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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 souvenirs。 She worked； tirelessly and industriously；
to pay back the lecture agent for the sums he had advanced；
and after a time found surplus amounts on hand。
She did not hesitate very long as to the purposes for which they were
to be applied。 Her personal expenses were very small； she dresses plainly；
and believes that God is entitled to her financial gains。
〃A home for drunkards' wives；〃 was her first thought； after paying
the fine money； and she set about it； and is working for it now。
After her platform work had proceeded for a time； it was decided that
she should star in the play； 〃Ten Nights in a Bar…room。〃 As all know；
who have witnessed this simple but powerful drama； every act of it is
a prohibition lecture； and Mrs。 Nation's part； that of the mother of the
murdered boy； was a lecture of itself。 In one scene； she was represented
as smashing a saloon； most thoroughly； and this business was the most
popular of anything in the playeven at theatres that drew most of their
patronage from habitues of saloons。
Mrs。 Nation's reasons for stepping from the churches to the footlights；
is not without its logic； in these days。 〃People go to the theatres
more than they do the churches；〃 she says； 〃and I want to go where there
are plenty of people to hear me； and where they need me。〃
From the regular theatre she passed； and for the same reasons； to the
vaudeville； and did her regular 〃stunts〃 along with the singers； the dancers；
the harlequin's； acrobats； and the burnt cork humorists。 The writer
of this has seen her in one of these performances； and considers it entirely
unique and unmistakably commendable。
It was in one of the most 〃free and easy〃 vaudeville shows in Greater
New York； and the audience； composed of men and boys； was a hilarious
one； and could have even become a turbulent one； if anything had occured
that did not please them。 Many were half drunk； or nearly so。
〃Smoke； if you want to；〃 was lettered on a conspicuous sign； and most
of this audience wanted to。 In the midst of the exercises； an interlude
occurred； in which the audience was invited to a saloon down stairs； where
they could proceed still farther in the liquid burning out of their bodies。
On the same stage of this same vaudeville theatre； John L。 Sullivan； the
retired prize fighter； had； only a week before； appeared 〃in monologue；〃
and had sometimes been so drunk that he could not go through with his
part。
In the midst of all this； Carry Nation was announced； and she stepped
upon the stage； unattended by any glare of colored lights or fanfare
of music。 A quiet； motherly looking woman； plainly dressed； with a Bible
in her hand； she commanded almost immediately the respect of that large
crowdfrom the men in the orchestra stalls to the gallery gods。 One
half intoxicated fellow began to scoff at her； but was almost immediately
hushed by the scarcely less drunken ones around him。 It was a sight
that hushed them all into respectful silence； for a respectable； earnest
woman；
with the Holy Book in her hand； will have a subduing effect upon
almost any company of people。
Mrs。 Nation announced her text； and preached a sermon； and delivered
a temperance lecture； both within the half…hour。 （The latter she calls
a 〃prohibition lecture〃hating the word temperance； as applied to drink。）
She said words； such as had probably not been heard by most of those
there； for a great many years。 She told them what sots they were making
of themselves； and made her points so emphatic that they cheered her
almost in spite of themselves。 She commenced her speech as an experiment；
so far as that day's audience was concerned； she closed a
heroine。 She did not remain idle during the time between her appearances
on the stage； but cultivated the acquaintances of the actors and actresses；
and； it is said； to their good。
That is what Mrs。 Nation is doing now； on what is called the eastern
vaudeville circuit； and it would be hard to see how one woman could do
more good in half an hour； than she does； and that among those that
need it most。
Mrs。 Nation's whole name is Carrie Amelia Nation； but having noticed
from old records that her father wrote the first name 〃Carry；〃 she
now does the same； and considers the name portentous as concerns what
she is trying and means to do。 She believes； she says； that it is her mission
to 〃carry a nation〃 from the darkness of drunken bestiality into the
light of purity and sobriety； and if she can do this； or in any great measure
contribute to it； there are millions of people in the world； that will
bid her Good speed。
CHAPTER XXVIII。
A scientific article on the effects of alcohol on the human system。
If any doctor should try to deceive you here is the proof of his malicious
intent to drug you。
LIQUOR DRINKING IN HEALTH AND DISEASE。
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE UPON THE PROGRESS MADE IN MEDICAL SCIENCE
IN FAVOR OF TEMPERANCE DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 1； 1902A。 W。
GUTRIDGE； CHAIRMAN。 READ AT THE THIRTY…FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION
OF THE CATHOLIC TOTAL ABSTINENCE UNION OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ST。
PAUL； AND ORDERED PUBLISHED BY THE CONVENTION。
In order to understand what progress has been made during the year；
it is necessary to note the condition of affairs at the commencement of
the period。
Long before this committee began work the leading physicians of
every enlightened country； the men to whom the entire profession looks
for guidance； had declared against the use of alcohol both in health and
in disease。
IS ALCOHOL A DRINK！
One reason why all the greatest physicians believed it harmful was
because it had been found that alcohol was not a drink。 The most abundant
substance found in the human body； is water。 About 130 pounds of
the weight of a 160…pound person is water； 〃Quite enough if rightly
arranged to drown him。〃 Man has been irreverently described as 〃about
30 pounds of solids set up in 13 gallons of water。〃 So it is quite natural
for us to hunger for water； 〃death by thirst is more rapid and distressing