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
While in jail I got a letter asking me to come to Enterprise, Dickinson
County, and break up saloons there. I said the name ENTERPRISE,
is good and I will go; so I left jail with the intention of going there.
It was dark when I started for the train. Many of the Salvation Army
were near me. The streets were almost impassable, and the whole city
seemed to be on the streets marching down to the station, yelling and
laughing.
Many said: "Are you not afraid?" Perfect love casteth out all fear
I love the people, I do not fear them.
There walked by my side, a man keeping the crowd back. "Are you
one of the Salvation Army?" I said to him.
He said: "No, I am only a tin horn gambler."
I asked him: "Why do you seem to be such a friend of mine."
He answered: "Because I intend that no one shall hurt you, for
you are a good woman, and I will see you safe. They all know me, and
they will not hurt you." He carried my valise and put me on the train.
There were several thousand at the depot and the crowding was
dangerous. I wanted to see the crowd, so I raised the window, waved
my hand and as the train pulled out, the eggs began to come; the window
fell down and I did not get a spatter. God said: "I'll stand by you."
explains this. In two minutes a rock the size of my fist came crashing
in at the window; shivered the glass, and the rock fell down at my side;
which was a miracle. Not once did I feel alarmed but smiled; while all
the passengers were on their feet with fright.
I got to Enterprise at night. I stayed all night with Mrs. Hoffman
and next morning, I went down to a dive kept by a man named Stillings.
He had closed to go out to a baseball game. The door was locked, so I
broke the front glass and climbed in. Several ladies were on the outside,
and were friendly to my smashing. I broke the place up. There were
twelve cases of beer and I destroyed them and piled them up in the center
of the room on the floor. At the close, the marshal came in, took me out
and would not let me break up the other dive near by. Neither did he
arrest me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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