The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-21
BIC CROWDS SEE
JOHN bAR[EYC0RN
At THE B|JOU
LOVE AGAINST LIQUOR FEA-
TURES JACK LONDON'S STORY
OF EVILS OF LIQUOR.

"I must ask you to walk with me
in all sympathy and understanding.
I am a normal average man; to this
day I have a physical loathins Tor
alcohol, yet to me, as to every man
and at every. turn, John Barleycorn
has beckoned. When I was only
five
SO starts the picture feature, John
Barleycorn." for dramatic interest.
effective and instructive teaching,
good acting and educational value
one of the best productions ever put
on in Richmond. 1t is now being
shown at the Bijou, where many peo-
pie saw it yesterday and last night.
and all TO their editicatspn and profit.
And this is the ending, given in
Jack London's own words. as is the
opening statement.
And so, from looking back on tho
long, sad road over which 1 rave
gone, and seen so many go. I look
forward to the day when John Bar
leycorn will be thrust into the his
torical limbo OF oa- vanished Gus
toms Of savagery."
Jack London's Life.
The story Is based on the story OF
Jack London's life, Il relation OF the
experience with the lauoc habit that
came near running lts career anu
threatened to bring him TO despair.
The Aim begins with the boy at i've
years old on his father farm. where
he one day tasted, auti then drank,
of the beer he was carry.ns; TO rs
father in the field. This was his first
drunk. and the ce>and came at
feast at which he was, as ne thought.
threatened by an italian INTO drink
ing a great quantity o. liquor, from
the effects OF which he ALMOST died,
This experience did not prove sui
fcent TO restrain him from drinking
further, however. ana his life rs
new sooy and boat .ensiee N a sea-
port town kept him n constan. touch
with those who drilS Although he
did not himself enjoy the stun, he
decided early that drinking was neces-
sary for the sake Of corirateship,
ard SO he continued, onrS because
women laughed AT him. r4Eaia when
companions urged him. and a. al
times with the habit growing On HIN.
He was an oyster pirate and then a
government empioye AMI SIN found
John BarlesccTn at every turn.
Finally. he decided 10 leave his home
town and go to sea. EN- bariSed on a
seaier, he kept sober until the ship
reached Japan. where q company
wen, ashore, and there. for the cake
Of cornradeship. he drank again.
Re-embarked. he made a firm COM
pact with his companions not to touch
Jehu Barlescorn when the ship
reached shore but no sooner was the
port reached than all resolves were
broken and In ono debaaeh all his
Earnings were gone Being near his
home. he went TO his mother. and
here get work in n mill
Love Against Liquor.
a companion introduced him to
social life and AT party IN the
town he fell In love (at first sigt:l
with Haysiee. the heroine of the
story Inspired by her. IN began TO
study for college. and finally passed
his entrance examination with high
marks.
Wearied by the strenuous training
for III" Nominations. he went of
on n crulse, fell In with old COM
I3an!ons and returning was met by
Eaydee, who discovered his plight
and thus learned of Iehn Barleycorns
hold or her lover. Al college there
was only difficulty ard financial dis
trees. $50 the young student was
forced to his saloon friends for loans
ana consequently the tie remained
strobg.
Hayde~. endeavoring 10 interest
tfafH HI literature Ttau "a AeA StSlNs
which So slisgeisted him by it's un-
reality that he started In to write
one for himself This proved sue
cessful and gave him a start as a
writer which carried him through
college and into life. even through
marriage with Haydee.
Still John Barleycorn held him. al
though 1t was his cherished belief
that he was Barleycorn's master. This
belief WAS shattered when he dis
covered that he could not work or
feel centented save under the In
fuence of rum, and thus he discover
I'd that Barleycorn had mastered him.
Then began the struggle for
supremacy and. aided by Haydee. the
habit WAS finally conquered. but only
with toll and suffering. much inward
disgust and revolving until London
conquered Barieycorn only by casting
him from his life.