第 53 节
作者:谁与争疯      更新:2021-02-19 00:36      字数:9322
  to the official organ。
  ART。 10。ORDER OF BUSINESS。 The following order of business shall
  be observed at all regular business meetings:
  Devotional exercises。
  Reading of previous minutes。
  Report of Treasurer。
  Report of Vice…Presidents。
  Unfinished business。
  New business。
  Adjournment with prayer。
  ART。 11。AMENDMENTS。 This constitution may be amended by a two…
  thirds vote of the members present at any regular business meeting (ten
  being a quorum); provided such amendment shall have been proposed in
  writing at the previous regular business meeting。
  CHAPTER XXVI。
  CARRY NATION CLOSES CRUSADE IN DAYTON; OHIOHOLDS THREE LARGELY
  ATTENDED MEETINGSSPEAKS TO LARGE AUDIENCE IN ARMORYHAD
  ENGAGED NATIONAL THEATRE; BUT INSPECTION OF AUDITORIUM INTERFERED
  REVIEW WEEK'S WORK。
  Mrs。 Carry Nation closed her crusade in this city; Dayton; Ohio; yesterday
  by holding three remarkable meetings。
  In the morning she filled the pulpit of the Home Avenue U。 B。 church
  and as usual the church was not large enough to hold the crowd and
  many had to stand outside。
  Mrs。 Nation was afterwards entertained at dinner by Rev。 H。 A。
  Thompson at his residence; opposite the U。 B。 seminary。
  The National theatre had been engaged for Mrs。 Nation's Sunday
  afternoon meeting; though Broadway M。 E。 church wanted her; but Mrs。
  Nation desired to hold that meeting in as large a place as possible; as
  she anticipated that there would be a large attendance。 At the last moment
  the National theatre management decided they could not permit the
  house to be used Sunday; as they expected an inspection of the auditorium;
  so Mrs。 Nation's committee secured the big Armory around the corner
  from the theatre at Sixth and the canal。 Mrs。 Nation had especially invited
  the saloonkeepers; sports and unmarried young men and ladies。 The
  meeting was announced for 2:30; but at 1 o'clock the crowds began to assemble。
  The large choir from McKinley M。 E。 church; under direction
  of Rev。 C。 T。 Lewis and his wife; arrived about 1:30 and rendered a fine
  lot of selections until Mrs。 Nation opened the meeting at 2:30。 There
  were only seats for about 3;000; but Captain Hooven estimated the crowd
  as about 3;800 people。 The galleries were crowded and nearly the entire
  auditorium。 All sorts of people were presentbusiness and professional
  men; saloonkeepers; and preachers; while W。 C。 T。 U。 ladies were in evidence
  by their white ribbons。 Representatives from probably every church
  in Dayton were present and it is safe to say that it was the greatest
  gathering
  of its kind ever held in this city。 A collection box was at the door
  and a splendid offering was obtained as everybody contributedmany
  liberally; among whom was Dr。 L。 T。 Cooper; who handed in a silver dollar;
  stating: 〃I don't agree with her in all things; but she means well。〃
  Mrs。 Nation made a characteristic talk of over an hour; giving much
  advice in a kindly way and; as usual; backing up all her arguments with
  Scripture。
  Mrs。 Nation held her last meeting at 7 o'clock at Summit Street U。
  B。 church; and a thousand or more people stood around the outside of the
  church unable to get in。
  Mrs。 Nation answered many questions put to her at this meeting and
  from the view of the radical temperance advocates this was probably the
  strongest talk she made。 In every respect the meeting was a success。
  Mrs。 Nation left for Chicago on the Panhandle at 9:30 last night。
  Saturday was also a busy day with Mrs。 Nation。 In the morning she
  was a visitor at the U。 B。 Publishing house; and after dinner she held a
  meeting at Christ's mission; Soldiers' Home。 At 5 o'clock; accompanied
  by some of her committee; she went to Salem; O。; where she was entertained
  by Rev。 Baker; of the U。 B。 church; and afterwards held the usual
  crowded meeting in his church; leaving there at 8 o'clock for Brookville;
  O。; where she held another big meeting at the U。 B。 church。
  Mrs。 Nation has certainly worked hard here and proven herself in
  possession of wonderful energy and capacity for work。 The following is
  a list of appointments here in ten days; every one of which she filled and
  not once could she fully accommodate the crowd: Friday night; October
  21; street meeting corner Main and Fourth streets; afterwards to wedding
  anniversary of Mr。 and Mrs。 E。 C。 Bennett; where many congenial
  spirits were present。 This took on the nature of an entertainment to Mrs。
  Nation。 Saturday night; October 22; U。 B。 church; Miamisburg; Sunday;
  October 23; the Dunkard church; Dayton; Sunday; October 23; afternoon
  at Bellbrook; O。; mass meeting of the three churches at town hall; Sunday
  night; October 23; St。 Paul's M。 E。; Dayton; Monday night; October
  24; Riverdale U。 B。; Tuesday night; First United Presbyterian; Wednesday
  night; Trinity M。 E。; Thursday afternoon; Free Methodist; Thursday
  night; mass meeting of colored churches at McKinley M。 E。; Friday
  afternoon; 2 o'clock; U。 13。 seminary; 4 o'clock; W。 C。 T。 U。 meeting;
  Broadway M: E。; Friday night; Second United Presbyterian; and balance
  appointments as given above。
  The committees of the various churches; the Citizens' League and
  Prohibition party are much pleased with the work Mrs。 Nation did here
  and predict great results from it。Dayton Daily。
  CHAPTER XXVII。
  (Sketch by WILL CARLETON; in his Magazine EVERYWHERE。)
  Some years ago; the American publicalways longing for 〃something
  new;〃 was treated to an absolutely unique sensation。 A woman armed
  with a hatchet had gone into a Kansas liquor saloon and smashed up its
  appurtenances; in a very thorough and unconventional manner。 After
  this; she went into and through another; and another: and it began to took
  as if all the bibulous paraphernalia of Kansas were about to be sent into
  the twilight。
  When the smoke had somewhat cleared away; and time elapsed sufficient to
  garner these circumstances into authentic news; it transpired that
  the woman who had done this was Mrs。 Carry A。 Nationutterly obscure
  and unknown until that week。
  This raid among decanters was a very singular and startling act; for
  a woman: but; somehow; people found it refreshing。 It represented precisely
  what many had imagined in their minds; what thousands of women
  had wished they themselves could or dared do; what myraids of confirmed
  drinkers; even; had wished might be done。 News of Mrs。 Nation's
  swift and decided action went all over the country; like a stiff; healthy
  gale。 She was sharply criticisedbut there lurked very often a 〃dry
  grin〃 behind the criticism。 This smashing was all very direct and unique
  and Americans are in general fond of directness and uniqueness。 It was;
  technically; illegal; but; even so; it was remarked that the saloons which
  Mrs。 Nation wrecked; were themselves in brazen defiance of the laws of
  the state of Kansasunenforced on account of the fear or venality of
  public officers。
  The work of this determined woman went on with a thoroughness
  and promptness that made it ultra…interesting。 She was imprisoned again
  and again; and became an inmate; at one time and another; of some nineteen
  different jails。 She had trial after trialin which was developed
  the fact that her tongue was as sharp as her hatchet; she often addressing
  even the judge presiding; as 〃Your Dishonor;〃 while prosecuting
  attorneys she treated with supreme scorn。 Not much mercy was shown
  her in the county bastiles: she was often bestowed in cells next to insane
  peoplein the hope; she thinks; that she might become really crazy; as
  well as reputedly so。 One sheriff; finding that the fumes of cigarette…
  smoking made her ill; treated all her follow…inmates to the little white
  cylinders; and set them at work puffing vigorously。 Chivalry and humanity
  seemed; for the time being; to have faded from men's minds。
  In these different immurments; she had time to write her friends and
  even published a paper; called; 〃The Smasher's Mail。〃 She told how she
  came to do this work: it was; she claimed; by the direct command of God。
  She had promised Him that if He would forgive her many sins; she
  would work for Him in ways no one else would; and He took her at her
  wordordering her to go and smash saloons。 This; of course; provokes
  a smile; among most people; but Mrs。 Nation is not the first one that has
  worked under God's commandwhether real or supposed。
  At last; so many fines were heaped up against her; which must be
  paid before she could be liberated; that it seemed to her as if she would
  never get free; but in this dark hour; a lecture agent appeared; and said
  he would pay the amount if she would give him some 〃dates。〃 She
  laughingly says now; that she did not know what she meant: and actually
  wondered if he thought she was a fruit dealer。 But when he explained
  what he meant by 〃dates;〃 a chance to go on the platform and give the
  people a reason for the hatchet that was in her hand; she saw the gates
  were opened; and enthusiastically went from jail to the lecture platform。
  She became immediately a drawing cardin assembly halls in some
  churches; and even at county fairs。 She often made 〃big money〃 by selling
  miniature hatchets as s