The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-30
Finished History of John Par.
leycorn Goes With Other
Records on Shelves of Time
DEMON THAT WALKED
WITH DEATH PASSES
Revenue Derived From Legal
lied Liquor Traffic Will Not
Be Missed. Declare Realty
and Other Business Men
BY j. A. LESLIE, JR.

Virginia is going dry.
AS october prepares, in these last
Two days, to lay away her records on
the shelves of Time she will place
with her annals the finished history
OF the life of John Barleycorn in the
Old Dominion. For the first time in
the life of Virginia she is able to say
that day after tomorrow" liquor will
no longer be sold within her bound-
aries.
This state of affairs has come about
AFTER a night that was marked by
struggles never seen before in this
country. 1t was more difficult because
of the fact that virginians have boast
ed. since the first shipIoad of colonists
stepped upon the sands Of n new and
untried land. that the word mint
1ulep was written in the creed OF
gentlemen" and that the flowing bowl
was household requisite. Hence,
when those forces. which realized the
lengths of degradation to which the
abuse Of drink were carrying the
fathers and sons OF the Common
wealth, attempted to stem the tide or
evil which was threatening to engulf
and sweep away the bloom OF man.
hood and to undermine the founda-
lions Of efficient citizenship, they were
confronted by frewning opposition
that resented a supposed encroach-
ment upon "a mans natural rights"
Men claimed that they had a right to
drink what and whenever they pleased,
II they bought 1t from licensed and
legalized dealer. The fight was on.
Gave Much For Cause.
The story Of the combat has been
written-not only in letters, which
burn with the trials Of good men and
women who gave the best of life to a
cause for which they were glad to
give their all, but 1t has been laid
down In the prayers and tears Of
heart-broken mothers, who have seen
their sons crucified upon a cross
stained red with the blood of men
throttled and torn by the hands of a
demon that walked hand in hand with
death. 1t has been written upon tabs
let's dug from the ashes OF HOMES
crumbled and wrecked where a mis-
spent heritage turned happiness to
tears. 1t has been transcribed from
the hearts OF wives and daughters.
lain bare and bleeding by ruthless
thrusts OF an unfeeling, senseless thing.
that demands all of life that is good
and gives in turn blow that deals
death to pride, that brushes woman-
hood In the mire and blights that
capacity of youth that gives the zest
to life.
For years the battle ragged. and the
forces that were aligned on the side OF
Justice. and Right and Hope. stormed
in vain the high-flung battiements
that flew the colors OF the Destroyer.
Yet all the while, throughout this land
of the Old Dominion, with its unap-
proachable traditions which give 1t a
place on history's pages never to be
ver-shadowed; with its memory at
the essence of that spirit
which has made for al that is noble
among the congress OF men through.
out the earth. with its record Of
achievement in the path of the ma
tons growth and culture which has
placed the name of Virginia as a by
word on the lips OF children as Q
synonym for all that Is grand, and
noble, and desirable--yet all the while
in this Virginia, boys and men. with
all the inherent rights of unimpeach-
able nobility. the sons and wives Of
noble women whose sacrifices made
possible the glorious strides OF pro-
gress of the South since the days OF
's5 and who gave to the word ''sacri-
fee" hotter tone. have fallen heneath
the feet of this Monster Destroyer.
and have been lana as evidences Of i
cause lidt mao NOT peSn won. 9s2TS
Prayers Answered.
But the prayers of good men and
of good women. the sobs OF brokea
lives and the piteous cries OF starving
and hungry mothers, could
not forever fall apon a blank. un<
needing ear The senses OF men were
touched by the still small voice, until
the dawning of beautiful day was
blown upon sky that was hidden by
clouds lowering. dark and threatening.
The prayers and efforts and unfailins
perseverance of men who had stood
faithfully and long on the side Of
Right. until the principle that was
good triumphed in a magnificent vic-
tory. Almost unbelievable was the
news that Virginia was gUing dr..
That the state tli-t had harbored tho
mint bed. that had muses. the bahx
all the years ~ HI t4 eomosss
teries, with young men oron ola
along the gaudy path Of hidde1 thorngs
had succumbed at last TO tha teAehin00
of good men. and had been t0m0hed "
the spirit Of the Na1Areno which
bathed a lonely soul upon thu erOeo
that men might live upon the earth.
Ends Long. Long YcnrA
And II isn't next week. perhaps. 90
next month. next year, that this thing
is coming to pass. II Ii tomorrou
Not the tomorrow. and touA0rrogs
and tomorrow" Of Shakespeage. NHic0
draws on the days into endkoa1 -
but real tomorrow thAt sen4a ~
long long years Of waiting ~ s
ing beside ! princtpAo tha1 - - 4:
that could havs - 1e
II ~ - 49, -