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for us to suffer。 I also use the sign of the cross； for it is medicine to
the soul to be reminded of His sufferings。 Jesus left us the communion
of bread and wine that we might remember His passion。 I would also
fast days at a time。 One day I was so sad； I opened the Bible with a
prayer for light； and saw these words： 〃Arise； shine； for thy light is
come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee。〃 These words gave
me unbounded delight。
I ran to a sister and said： 〃There is to be a change in my life。〃
On the 6th of June； before retiring； as I often did； I threw myself face
downward at the foot of my bed and told the Lord to use me any way to
suppress the dreadful curse of liquor； that He had ways to do it； that I
had done all I knew； that the wicked had conspired to take from us the
protection of homes in Kansas； to kill our children and break our hearts。
I told Him I wished I had a thousand lives； that I would give Him all
of them； and wanted Him to make it known to me； some way。 The next
morning； before I awoke； I heard these words very distinctly： 〃Go to
Kiowa； and〃 （as in a vision and here my hands were lifted and cast down
suddenly。） 〃I'll stand by you。〃 I did not hear these words as other
words； there was no voice； but they seemed to be spoken in my heart。 I
sprang from my bed as if electrified； and knew this was directions given
me； for I understood that it was God's will for me to go to Kiowa to
break； or smash the saloons。 I was so glad； that I hardly looked in the
face of anyone that day； for fear they would read my thoughts； and do
something to prevent me。 I told no one of my plans； for I felt that no
one would understand； if I should。
I got a box that would fit under my buggy seat； and every time I
thought no one would see me； I went out in the yard and picked up
some brick…bats； for rocks are scarce around Medicine Lodge； and I wrapped
them up in newspapers to pack in the box under my buggy seat。 I
also had four bottles I had bought from Southworth； the druggist； with
〃Schlitz…Malt〃 in them； which I used to smash with。 I bought two kinds
of this malt and I opened one bottle and found it to be beer。 I was going
to use these bottles of beer to convict this wiley joint…druggist。
One of the bottles I took to a W。 C。 T。 U。 meeting； and in the presence
of the ladies I opened it and drank the contents。 Then I had two of
them to take me down to a Doctor's office。 I fell limp on the sofa and
said： 〃Doctor； what is the matter with me？〃
He looked at my eyes； felt my heart and pulse； shook his head and
looked grave。
I said： 〃Am I poisoned or in an abnormal state？〃
〃Yes； said the Doctor。〃 I said： 〃What poisoned me is that beer
you recommended Bro。 to take as a tonic。〃 I resorted to this
stratagem； to show the effect that beer has upon the system。 This Doctor
was a kind man and meant well； but it must have been ignorance that
made him say beer could ever be used as a medicine。
There was another； Dr。 Kocile； in Medicine Lodge who used to sell
all the whiskey he could。 He made a drunkard of a very prominent
woman of the town； who took the Keely cure。 She told the W。 C。 T。 U。
of the villainy of this doctor and she could not have hated anyone more。
Oh！ the drunkards the doctors are making！ No physician； who is
worthy of the name will prescribe it as a medicine； for there is not one
medical quality in alcohol。 It kills the living and preserves the dead。
Never preserves anything but death。 It is made by a rotting process and
it rots the brain； body and soul； it paralyzes the vascular circulation and
increases the action of the heart。 This is friction and friction in any
machinery is dangerous； and the cure is not hastened but delayed。
I have given space in this book to one of the most scientific articles；
showing how dangerous alcohol is to the human system。
Any physician that will prescribe whiskey or alcohol as a medicine
is either a fool or a knave。 A fool because he does not understand his
business； for even saying that alcohol does arouse the action of the heart；
there are medicines that will do that and will not produce the fatal
results of alcoholism； which is the worst of all diseases。 He is a knave
because his practice is a matter of getting a case； and a fee at the same
time； like a machine agent who breaks the machine to get the job of mending
it。 Alcohol destroys the normal condition of all the functions of the
body。 The stomach is thrown out of fix； and the patient goes to the doctor
for a stomach pill； the heart； liver； kidneys； and in fact the whole body
is in a deranged condition； and the doctor has a perpetual patient。 I
sincerely believe this to be the reason why many physicians prescribe it。
I was doing my own work at the time God spoke to me； cooking；
washing and ironing； was a plain home keeper。 I cooked enough for
my husband until next day； knowing that I would be gone all night。 I
told him I expected to stay all night with a friend； Mrs。 Springer。 I
hitched my horse to the buggy； put the box of 〃smashers〃 in； and at half
past three o'clock in the afternoon； the sixth of June； 1900； I started to
Kiowa。 Whenever I thought of the consequences of what I was going
to do； and what my husband and friends would think； also what my
enemies would do； I had a sensation of nervousness； almost like fright；
but as soon as I would look up and pray； all that would leave me； and
things would look bright。 And I might say I prayed almost every step
of the way。 This Mrs。 Springer lived about ten miles south of Medicine
Lodge。 I often stopped there and I knew that Prince； my horse；
would naturally go into the gate； opening on the road； if I did not prevent
it。 I thought perhaps it was God's will for me to drive to Kiowa that
night； so gave the horse the reins； and if he turned in； I would stay all
night； if not； I would go to Kiowa。 Prince hastened his speed past the
gate； and I knew that it was God's will for me to go on。 I got there at
8：30 P。 M。 and stayed all night with a friend。 Early next morning I
had my horse put to the buggy and drove to the first place； kept by
Mr。 Dobson。 I put the smashers on my right arm and went in。 He and
another man were standing behind the bar。 These rocks and bottles being
wrapped in paper looked like packages bought from a store。 Be
wise as devils and harmless as doves。 I did not wish my enemies to
know what I had。
I said： 〃Mr。 Dobson； I told you last spring； when I held my county
convention here； （I was W。 C。 T。 U。 president of Barber County；） to
close this place； and you didn't do it。 Now I have come with another
remonstrance。 Get out of the way。 I don't want to strike you； but I
am going to break tip this den of vice。〃
I began to throw at the mirror and the bottles below the mirror。
Mr。 Dobson and his companion jumped into a corner； seemed very much
terrified。 From that I went to another saloon； until I had destroyed three；
breaking some of the windows in the front of the building。 In the last
place； kept by Lewis； there was quite a young man behind the bar。 I said
to him： 〃Young man； come from behind that bar； your mother did
not raise you for such a place。〃 I thr