction than tho Wal
lineford play.
The atmosphere OF both PLAYS is idcn-
teal. If the Smith comedy lacks some
Of tho Cohau illppancS and speed. ii
more than makes up In the matter Of
morals The American palate relisnca
a dash Of virtue IN its potion of scnl-
mont and fun. and this dash OF moral
bitters is more acceptable II added
through intent rather than through cir
cumstance.
In a subtle way. "The Fortune Hunter
chords with the inslstcnt cry. Back TO
tho Soil and while II Is not. and is not
intended TO be, an exposition OF TINS Inc
ory there is a lurking moral TO he found
I'm the contrasts of cnVironment-bctwcen
country and city HE: the wholesome
strcngthe ming. uplifting influence of the
former and the bightinE. Supplying CT
feet on young America, OF tho latter.
Nat Duncan has come to believe that
life holds nothing more serious for him
than the graceful spending of money;
and wnen the paternal fortune goes
smash he is wholly unframed In tho
business Of self-support His bland In
competence keeps him drifting about un-
able to secure a firm anchorage. Be-
tween jobs he has lived on his college
chum. KelloS: but the lime comes when
mis- pride refuses further help. kellogg
who is a practical selfmade young fell
low, proposes way out OF the difficulty
Nat shall marry an heiress,
The central thought In the piece Is,
that this country OF ours is full OF towns
I'm which the matrimonial market is
cIronically upset. The brightest BOYS
leave for the large cities, but the giKls
arc doomed TO remain behind, Many
willing heiress pines in vain for
mate kellogg proposes to take Nat on
an nelress hunt in the interior. He
is to so to church. board with a re-
spectable widow study late at night.
shun strong drink and tobacco: In short,
establish a. new reputation for himself,
Nat Journeys forth. He becomes a
clerk In rural drug store, He meets
an heiress the very first day. and al
most poisons her trying 10 mix glass
of soda water She survives. however.
and soon throws herself upon his neck.
His success Is not welcomed. Nat has
fallen In love with his employers dauSn-
ter, a drudge in the drug store. He
discovers that his abstinence has taken
away for good all desire for tobacco
drink and dissipation. or course he
marrics the druggists daughter, and in
an unlocked for manner, he wins u for
tune with her.
Fred Niblo. who played the role Of
Nat in "The Fortune Hunter when it
was presented here two years ago plays
the same role Mr.. Nblo's work Is fin
ished Interesting and convincing, Jo
sephInc Conan PLAYS Betty Graham with
sweet sincerity. Sam Graham. the old
druggist Is played again this year by
Frank Bacon. He makes the lovable old
druggist the embodiment OF simplicity.
Kindness and truth Practically the same
excellent company that played The For
tune Hunter" here before is In the east
of the present production The engage
ment will run through Wednesday night.
with a matinee Wednesday afternoon.