第 22 节
作者:谁与争疯      更新:2021-02-19 00:36      字数:9322
  depot and left my valise。 I went up town to select the place I would begin
  at first。 I went into about fourteen places; where men were drinking
  at bars; the same as they do in licensed places。 The police standing with
  the others。 This outrage of law and decency was in violation of the oaths
  taken by every city officer; including mayor and councilmen; and they were
  as much bound to destroy these joints as they would be to arrest a murderer;
  or break up a den of thieves; but many of these so…called officers
  encouraged the violation of the law and patronized these places。 I have
  often explained that this was the scheme of politicians and brewers to
  make prohibition a failure; by encouraging in every way the violation of
  the constitution。 I felt the outrage deeply; and would gladly have given
  my life to redress the wrongs of the people。 As Esther said: 〃How can
  I see the desolation of my people? If I perish。〃 As Patrick Henry said:
  〃Give me liberty or give me death。〃
  I finally came to the 〃Carey Hotel;〃 next to which was called the
  Carey Annex or Bar。 The first thing that struck me was the life…size
  picture of a naked woman; opposite the mirror。 This was an oil painting
  with a glass over it; and was a very fine painting hired from the
  artist who painted it; to be put in that place for a vile purpose。 I called
  to the bartender; told him he was insulting his own mother by having
  her form stripped naked and hung up in a place where it was not even
  decent for a woman to be in when she had her clothes on。 I told him
  he was a law…breaker and that he should be behind prison bars; instead
  of saloon bars。 He said nothing to me but walked to the back of his
  saloon。 It is very significant that the picture of naked women are in
  saloons。 Women are stripped of everything by them。 Her husband is
  torn from her; she is robbed of her sons; her home; her food and her
  virtue; and then they strip her clothes off and hang her up bare in these
  dens of robbery and murder。 Well does a saloon make a woman bare of
  all things! The motive for doing this is to suggest vice; animating the
  animal in man and degrading the respect he should have for the sex to
  whom he owes his being; yes; his Savior also。
  I decided to go to the Carey for several reasons。 It was the most
  dangerous; being the finest。 The low doggery will take the low and keep
  them low but these so…called respectable ones will take the respectable;
  make them low; then kick them out。 A poor vagabond applied to a bar
  tender in one of these hells glittering with crystalized tears and fine
  fixtures。
  The man behind the bar said; 〃You get out; you disgrace my place。〃
  The poor creature; who had been his mother's greatest treasure; shuffled
  out toward the door。 Another customer came in; a nice looking young
  man with a good suit; a white collar; and looking as if he had plenty
  of money; The smiling bar tender mixed a drink and was handing it to
  him。 The poor vagabond from the door called out。 〃Oh; don't begin on
  him。 Five years ago; I came into your place; looking just like that
  young man。 You have made me what you see me now。 Give that drink
  to me and finish your work。 Don't begin on him。〃
  I went back to the hotel and bound the rod and cane together; then
  wrapped paper around the top of it。 I slept but little that night; spending
  most of the night in prayer。 I wore a large cape。 I took the cane
  and walked down the back stairs the next morning; and out in the alley
  I picked up as many rocks as I could carry under my cape。 I walked into
  the Carey Bar…room; and threw two rocks at the picture; then turned
  and smashed the mirror that covered almost the entire side of the large
  room。 Some men drinking at the bar ran at break…neck speed; the bartender
  was wiping a glass and he seemed transfixed to the spot and
  never moved。 I took the cane and broke up the sideboard; which had on
  it all kinds of intoxicating drinks。 Then I ran out across the street
  to destroy another one。 I was arrested at 8:30 A。 M。; my rocks and
  cane taken from me; and I was taken to the police headquarters; where
  I was treated very nicely by the Chief of Police; Mr。 Cubbin; who
  seemed to be amused at what I had done。 This man was not very
  popular with the administration; and was soon put out。 I was kept
  in the office until 6:30 P。 M。 Gov。 Stanley was in town at that time;
  and I telephoned to several places for him。 I saw that he was dodging
  me; so。 I called a messenger boy and sent a note to Gov。 Stanley;
  telling him that I was unlawfully restrained of my liberty; that I wished
  him to call and see me; or try to relieve me in some way。 The messenger
  told me; when he came back; that he caught him at his home; that he
  read the message over three times; then said: 〃I have nothing to say;〃
  and went in; and closed the door。 This is the man who taught Sunday
  School in Wichita for twenty years; where they were letting these murder
  shops run in violation of the law。 Strange that this man should pull
  wool over the eyes of the voters of Kansas。 I never did have any
  confidence in him。 When he came to Medicine Lodge to lecture a few
  months before this; I would not go to hear him; telling the people that
  he was an enemy。
  Kansas has learned some dear lessons; and she will be wise indeed
  when she learns that only Prohibitionists will enforce prohibition laws。
  That republicans and democrats are traitors; and no one belonging to
  these parties should ever hold office; especially in Kansas。
  At 6:30 P。 M。; I was tried and taken to Wichita jail; found guilty of
  malicious mischief; Sam Amidon being the prosecuting attorney; and
  the friend of every joint keeper in the city。 He called me a 〃spotter〃
  when I wanted to give evidence against the jointists。
  The legislature was to convene in a few days and it was understood
  that the question of resubmitting the Prohibition Amendment would come
  up。 Being a part of the constitution; the people had to vote on it; and it
  was frustrating their plans to have such agitation at this time; and
  these republican leaders were determined to make a quietus of
  me; if possible。 The scheme was to get me in an insane asylum;
  and they wished to increase my insanity as they called my zeal; so as to
  have me out of their way; for I was calling too much attention to their
  lawlessness; at this time; when it might prove disastrous to their plots。
  Two sheriffs conducted me to my cell。 The sensation of being locked in
  such a place for the first time is not like any other; and never occurs the
  second time。 These men watched me after the door was locked。 I tried
  to be brave; but the tears were running down my face。 I took hold of
  the iron bars of my door; and tried to shake them and said: 〃Never mind;
  you put me in here a cub; but I will go out a roaring lion and I will make
  all hell howl。〃 I wanted to let them know that I was going to grow while
  in there。
  Three days after; on the 30th; there was brought in and put next to
  my cell an old man; named Isaiah Cooper; a lunatic; who raved; cursed
  and tore his clothes and bedding。 He was brought from the poor farm
  where he was waiting to be sent to the insane asylum。 There were some
  cigarette; smokers in the jail and the fumes came in my cell; for I had
  nothing but an open barred door。 I begged that I might not be compelled
  to smell this poison; but; instead of diminishing; the smoke increased。
  Two prisoners from across the rotunda were brought next to
  my cell。
  What an outrage; to tax the citizens of Sedgwick County to build
  such a jail as that in Wichita。 It holds one hundred and sixty prisoners。
  There were thirteen there when I was put in。 I have been in many jails; but
  in none did I ever see a rotary; except in Wichita; a large iron cage;
  with one door; the little cells the shape of a piece of pie。 Perhaps there
  were a dozen in this one。 The cage rotated within a cylinder。 This was
  for the worst criminals; and the cells were only large enough for a small
  cot; a chair and a table about a foot square。
  {illust。 caption =
  JUST BEFORE I LEFT WICHITA JAIL A PHOTOGRAPHER CAME TO MY CELL AND ASKED
  TO TAKE MY PICTURE。  HERE IT IS IN THE POSITION OF KNEELING; READING
  MY BIBLE; WHICH WAS MY USUAL ATTITUDE。}
  Mr。 Simmons was the sheriff and he told the prisoners to 〃smoke all
  they pleased;〃 that he would keep them in material; and he kept his word。
  Tobacco smoke is poison to me and cigarettes are worse。 The health…
  board belonged to this republican whiskey ring; and was in conspiracy
  to make me insane; so they put a quarantine on the jail for three weeks;
  and I was a lone woman in there; with two cigarette smokers; and a
  maniac; next to my cell。 John; the Trusty; smoked a horrid strong pipe;
  and he also was next to my cell。 Strange to say; when that jail had so
  many apartments; and so few in them; that four inmates should have been
  put next to me; but there was 〃a cause。〃 Mr。 Dick Dodd was the jailor;
  and for three weeks he was the only one who came in my cell and I was
  not allowed to see anyone in that time; but Dr。 Jordan who called once。
  I cried and begged to be relieved of the smoke; for I do not think Mr。
  Dodd realized how poisonous it was to me。 I would have to keep my
  w