The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. NationNation, Carry Amelia
History
The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation
Nation, Carry Amelia
Nation, Carry Amelia, 1846-1911; Social reformers -- United States -- Biography; Temperance -- United States
I decided to go to the Carey for several reasons. It was the most
dangerous, being the finest. The low doggery will take the low and keep
them low but these so-called respectable ones will take the respectable,
make them low, then kick them out. A poor vagabond applied to a bar
tender in one of these hells glittering with crystalized tears and fine
fixtures. The man behind the bar said, "You get out, you disgrace my place."
The poor creature, who had been his mother's greatest treasure, shuffled
out toward the door. Another customer came in, a nice looking young
man with a good suit, a white collar, and looking as if he had plenty
of money, The smiling bar tender mixed a drink and was handing it to
him. The poor vagabond from the door called out. "Oh, don't begin on
him. Five years ago, I came into your place, looking just like that
young man. You have made me what you see me now. Give that drink
to me and finish your work. Don't begin on him."
I went back to the hotel and bound the rod and cane together, then
wrapped paper around the top of it. I slept but little that night, spending
most of the night in prayer. I wore a large cape. I took the cane
and walked down the back stairs the next morning, and out in the alley
I picked up as many rocks as I could carry under my cape. I walked into
the Carey Bar-room, and threw two rocks at the picture; then turned
and smashed the mirror that covered almost the entire side of the large
room. Some men drinking at the bar ran at break-neck speed; the bartender
was wiping a glass and he seemed transfixed to the spot and
never moved. I took the cane and broke up the sideboard, which had on
it all kinds of intoxicating drinks. Then I ran out across the street
to destroy another one. I was arrested at 8:30 A. M., my rocks and
cane taken from me, and I was taken to the police headquarters, where
I was treated very nicely by the Chief of Police, Mr. Cubbin, who
seemed to be amused at what I had done. This man was not very
popular with the administration, and was soon put out. I was kept
in the office until 6:30 P. M. Gov. Stanley was in town at that time,
and I telephoned to several places for him. I saw that he was dodging
me, so. I called a messenger boy and sent a note to Gov. Stanley,
telling him that I was unlawfully restrained of my liberty; that I wished
him to call and see me, or try to relieve me in some way. The messenger
told me, when he came back, that he caught him at his home, that he
read the message over three times, then said: "I have nothing to say,"
and went in, and closed the door. This is the man who taught Sunday
School in Wichita for twenty years, where they were letting these murder
shops run in violation of the law. Strange that this man should pull
wool over the eyes of the voters of Kansas. I never did have any
confidence in him. When he came to Medicine Lodge to lecture a few
months before this, I would not go to hear him, telling the people that
he was an enemy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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