The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

1485

Title

The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A fiery 1905 autobiography by Carry A. Nation, a self-proclaimed 'Home Defender' who crusaded against the liquor trade. Blending personal testimony with radical activism, this text chronicles her conversion, marital tragedies, and violent raids on saloons. It appeals to mothers and workers to reject licensed vice, framing prohibition as a divine mandate to save families and souls from the 'murder-mills' of alcohol.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation,' Carry Amelia Nation presents a fervent, first-person account of her transformation from a Kentucky farm girl into a notorious prohibition crusader. The narrative begins with her childhood memories of Garrard County, Kentucky, detailing her early life, her first marriage to a man who died of whiskey poisoning, and the subsequent hardships she faced, including the loss of her teaching position and property. Following a profound spiritual awakening and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, Nation feels a divine mandate to dismantle the saloon system. She describes her aggressive campaign across Kansas, Missouri, and beyond, where she physically smashed liquor bottles in dive bars in cities like Medicine Lodge, Wichita, and Topeka. Her actions frequently led to arrests, jail time, and physical assaults, which she framed as necessary sacrifices for the cause. Nation argues that licensed saloons are the root of societal ills, including divorce, crime, and suicide, and insists that mothers must take direct action to protect their children. The book documents her travels to Washington D.C., where she was famously arrested in the Senate chamber, and her lectures across the United States and Canada. Interspersed with poetry, such as 'The Lips That Touch Liquor Must Never Touch Mine,' and endorsements from religious figures, the text serves as both a personal testimony of faith and a political manifesto. She urges the public to vote for prohibition and close the 'joint' doors, viewing the liquor traffic as a form of treason against the family and the nation. The book concludes with plans for future crusades and an appeal for support for her magazine, 'The Hatchet,' which she uses to spread her message and counter the misrepresentations of the 'rum-bought press.' Through her story, Nation champions the idea that true liberty requires the courage to do what is right, even when facing legal persecution and social ostracization.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg1485.epub

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Categories

• Biography
• Politics