Thursday, May 18, 2017
What Carry carried
Latest item at KSHS is a fascinating look at the mind of an interesting character. It's a copy of Imitatio Christi, given to Carry Nation by a writer at the KC Star.
Several pages have notations. This one seems to be the longest:
Sunday May 5 1901 I got up at four [don't] feel so well went for my trunk at depot with
Dodd the turnkey Oh praise God and bless the giver of this book Got a letter
from Charlie's Darling child
[Poor Dodd must have suffered terrible nightmares for the rest of his life.]
Most notations are practical, like this one:
Read in the Rotary in Wichita jail April 25 1901
This one is unique. It's sideways, it's written in 'typewriter style' instead of cursive, and it runs directly contrary to everything Carry stood for.
Oh give me not my way O Lord!
Getting her way was the sole purpose of her life. Was she starting to have regrets, or was this written by someone else? Perhaps an irritated cellmate who had heard too many of those 'readings in the Rotary'?
= = = = =
Sidenote: I was looking through the mugshots at KSHS, which are mostly from 1901, hoping to find Carry and her cellie. Carry wasn't there, but this random pairing of two female inmates tells an unchanging story. Blacks have always done a better job of Imitatio Christi.
Sunday May 5 1901 I got up at four [don't] feel so well went for my trunk at depot with
Dodd the turnkey Oh praise God and bless the giver of this book Got a letter
from Charlie's Darling child
[Poor Dodd must have suffered terrible nightmares for the rest of his life.]
Most notations are practical, like this one:
Read in the Rotary in Wichita jail April 25 1901
This one is unique. It's sideways, it's written in 'typewriter style' instead of cursive, and it runs directly contrary to everything Carry stood for.
Oh give me not my way O Lord!
Getting her way was the sole purpose of her life. Was she starting to have regrets, or was this written by someone else? Perhaps an irritated cellmate who had heard too many of those 'readings in the Rotary'?
= = = = =
Sidenote: I was looking through the mugshots at KSHS, which are mostly from 1901, hoping to find Carry and her cellie. Carry wasn't there, but this random pairing of two female inmates tells an unchanging story. Blacks have always done a better job of Imitatio Christi.
Labels: 1901
¶ 3:20 AM
