The people of Medicine Lodge were shocked at this, for they knew I had been faithful to my duties as a wife, up to the time I went to Wichita, and when I went to Topeka I told Mr. Nation if he would stay there with me, I would pay his board and room rent, which I did.  He came to Topeka and the first thing that he took offense at was my objecting to his opening my mail, for when he did I never saw a dollar sent for a subscription and sometimes would find parts of letters destroyed.

On the day of the trial, Mr. Nation could not produce a witness to prove I was other than kind, except the affidavit of a man who could neither read nor write.  Mr. Nation wrote out what he wanted this man to swear to, and the man signed it, for he could just write his name.  This man was in Oklahoma at the time, My neighbors came of their own accord and testified to my having done my cooking and housework; frequently cooking meals and taking them to Mr. Nation, who was still in bed.  Judge Gillette, the same man who was on the bench in my slander suit presided.  Mr. Nation did not get his divorce because of my “extreme cruelty,” but because I testified that I could not, nor would never live with him as a wife.  I could not.  I was very much grieved to bear this reproach, of a divorced wife.  I made my home during the trial with my dear friend, Mrs. Judge Howe, who is still living, and she knows how bitter this was to me.

The home was given me, and the divorce and a small piece of property in Medicine Lodge to Mr. Nation.  I shortly after sold this home for $800.  It was part of the payment for “Home for Drunkards’ Wives” in Kansas City.  It was as I expected, a means used by my enemies to hinder me in my work.  I was blamed for the divorce.  It was said, “I broke up a home.”  That if I was in a good work I would not do these things.  And while delivering my lectures, it was often called out; “Why don’t you go back to your husband?  No wonder he got a divorce from you,” and all such sayings.  But I learned to expect and was prepared for such treatment.

We hear, “A woman’s place is at home.”  That is true, but what and where is home.  Not the walls of a house.  Not furniture, food or clothes.  Home is where the heart is, where our loved ones are.  If my son is in a drinking place, my place is there.  If my daughter, or the daughter of any one else, my family or any other family is in trouble, my place is there.  That woman would be selfish or cowardly who would refuse to leave her home to relieve suffering or trouble.  Jesus said, “Go out into the highways and hedges.”  He said this to women, as well as men.  If the women of Galilee had not left their homes they would not have followed Jesus.  If Phoebe had not left her home, she would not have gone on the business of the church to Jerusalem.  We would have no woman missionaries—­Women now, are forced to go out to save the homes.