The Use and Need of the Life of Carrie A. Nation [107]
the street;
In the faces of the passers,
In the eyes of those he meets,
In the vestibule, the depot,
At the theatre or ball;
E'en at funerals and weddings,
And at christenings and all.
"Signs may threaten, men may warn him;
Babies cry and women coax;
But he cares not one iota,
For he calmly smokes and smokes.
Oh, he cares not whom he strangles,
Vexes, puts to flight, provokes;
And although they squirm and fidget,
He just smokes and smokes and smokes.
"Not a place is sacred to him;
Churchyards, where the flowers bloom;
Gardens, drives, in fact the world is
Just one mighty smoking room,
And when once he quits this mundane sphere,
And takes his outward flight,
From the world he made a hades,
Day he's turned to murky night.
"When be reaches his destination,
Finds 'tis not a dream or hoax,
And the Judge deals out his sentence,
Then I'll wager that he smokes;
Oh, he'll care then whom he has vexed,
And their mercy he'll invoke;
But although he squirms and fidgets,
They'll just let him smoke and smoke and smoke."
CHAPTER XXI.
TRIP ON FALL RIVER STEAMBOAT, FROM BOSTON TO NEW YORK--OFFICERS TRIED
TO LOCK ME IN MY STATE ROOM--SEQUEL SATISFACTORY, MADE PLEASANT
TRIP AND MANY FRIENDS.
In the summer of 1903 I took a Fall River boat from Boston to New
York. These boats are said to be the finest in the world. There was
quite a commotion among the several hundred passengers when I went
aboard, and the door was blocked in the women's cabin to get a look at
the Crazy Smasher from Kansas.
Men were smoking pipes, cigars and cigarettes. I said: "Men, get away
from the door with your smoke, you make me sick." They paid no attention
to me. I went to the clerk and complained of being compelled to
submit to the outrage of being subject to the poisonous fumes, in such
a manner as to attract the attention of all to the matter. The Clerk told
me to be quiet and sit down. I said, "I will, if I have a decent place to
stay, why do you not have these men get away from the door?" But
they were men, we were only women and children. Oh, the outrage on
poor mothers in delicate condition, to be subject to such treatment by
selfish,
dirty men. I believe every one who smokes' in a public place should
be fined. If men will smoke or commit nuisance, let it be where others
are not injured. I have no right to bring a skunk into any public place.
People should be taught that others have the right to object to anything
done that is wrong.
While I was still persisting in my request to the men to leave the
door, I was shown my state room; to which there were two doors, one
leading from the corridor and the other opening out next the water. The
captain, accompanied by the First and Second mate appeared at the former,
saying. "Madam, you are to keep your room this evening." I replied,
while eating a sandwich, "I do not feel like this, and neither will I." Said
he, "I will see that you do" at the same time telling the officers to lock
the doors. I said: "You can lock the doors to restrain me of my liberty,
but having paid my fare for the service of this company, I will tie up
this boat, when we reach New York, and you will learn that I can turn
a lock as well as yourself. I saw his countenance change. Mr. Furlong,
my manager, who was on the boat, and almost shaking with fear, began
to make excuse for me, etc, etc, but I said, "Never mind, Mr. Furlong,
I can attend to this little captain and myself too, he said no more. The
three men walked out of the corridor, shutting the door after them, but
did not lock it, in a few moments, they returned and opened both doors
for fear I would think they were locked. This was about supper time.
When I finished my lunch, and, having put on a clean tie and fixed my
hair, I took from my valise a lot of little hatchets and put them in a little
leather case I carry by a strap over my shoulder.
In the faces of the passers,
In the eyes of those he meets,
In the vestibule, the depot,
At the theatre or ball;
E'en at funerals and weddings,
And at christenings and all.
"Signs may threaten, men may warn him;
Babies cry and women coax;
But he cares not one iota,
For he calmly smokes and smokes.
Oh, he cares not whom he strangles,
Vexes, puts to flight, provokes;
And although they squirm and fidget,
He just smokes and smokes and smokes.
"Not a place is sacred to him;
Churchyards, where the flowers bloom;
Gardens, drives, in fact the world is
Just one mighty smoking room,
And when once he quits this mundane sphere,
And takes his outward flight,
From the world he made a hades,
Day he's turned to murky night.
"When be reaches his destination,
Finds 'tis not a dream or hoax,
And the Judge deals out his sentence,
Then I'll wager that he smokes;
Oh, he'll care then whom he has vexed,
And their mercy he'll invoke;
But although he squirms and fidgets,
They'll just let him smoke and smoke and smoke."
CHAPTER XXI.
TRIP ON FALL RIVER STEAMBOAT, FROM BOSTON TO NEW YORK--OFFICERS TRIED
TO LOCK ME IN MY STATE ROOM--SEQUEL SATISFACTORY, MADE PLEASANT
TRIP AND MANY FRIENDS.
In the summer of 1903 I took a Fall River boat from Boston to New
York. These boats are said to be the finest in the world. There was
quite a commotion among the several hundred passengers when I went
aboard, and the door was blocked in the women's cabin to get a look at
the Crazy Smasher from Kansas.
Men were smoking pipes, cigars and cigarettes. I said: "Men, get away
from the door with your smoke, you make me sick." They paid no attention
to me. I went to the clerk and complained of being compelled to
submit to the outrage of being subject to the poisonous fumes, in such
a manner as to attract the attention of all to the matter. The Clerk told
me to be quiet and sit down. I said, "I will, if I have a decent place to
stay, why do you not have these men get away from the door?" But
they were men, we were only women and children. Oh, the outrage on
poor mothers in delicate condition, to be subject to such treatment by
selfish,
dirty men. I believe every one who smokes' in a public place should
be fined. If men will smoke or commit nuisance, let it be where others
are not injured. I have no right to bring a skunk into any public place.
People should be taught that others have the right to object to anything
done that is wrong.
While I was still persisting in my request to the men to leave the
door, I was shown my state room; to which there were two doors, one
leading from the corridor and the other opening out next the water. The
captain, accompanied by the First and Second mate appeared at the former,
saying. "Madam, you are to keep your room this evening." I replied,
while eating a sandwich, "I do not feel like this, and neither will I." Said
he, "I will see that you do" at the same time telling the officers to lock
the doors. I said: "You can lock the doors to restrain me of my liberty,
but having paid my fare for the service of this company, I will tie up
this boat, when we reach New York, and you will learn that I can turn
a lock as well as yourself. I saw his countenance change. Mr. Furlong,
my manager, who was on the boat, and almost shaking with fear, began
to make excuse for me, etc, etc, but I said, "Never mind, Mr. Furlong,
I can attend to this little captain and myself too, he said no more. The
three men walked out of the corridor, shutting the door after them, but
did not lock it, in a few moments, they returned and opened both doors
for fear I would think they were locked. This was about supper time.
When I finished my lunch, and, having put on a clean tie and fixed my
hair, I took from my valise a lot of little hatchets and put them in a little
leather case I carry by a strap over my shoulder.