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 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