Mode in load-path is not recognized

[J Krugman]

I have a mode file ("javascript-mode.el") in my load-path, but 'M-x
javascript-mode' causes Emacs to beep and flash "[no match]".
Moreover, the first-line directive[1] 

# -*- mode: javascript -*-

fails to set the mode to javascript-mode.

What else must I do to get Emacs to recognize this mode?

Thanks!

jill

[1] The first line above belongs to a Perl file that consists only
of a long string of JavaScript code.  That's why the comment marker
is '#' and not '//'.

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