New-York tribune., 1913-08-22

The publishers of this extraordinary
hook compare it with De Quincey's
Confessions Of an English Opium Eat
er." and not without good reason That
Mr.. London was familiar with the drug
slaves work when he began to write
his own tale Of subjection, battle and
freedom regained is certain; and no less
certain is it that in the planning Oh
this work he profited by his readins'
The difference between the two narra-
tives is that between man OF genius
and one of robust talent; the dinerence'
also, between man physically weak
and one strong as a giant. The amer
ence. finally, between two forms OF IN
toxication. Jack London, too, has seen
visions of the heights and descenueo
into the City of Dreadful Night, where
"life's a cheat. our death a black oe-
spair." But he has conquered ne tens
us. and-he has a purpose. lie Wou'"
forbid the sale of alcohol by law anu
relies upon woman suffrage 10 prlhs
this about: THE women know. Inc!
have paid an incalculable price OIL
sweat and tears for mans use OF aioo-
hol Ever jealous for the race theS
Will legislate for the babes OF oo!s
vet 10 be born; and for the babes OF
girls. too. And it will be easy Inc
only ones that will be hurt will be the
toners and seasoned drinkers OF oHe
generation -.
frank book, this, without the lrl-
descent veil that has made De Quincy
revelations a work Of literature hrst OIL
all. Jack London got drunk for ule
first time in his life at the age OF teh'
when ne had been sent TO fetch can
Of beer for his father ploughing IN lhe
field. He got drunk again little later
on Italian wine, at festival OF Some
Immigrant peasants. He glorled IN 'he
admiration evoked by his prowess III
the rough crew around him. And rlgh'
here he touches upon one Of the causes
90 tn+emperance, the mistaken idea OF
the Young that 1t is manly 10 uilliN'
and drink deeply. He traces TINS luea
.brouqb his own rise from the loWly
and poor and overworked, the reckless
and the adventures of the selNedse Vi
o;,.,,ization TO the more cultured
classes. whom, having sampled theH
cu,ture. he has renounced TO return 10
b,s own TO serve them according 10 MS
lights The idea is still found at tAe
ton AT our universities, in our cluOs'
CnNfol occasions
where men gather together ana uh-
band from the burden of the ddy
work.
Thus Mr.. London approaches announcer
notent cause of intemperance-socia-
biIitv JoBn Barleycorn confronted MN
wherever he went. and asked the price
Of eood-fellowship, if also of quarreis
and violent death and suicide. Nay
more. his very livelihood, when Still
child depended upon his consumption
Of strong drink. When fourteen years
old he was employed in setting up the
tenpjns in a bowling alley. 1t was the
custom Of the house to treat the poys
IN beer in the course Of their WORK
Mr. London asked for ginger ale once
He got it, but was warned tha' no
might lose his Job If he asked Tor SO
EXPENSIVE a beverage again. Beer was
cheaper. And he adds
What really liked in those those GAYS SyS TSs SSs
cannon balls'-big Jumps OF the mus
delicious lastingness. Then there was
Mexican who sold big SLABS OF ptoMn 9t WI
chewing taffy for 1--WE cents edCn; ei,, ~ ~ ~
ouired a quarter Of day properly 10 an
sorb one OF them. And many udy !
made my entire lunch off one OF those
slabs.
Throughout his life Mr.. London In
forms us, he has never got over ms
physical loathing Of alcohol but 1
have conquered st." The majority Oh
heavy drinkers, he maintains disAKe
strong liquor, their palates protest
against 1t to the end; but they like its
"lxick," its effects. They are many
Among them that Of reviving Tagging
nhvsical energy. This strength John
Rarlevcorn gives is not hcutlou3
strength, we are assured. 1t Is real
hut It is manufactured out or the
sources Of strength. 1t must be pald
for. Then there is the reaction from
long stretches Of overexertion, physi-
cal or mental, which alcohol helps men
IN tide over at the same usurious price
Mr.. London does not write Of the brut-
ish drinker, who sleeps it off and IS
no worse mentally than he was before.
He deals with 1.-The good fellows that
John Rarleycorn gets-the fellows with
the fire and go in them, who have big
ness and warmness and the best OF
the human weaknesses. And John
Barleycorn puts out the fire. and sod
dens the agility, and, when he does not
more Immediately Kill them or make
maniacs Of them, he coarsens and
p,rossens them, twists and malforms
them out OF the original fineness and
Goodness Of their natures" And, last
of all. there is the realm Of alcoholic
vision. distorted, unbalanced, but with
exaltations as well as depressions all
its own.
one wonders a little if Mr.. London
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.
TRAVERS' GOLF BOOK