New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-10
! he Conquest
OF Canaan to
Hum at Rivoli
Thomas Meighan Starred in
the Screen Version Of
Booth Tarkington's Yarn


Thomas Meighan appears TO like mic.
lures which depict sociai differences
And Booth Harrington likes TO write
that sort Of stories and plays. too. es-
pecially when the differences pertain
TO small towns where the division line
- more marked than in the rushing big
cities. The result of these two prefer.
eRces Is that Mcighan will appear on
the screen of the Rivoli Theater this
week in "The Conquest Of Canaan one
OF TarkinGton's most popular novels in
picture form.
In Canaan, where the scenes of the
Harrington story are laid, person was
either Sin society" and was invited to
Judge Pixies sociables or he was "out"
and wasn't invited. The little notes of
invitation were the hallmarks by which
persona social standing was decided.
Joe Louden. the role played by Meighan,
was never among "those present" at
the judges affairs. He had himself to
blame for it, of course, insisting on
mSngiing with the denizens Of Beaver
Beach, the hotbed Of politics and scan
dals.
Joe Always Takes
Under Dog for Companion
Joe had an unhappy faculty Of al
ways picking out an under dog for q
companion, and that sort Of partner
ship doesn't pave the way to social
prominence. But he wasn't the only
one who didn't shine at the Judges
little gatherings-Ariel Tabor, known
as the towns tomboy, while invited.
wasn't part of the smooth, genteel par
ties. The misfortunes of Joe and Ariel
brought them together, and there might
have been third member in the group,
theN judges daughter, Mamie, but the
rigid la~s Of convention forbade. With
three interesting personalities fitted
into the affairs Of Canaan as were
these three, the opportunities for
humor and conflict are without limit.
Tarkington's fertile imagination and
Meighan's intriguing personality on tho
screen promise delightful entertain
ment.
Joe gets the town on its knees be-
fore him, Of course-even the title Of
the picture and novel tells that. But
the interest doesn't lie in that fact so
much as in how it was done. If Joe
hadn't won, if he hadn't made even the
imperious judge give way before him,
there wouldn't have been a typical
Harrington yarn. But he did all these
things-slipping out Of town to study
law and work in a restaurant to feed
his stomach while his brain was being
filled with Blackstone. Then back to
Canaan-and to win. If Ariel, before
skipping to Europe to get an education
Of her own, hadn't whispered to her
comrade-in-misery to "make good" and
confound the aristocrats Of Canaan,
Joe might never have given it a
thought.
With Ariel in Europe and Joe outside
Of Canaan, the town soon forgot all
about them. But the two young peo-
pie did not forget Canaan-in fact,
they had particular reasons and plans
to keep the town in mind. Joe returns
to open au Office in Canaan and make |
a speciality of the so-called "denizens"
of Beaver Beach. They were always In |
trouble and never had the money to |
buy legal advice. Ariel returned also
but her retufn was as an heiress.
Joe's was rather the return Of an un-
welcome prodigal.
And so Canaan
At Last Is Conquered
A murder trial, in which Joe was the
lawyer for tho defense, turned the
tables suddenly. Beaver Beach, at
which the respectable element" of
Canaan always turned up their eye
brows, became a name that made even
tho judge vince. He knew great deal
about the place, and Joe knew that ths
judge knew. That's what made it so
for the Judge and gave
Joe such keen delight. Admirers Of
Meighan can picture his delight in the
role Of Joe. Tho Judge had one con-
ISOLATION, however. 1t was this-that
be had been defeated by one OF tho best
men in Canaan--Joe.
l Al the HippoI~cr,.>