National Shrine?

Near Medicine Lodge, Kan., stands a five-room brick cottage, from which, 27 years ago, crusaded Carrie Nation, Prohibitionist, Reformer, Hatchet-Wielder. Last week Prohibitionists began a movement to preserve this cottage as a Carrie Nation Memorial.

In 1865 a young physician, one Dr. David Gloyd, was boarding at the Kansas home of one George Moore. Attracted by Mr. Moore's daughter Carrie, then 19, Dr. Gloyd, taking her by surprise, grasped and kissed her. Thereupon Carrie burst into tears, put her hands over her eyes, cried out: "I am ruined! I am ruined!" Rising to the requirements of the situation, Dr. Gloyd became Carrie's husband. Shortly after, he developed into a confirmed alcoholic, went to a "drunkard's grave."

In 1877 Carrie Gloyd married the Rev. David Nation, veteran of the Civil War. In 1901 the Rev. Nation, divorced her on grounds of desertion, cruelty. It had been her custom to sit in the front pew while he was preaching, comment audibly upon his sermon. When she had listened as long as seemed to her sufficient, she would shout out: "That will be about all for today, David!" In 1900 Carrie Nation, began to see visions and to hear angel voices. In church she became ecstatic, ran up and down the aisles, clapped her hands, shouted "Hallelujah!" and "Praise the Lord!" At length, convinced of her "mission," she set out to crusade against the Demon Rum. Then began her saloon-smashing career. Almost six feet tall, weighing 175 pounds, she would stride through the swinging doors of Kansas saloons* smash windows, mirrors, bottles, glasses; upbraid bartenders and patrons. In a Wichita saloon in 1900 she eyed a nude over the bar, told the bartender that the picture was an insult to his mother. As the town marshal escorted her to the station, many a rotten egg was flung at the Hatchet-Swinger. She was jailed three times in Topeka. In Kiowa, when the mayor demanded that she pay damages to a battered saloon, she threatened him with fire and brimstone, then, as he allowed her to leave, turned, delivered a benediction: "Peace on earth--good will to men!" As her fame spread, there came offers for lecture tours. For some time her objections to the theatre kept her from mounting a stage of any sort. Finally she saw opportunity to gain temperance converts, accepted speaking offers, became rich. When she spoke in burlesque theatres she considered herself to be "like Christ among the publicans." In 1903 she tried, unsuccessfully, to see President Roosevelt; then entered the Senate Gallery, sold miniature hatchets. When she rushed into the Senate Chamber shouting: "Treason, anarchy, conspiracy--Discuss these!" she was arrested, fined $25. In 1911 she entered a sanitarium at Leavenworth where she died the following June of paresis. Dying, she asked that on her tombstone should be inscribed the epitaph: "She hath done what she could."

* Kansas was legally "dry," actually wet. Carrie Nation raided only one legally operated saloon. It was in Texas and was called "The Carrie Nation Saloon." Learning of this insult, Carrie Nation journeyed to Texas, made reprisal.