European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 16, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes monday Juris 16, 1986 country s Man in Black pens Man in White by Jim Lewis United press International Johnny Cash lip s his novel Iti i "  Al  i. To ,. I in Ileal a Wev  cod  i  t air flu in  m i i of dict ilium he . Be Bra Raphy. In his Inion Duclion. Cash describes o i on he experienced but it was nothing Akin to the vision of Paul. Through study and prayer Over q Long period of time 1 did gel an insight into what he was Peting and tial he was seeing. What he left is common to those who become Christian converts. I became a Christian convert i had that experience while  Cash said. The whole in rugs of my Cook is to show Fie human Rind Spur Isrual transformation that a person experiences when they Are converted. I was Laski naked by the transformation of the Man Saul o Tarsus to Paul the Singer described his seven years of addiction to amphetamines and other drugs. "1 had been a devastated Johnny Ceil hat Tom to a Ipi Ritval Attol tuning while writing a new Nova. Incoherent unpredictable self destructive raging terror at times during i Hose years the country Muiloc legend tells about breaking into a drug store in California to get drugs nol because he could t afford to buy hem. He said his purpose was to get them by the thousands to save the inconvenience of gel Ling a few at a Timo by  Cash said h6 came to while about Paul tie cause there had Boen much theological speculation on the apostle. I decided if theologians can do so much speculating and make it interesting i might throw in my 2 cents Worth. After All Paul had become my hero. He was invincible he made it his life s Mission to conquer and convert the idolatrous Pagan world Over 10 Jesus  Cash wrote. He said to had stuck the novel away in a closet by 1983 and tried to forget about it. I kept Ilou of my sight for three or four months at a Lime but i could t forget about it. I d drag it out. Go Over my notes. And try to write. Time after time i wrote dozens of pages White under the influence but when i read i hem afterwards with a Clear mind. I burned them Cash wrote. I i e urged him to Complete the Hook again in october 19b3. When to was about to embark on a Eurof inn tour. I had Only recently had another Accident. I had fallen on my knee and broken a Kneecap. So i loaded up on Strong painkillers. Enough to last Lor a tour and of course sleeping pills in Case the pain kept me from sleeping and of course uppers to kill the hangover from steeping pills when it was 1lme to  Cash said the combination of pills caused him to have blackouts and he remembers Only four stops on the 14-cily tour. He went Home and into the Hospital because of internal bleeding from the massive doses of pills which caused terrible hallucinations i i was As close to death As you can come to writes. But through the help of friends and family. Cash said he pulled through and went Back to the Book. Ii it therefore no coincidence thai the a or thrust of the novel is Paul s conversion after being struck Blind on the Road to Damascus. 1 1 was never privileged to have an experience like Paul did lust outside Damascus bul on Christmas night 19851 had a Vitelo Yllka dream and saw a Light that was unearthly and much More Beautiful than the whole Box of fireworks. If no hidden Grain of truth is illuminated in this Book. It will have served its purpose. It Kepi me going Back to the Bible searching meditating Environ ing and talking about it Lor the better part of 10 years. My disclaimer is Leaf it s Only a novel. Other than that it s something i should have been doing anyway Cash said he feels like he has grown spiritually because he wrote the novel. I m not a preacher. I m not so evangelical in the common sense of the world. If s a very evangelical Book in a Way. But we can t lose sight thai it s a  Sammy Davis or remembering the old Days 8y David Kelley United press internationals Ammy Davis jr., who has battled Back irom hip surgery three months ago. Says he plans to Stop performing after More than a Hall Century in a business he loves but now makes him angry. I had three months Man. Hat on my Back. I reflected on a Tot of things said Davis who turns 61 this year. Davis who quit using drugs nine years ago and stopped drinking near a three years ago seemed both Content and combative As he sipped soft drinks and Chain smoked in his suite at the desert inn on the Las vegas  ill be out of it in a couple More years. I be been in it too Long said Davis who started performing at age four. I be been a Star Lor 35 years. Thai s an awfully ions time when you Don t have a Hll after another after another. And you Don t have 17 important movies to Back you up ovals said he thinks he s earned Trie Public s respect because people say like him or hot. He s always going to give you your Money s Worth " i be got this urge to quit while i m ahead so i m going to work a couple of More years and then direct and produce. So that by the time i m 63, i la be out of this a said. I m never going to say i m retiring. 1 always want to Reserve the right to come Bach of a  the Singer dancer Impressio filst mus clan actor said that live years ago he could nol have afforded to take three months off for hip surgery without intensifying his work Load at the end of his convalescence bul now for the first time in his life he says he is financially secure. I m certainly not in the posh on of Hope Sinatra or thai league financially bul boy 1 Don l have to worry about where the next meal is Corning from. My kids Don to Futy family does  Davis talked of his contemporaries in show business and his determination never to go on stage and Ern Barass himself. You be got to trim the fat gel rid of the Ste or suddenly you re 60 and can t do anything. An he faculties go he said. Ii you re a comedian your reactions Are gone and you can t remember  Davis often called the most Complete entertainer of his time said he has become very angry with his Industry. He homed in on the recording Industry saying that Many artists who once Hep record companies afloat now cannot gel a recording contract. I think it criminal that Tony Bennett does t record for to years that he can t get a record company said Davis who has recorded More than 40 albums and has his own string of Gold records. I think of Tony l of Hank of pro Damone. I think of Steve Lawrence and eydie Gorme who inc Dently pack places that they  a said. I was brought up in the business that Sard there was room for everybody for All tastes. There was a diversification. That s Why they called it variety. We Hava no variety in show business  Davis acknowledged his words made it seem As if he is stuck in the . I m stuck in the old Days As Lar As theories but i m stuck there also in terms of Courtesy in How you Deal with an audience " Davis said he does t resent performers or ballplayers " Davit Tva got this urge Faquir while i m ahead 0ns � 0ars blot old a Fanf old ban players and old fighters Are saying the me thing wha they resent is they me newer performers Don t have the same love of the  the entertainer who danced publicly for the first ssh a tha test Bob Hpe special May 26 on Abc said his hip bothers him now Only when he sets too Long in one position. He said dancing on the Hope special Felt wonderful "