第 49 节
作者:
谁与争疯 更新:2021-02-19 00:36 字数:9319
string band when some one came up and opened a conversation with me。
After a while I was quite surrounded and the cabin soon becoming crowded
some one asked to see a little hatchet; so I opened my satchel to show
them。 One of the officers who had come to the State Room with the
captain; had been standing near the stairway; and when he saw the people
begin to press to me to get the hatchets; he came up saying; 〃Madam;
you are not allowed to sell these here。〃 I replied; 〃You sell wine; beer;
whiskey; tobacco; cigarettes and anything that will drug these people。
Now these are my own little souvenirs; and they will advertise my cause;
help me; and be a little keep sake from the hand that raised the hatchet;
so I claim the right to sell them; where you have no right to sell bad
things。〃 He went up to see the captain; who said; 〃I am too busy to fool
with that woman。〃 So he came down; and called up Mr。 Furlong; asking
him to compell me to stop selling hatchets; but he told him he could
not prevent Mrs。 Nation doing anything she had set her head to。 We
had a nice time。 I repeated poetry on the evils of drink and smoking; all
were happy; and at ten o'clock; I bade good…night to many friends who
regarded me not as the wild vicious woman; but one who meant well。
Next morning when we went ashore in New York; and were identifying
our baggage; a small man was passing; Mr。 Furlong remarked in an
undertone; 〃Our captain。〃 He had changed his uniform to go ashore;
and I had not recognized him。 I extended my hand which he took; and
I said; 〃Captain; I know you were told I was a nuisance;〃 〃Yes; they
said you would raise the devil; but if anyone thinks you are a fool they
are very much mistaken。〃 We parted in a very pleasant humor。 Thus
it is; my life is a constant contention; but there have been many laughable
circumstances and none hurt。 I can truly say that there is no ill will in
my heart toward a creature God has made; but it is a hatred for the enemy
of mankind for I have an intense hatred for the enemies of those I
intensely love。
CHAPTER XXII。
TRIP TO CANADA; CORDIAL RECEPTIONRETURN TO CHICAGO TO FILL ENGAGEMENT
SECOND VISIT TO CANADATRIP TO MARITIME PROVINCESVISIT
CLUB IN CHARLOTTE TOWNPREJUDICE AGAINST ME OWING TO MALICIOUS
REPORTSSPOKE IN PARLIAMENT IN FREDERICTONVISIT TO SIDNEY
SCOTT ACTMY ARREST AND RELEASEEPISODE IN JAIL。
Having a spare month in May of 1904 I made a trip to Canada; and
never was so cordially received in my life; selling all the hatchets I had
in three meetings。
I returned to fill a Chicago engagement of six weeks; which was made
by my manager; with Mr。 Houseman; one of the Editors of the Chicago
Inter…Ocean; who owned a theatre with which a museum was connected。
Realizing that this would provide an excuse for the papers to lie about
me; I wrote my manager if possible; to cancel the engagement。 I was;
however; persuaded to stay one week; with the result; that it was published
all over the country that ; Carry A。 Nation was in a Museum getting
300 a week just to be looked at; when in fact; I spoke in the theatre;
not in the museum。 I would not object to going into a museum or any
place to bring my cause before the people; but resented the idea of being
placed on exhibition。
As I had promised to return to Canada; I did so in the month of June;
visiting the Maritime Provinces; where I was very much delighted with
the people; finding in Prince Edward's Island the most intelligent and
moral people; as a body; that I have ever met。
That Island has a Prohibition Law similar to Kansas; but the primier;
Peters; told the former premier; Mr。 Farguason; that the Club in Charlotte
Town; the Capitol; had to be an exception to the prohibitive amendment
or he would vote against and ruin it。 This condition is similar in our
own government…conspiracy and treason。 I visited this club; strange that
I should get in; God opened the way。 It was fitted up like other drinking
clubs; where men congregate together to act in a manner and talk of subjects
they would be ashamed for their wives to see and hear。 The back
room was stacked with empties and imported liquors of different brands。
I went up into the parlor about nine o'clock in the morning; where I met
one of these beer…swelled outlaws; I asked him; 〃Will you object to
answering some questions about this place。〃 His pompous and indignant
reply was; 〃No; I will do nothing of the kind。〃 I said; I will tell you
some things about it。 You are a set of traitors; you pose as being the
elite; but you are criminals; shame on such villainy。〃 He held his paper
up before his face。 I had the satisfaction of telling him the truth in plain
language; such men are well dressed; gold fobbed; diamond studded rummies that
are more hateful than those behind the prison bars; their bodies
a reeking mass of corruption。
Prince Edward's Island is a large farm; one hundred miles long; by
forty broad。 Can only be reached by boat。 A very high grade of cheese;
milk; butter; oats and turnips are raised there。 Instead of weather…boarding
the houses they have the sides shingled。 They have the nicest; small;
fat horses; fine travelers。
On this; my second visit to Canada; the people did not receive me as
cordially as before; owing to a report that I had been in a museum in
Chicago on exhibition。 In order to counteract this prejudice against me;
I offered a reward of 50。00 for any one who had ever seen me in a
museum or on exhibition; which had the desired effect。 There are rum
bought papers in Canada as there are in the States。
I was asked to speak in Parliament in Fredericton。 There was a
great laugh when I said that governments like fish stink worse at the
head。
On my visit to Sydney; Cape Breton; I found that; although they have
the Scott Act; which makes it a misdemeanor to sell intoxicants there are
dives there just like in Kansas; the officers and political wire pullers
defending
them just in the same way。
I went into a vile den; the Belmont Hotel。 There was a crowd gathered
around the place。 When I went out in front an officer came to me;
saying; 〃You will have to get off the street; you are collecting a crowd。〃
I said; I am not disturbing anything; if you object to the crowd; disperse
them; let me alone。 He insisted; and so did I。 He said nothing to the
crowd no one was doing anything; but standing around when he walked
up to me and arrested me in the King's nameTwo got on either side of
me and carried me to jailWhen I was there; I found a young boy of
about 14 or 15 years of age。 I asked; 〃Why are you here?〃 He began to
cry bitterly; said; he was put in for calling names。 〃Oh; if I had a father
or mother to help me out; but they are dead; and I have no friends。〃
〃What is your fine?〃 I asked; 〃Only a dollar。〃 〃My dear boy; I will
do what mother would do; if she were here; kneel down here and let us
pray。 He did; weeping so bitterly all the time。 I asked God to make this
a means of saving that dead mother's precious one。 I said to him; 〃Now
my boy; mother would say my darling son; don't use bad language。 Be
good and love God。 Now I will pay your fine just as mother would do。〃
So I called the jailer; who seemed to be a kind man; and paid the dollar。
The boy with his face glowing with happiness; fairly flew out。 In
a few minutes the door was opened; a friend went on my bond; and I
left to fill my appointment。 There were as many as twenty…five men who
volunteered to testify to the unfair arrest。 The case was tried the next
day and I was acquitted; the judge saying that。 〃All Carry Nation wanted
was advertising。 〃Man's inhumanity to woman。〃 I was glad to open
the prison door to the boy; and give him advice at a time when he would
take it; for he promised me to be a good boy and serve God。 I expect
God sent me there for that purpose。
CHAPTER XXIII。
COWARDLY ASSAULT BY SALOON KEEPER; G。 R。 NEIGHBORS OF ELIZABETHTOWN;
KY。APATHY OF OFFICERS; BUT PEOPLE MUCH MOVED BY OUTRAGE; LECTURED
AFTERWARDS; THO' VERY FAINT AND WEAK FROM LOSS OF BLOOD。
CIGARETTE SMOKING IN HIGH PLACES DISCUSSED WITH MISS GASTON;
PRESIDENT NATIONAL ANTI…CIGARETTE LEAGUE。
A saloon keeper; G。 R。 Neighbors; of Elizabethtown; Ky。; struck me
over the head with a chair; July 23; 1904。 In going up to the hall to fill
an engagement。 I passed this man and walking into his saloon; said; why
are you in this business; drugging and robbing the people? 〃Hush! You
get out。〃 I replied; 〃Yes you want a respectable woman to get out; but
you will make any woman's boy a disgrace; you ought to be ashamed。〃
I then passed out going to the hall。 After the lecture I passed by his
place again。 He was sitting in a chair in front of the saloon; and I said;
〃Are you the man that runs this business and in a moment with an oath
he picked up the chair and with all his strength; sent it down with a
crash on my head。 I came near falling; caught myself; and he lifted the
chair the second time; striking me over the back; the blood began to cover
my face; and run down from a cut on my forehead。 I cried out; 〃He has
killed me;〃 An officer caught the chair to prevent a third blow。
There were two officers in the crowd。 I