The Use and Need of the Life of Carrie A. Nation [37]
out that this was
"California Brandy", costing seventy-five dollars, that he had advised Day
to get it for medical purposes.
Mr. Day was at this time getting a permit to sell it for medical purposes.
He appeared in court to prove he was a graduated pharmacist,
never drank, and never had a clerk that did. The W. C. T. U. were there
in a body. We contested his right to have the permit. Poor man. I
pitied him. He was very much under the influence of intoxicants. When
asked; "What that was in the keg the ladies rolled out of his drug store
on the 16th of February?" he said: "It was California brandy." When
asked: "If he knew the taste of whiskey and brandy," he said: "Yes."
We handed him a bottle of this that he said was brandy. He pronounced
it "a poor quality of sour mash whiskey." Sister Runyan was then put
on the stand and said: "It came from the keg that was smashed."
This man was so humbled that he sold out in a month and left Medicine Lodge.
There are parties in that town who are more responsible
than O. L. Day. They did every thing in their power to have him do that
which was his ruin. In retaliation for this the republican rum element
one night made an attack on Sister Cain's and my house, broke windows
and threw rocks, and broke my buggy. They also sent a negro to my
house, named Haskel, a noted bootlegger. He asked for an interview.
He had quite a tale to tell me about hearing some men say that if the
women appeared against Day that my house would go. I am so well
acquainted with the colored race I could read him from the first and knew
that these "Rummies" had put this negro up to intimidate me. I listened
as if I believed. Then I said: "Haskel you ought to know by this time
that such men as these will not prevent me from doing my duty, besides
should my home be burned, it would be a lecture in favor of my cause
that would be worth more to me than the home. Now Haskel you get in
the company of these men and you tell them what I have told you." This
negro pretended to me that he came to me as a friend. When I told him
what I did, his expression was amusing to see.
CHAPTER VII.
SPIRITUAL LEADINGS.--JESUS A CONSCIOUS PRESENCE THREE DAYS.--LOSS OF
LIBERTY BY COMPROMISING.--THE PRICE PAID TO BE REINSTATED.--DISGRACE
TO BE A MILLIONAIRE
I had once while in Medicine Lodge, a heavenly rapture for three
days. My Savior was my constant companion. I saw no form, heard no
word. But His dear face was just behind and looking over my right shoulder.
He was a conscious presence and the deep peace was beyond any
experience I ever had. I shunned the society of persons. I would talk
to Him, would sing and play the accompaniment on the organ. I was
particular about my home work. While I saw no face, or form, I realized
that His was a sweet, smiling, gratified expression, and it told me I was
pleasing Him. I did not seem then to think this anything wonderful, and
have often reproached myself for not setting more store by this at the
time.
There was a period of from six months to a year that I was terribly
haunted by a feeling as if hung over a precipice. I was hanging
only by a rope above my head held by a hand out of a cloud. At night or in
the day, it was the same uneasy dread of falling. The precipice below
was black and horrible. There were banks on each side. At last I swung
over, landing on the right side. Oh! the relief!
When I first began to pray in public I was very awkward, never could
make any but what one would call a disconnected prayer, that never seems
to be impressive in an audience,
I asked an old-fashioned sister, who I knew was a saint, to tell me
what was wrong in my testimony. "I do not have liberty when I speak."
She said: "You do not praise God enough." I began to pray for a spirit
of praise. Shortly after this I was at prayer-meeting, was praying for
a spirit of praise. It was put in my mouth I rose to my feet and
began to say: "Praise God; Praise God!" repeating it over and over.
Oh! how sweet to use and hear those words! I could
"California Brandy", costing seventy-five dollars, that he had advised Day
to get it for medical purposes.
Mr. Day was at this time getting a permit to sell it for medical purposes.
He appeared in court to prove he was a graduated pharmacist,
never drank, and never had a clerk that did. The W. C. T. U. were there
in a body. We contested his right to have the permit. Poor man. I
pitied him. He was very much under the influence of intoxicants. When
asked; "What that was in the keg the ladies rolled out of his drug store
on the 16th of February?" he said: "It was California brandy." When
asked: "If he knew the taste of whiskey and brandy," he said: "Yes."
We handed him a bottle of this that he said was brandy. He pronounced
it "a poor quality of sour mash whiskey." Sister Runyan was then put
on the stand and said: "It came from the keg that was smashed."
This man was so humbled that he sold out in a month and left Medicine Lodge.
There are parties in that town who are more responsible
than O. L. Day. They did every thing in their power to have him do that
which was his ruin. In retaliation for this the republican rum element
one night made an attack on Sister Cain's and my house, broke windows
and threw rocks, and broke my buggy. They also sent a negro to my
house, named Haskel, a noted bootlegger. He asked for an interview.
He had quite a tale to tell me about hearing some men say that if the
women appeared against Day that my house would go. I am so well
acquainted with the colored race I could read him from the first and knew
that these "Rummies" had put this negro up to intimidate me. I listened
as if I believed. Then I said: "Haskel you ought to know by this time
that such men as these will not prevent me from doing my duty, besides
should my home be burned, it would be a lecture in favor of my cause
that would be worth more to me than the home. Now Haskel you get in
the company of these men and you tell them what I have told you." This
negro pretended to me that he came to me as a friend. When I told him
what I did, his expression was amusing to see.
CHAPTER VII.
SPIRITUAL LEADINGS.--JESUS A CONSCIOUS PRESENCE THREE DAYS.--LOSS OF
LIBERTY BY COMPROMISING.--THE PRICE PAID TO BE REINSTATED.--DISGRACE
TO BE A MILLIONAIRE
I had once while in Medicine Lodge, a heavenly rapture for three
days. My Savior was my constant companion. I saw no form, heard no
word. But His dear face was just behind and looking over my right shoulder.
He was a conscious presence and the deep peace was beyond any
experience I ever had. I shunned the society of persons. I would talk
to Him, would sing and play the accompaniment on the organ. I was
particular about my home work. While I saw no face, or form, I realized
that His was a sweet, smiling, gratified expression, and it told me I was
pleasing Him. I did not seem then to think this anything wonderful, and
have often reproached myself for not setting more store by this at the
time.
There was a period of from six months to a year that I was terribly
haunted by a feeling as if hung over a precipice. I was hanging
only by a rope above my head held by a hand out of a cloud. At night or in
the day, it was the same uneasy dread of falling. The precipice below
was black and horrible. There were banks on each side. At last I swung
over, landing on the right side. Oh! the relief!
When I first began to pray in public I was very awkward, never could
make any but what one would call a disconnected prayer, that never seems
to be impressive in an audience,
I asked an old-fashioned sister, who I knew was a saint, to tell me
what was wrong in my testimony. "I do not have liberty when I speak."
She said: "You do not praise God enough." I began to pray for a spirit
of praise. Shortly after this I was at prayer-meeting, was praying for
a spirit of praise. It was put in my mouth I rose to my feet and
began to say: "Praise God; Praise God!" repeating it over and over.
Oh! how sweet to use and hear those words! I could