In his book, “Leavenworth Beginning to Bicentennial,” J.H. Johnston III wrote about Mrs. Nation: Many of Leavenworth’s social and political activities had their setting in the National Hotel, downtown Leavenworth at the turn of the century.
After its completion the National was leased to Joseph Giacomini and Fedinando “Jesus” Mella.
When Carry Nation visited Leavenworth in March of 1901 there was speculation as to just how busy she might be, confronted with a plethora of saloons. Arriving from Topeka Carry stated “she did not have her hatchet with her and did not intend to chop on any Leavenworth bars.” It was reported she was under a $2,000 bond to keep the peace and would be of mild manner until after a court appearance. After visiting the Soldiers Home (the VA), according to the account in The Leavenworth Times, Carry was taken upstairs at the National Hotel. The bar room was closed until she was safely out of the area. When she was out of sight of the saloon the doors were opened and the bar did a grand business. The National’s liquor revenues for the day were estimated at $500 and the newspaper observed that all it had cost Mella was Carry’s hotel bill.
Mrs. Marianna Mella Donaldson of Bedford, Texas, recalls: “The account of Carry Nation’s visit which had been handed down in our family is that my grandfather, “Jesus” Mella, heard she was enroute to wreck all the bars in the vicinity, so instead of opposing her, he met her train and presented her with roses, lodged her in his hotel and was so gracious to her, she didn’t have the heart to destroy his saloon. How much truth there is in the account, I don’t know.”
At any rate, a semi-nude painting from the National’s saloon survived along with the bar. Today “the painting Carry Nation missed” formerly hung in the Centennial room of the Cody Motor Inn. Today the painting hangs in the Carnegie Arts Center 601 South 5th Street Leavenworth. The Carnegie building once housed Leavenworth’s Public Library. The painting is on Permanent Loan from the Leavenworth County Historical Society. A plaque states: ’Invading Cupid’s Realm (reproduction) by Samuel Johnson c1860. Samuel Johnson’s reproduction of Adolphe William Bourguereau’s “Invading Cupid’s Realm” was originally housed in the local National Hotel. In 1901 the painting became known as “The painting Carry Nation missed” after Miss Nation visited Leavenworth on her speaking tour.”
After the National Hotel was sold, the painting was stored in the former owner’s garage until 1961. The painting has since been cleaned, repaired, and restored. The central figure is a female nude above the waist. Her hands are raised above her head and cupids surround her. A wing of one of the cherubs appears above her right hand and at first glance could be mistaken for a tray. The cupids appear to adore the woman’s figure and one is seen at her feet. Another is unmistakably a boy.
Mrs. Nation’s last appearance was at Eureka Springs, Mo, on Jan. 13. 1911.
Returning by train to Leavenworth, Carry was borne to the Evergreen Sanitarium at the southwest corner of Limit and Shrine Park Road.
There the owner Dr. C.C. Goddard, admitted her. She died on June 9, 1911. Dr A.L. Suwalsky and a nurse were with her at the end.
A gravesite was selected in Belton, Mo., and Carry Nation was laid to rest alongside her mother.
As a side note: Carrie A. Nation’s name was changed by her to read Carry A Nation. She thought what she was doing was noble, but, in fact, prohibition was the launch for organized crime.
The author, Annie Walker Johnston (LHS Class of 1954) is a Leavenworth resident and wife of the late J.H. Johnston III, former Leavenworth Times publisher.
Copyright 2011 Leavenworth Times. Some rights reserved.
The painting has now been returned to the Leavenworth County Historical Society at the Carroll Mansion Museum and may be seen there as part of a house tour.
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