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 Enterprise I got a telegram from Holt, signed by the "Temperance
Committee," it read: "Come here and help us break up dives."
This little town was only twelve miles from Enterprise. In going to
the train that night there seemed to have been some one hiding on every
corner throwing eggs. My dress was covered with them. I got to Holt
at midnight. When I got off the train, I then knew it was a plot to
injure me for no one was there to meet me, and I saw some suspicious
men keeping in the dark. I got in a hack and went to a hotel.
I asked for the women but all had retired. I went up to my room,
which was very small. It had one window which was raised an inch
with a lath under it, and I thought it strange at the time that the landlord
should have let the window down, but I was very tired and dropped
asleep almost as soon as I touched the bed. About two o'clock I was
awakened with a smothered feeling, struggling for breath. I jumped for
the window, which I threw up, for the room was full of the most poisonous
odor, as of cigarettes, and other smells. I knew that there were persons
at the door puffing the poison in. I sat at the window and listened
and in about fifteen minutes I heard some one whistling and saw
through the transom that a light was coming. A man stopped at my
door and knocked.
"What do you want?"
"I want to speak to you," he replied.
"What is it?"
"I want to speak to you."
God showed me in a vision two men crouched on each side of the
door ready to either catch or slug me, if the door was opened.
"I see you sluggers on each side of the door. You villain, you have
tried to murder me by throwing poison in my room and now you are
trying something else."
"There is a mob here after you."
"You are a liar," I answered.
"There is a committee wants to speak to you."
"You are telling lies in order to have me open my door."
He left and went down below, and for ten minutes there was a
great tramping of feet and I could hear the landlord making out as
if he was dispersing a crowd. I watched from my window and saw two
men walking away. I certainly was thankful for a lock on my door.
Next morning when ready to leave my room, I looked up and down the
passages well; then I hurried and did not feel safe, until I got on the
outside. I asked a little boy if there were any Christians in Holt.
"No, but there are some in the country."
I got my breakfast at a restaurant, and I called out on the streets
that I would hold a meeting in front of this hotel where I had stopped.
There was a crowd and I then told of the telegram and of how I was
treated. I pointed to the landlord, who was the picture of a villain, and
a coward. The two dive-keepers of Holt were at this meeting. They
asked me if I intended to smash the saloons there.
"Of course, I didn't come to Holt to do anything else."
One man told me that he would shoot me if I came into his place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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