The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-02
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From London soci.,v,

dDOut u vague IdtclDdHOQ, euCl as IS felt To-
wards ghostly legend and the lore Of fairy.land
There exists a strange yesrning to make more init
mate acquaintance with the miraculous drug con
corning which there is so much whispering, aud
az rhe same time asuperstitious dread of approach
ing IL, such a., when 10 comes TO the pinch nos
sssses the rustic believer 10 the efficacy of repeat
ing prayer backwards as means of raising the
devil. Ii is the vulgar supposition that the one
occupation OF the lives of eastern grandees ia to
TecliDe on soft cushions and indulge in the charm
ing narcotic; that the thousand and one seductive
stories contained in the " Arabian Nights" were
composed by writers whose senses were stepped
in il, and that our poet laureate and his brethren
constantly draw Inspiration from IT, either thr Ugh
pipe.stem or by means Of mastication. Further
more, II is largely believed that any man might
become poet or at least writer of flowing and
fOweTy prose. IL he only possessed courage suff
cient to avail himself Of this convenient pick-lock
Of the gates Of Paradise. ........ -. fkl.f
And who shall tell Of the multitude Of youthful as
pTsnts for poetic fame who have daringy grasped
the magic key and esssyed 70 apply Il? Also
and alas who shall make known to an unkind
world the many who have bungled over the
gentle burglary, who have failed at the gate, and
come away with no more deightfu sensation than
that which might arise through butting their u1-
lucky heads against the bars Of 1t? That is the
most tantslizng part Of the business. Opium may
be procuTed-any chemist will sell you an ounce
OF IL for eighteen peDce-but possessed Of II, and
not of the secret Of its use the novice is bet
ter OF than he would be if he set up a painter
on the strength of a color box and few brushes.
IL Is this seeFet1hst eapsttutes the rarity of the
luxury. To be enjoyed, the opium must be pre-
pared by a competent hand.-There are few suen
in Lonoon--few, that is, who are willing TO receive
pupils and give lessons. How limited their num-
Der is determined By the fact that when an opium
master is discovered, even though his den Is situate
in without exception, the most vile and yillainous
par; of the metropolis, he is regarded as person
worth visiting by lords and dukes, and even
princes and kings. The writer hereof. taking il
for granted that sight that could draw earls aud
princes to Bluegate Fields, could not be other
wise than highly curious and interesting, ventured
a journey thither recently.
Only such of the public as are accustomed to
read the police news in the daily papers can form
any idea as to the kind of place Bluegste Fields
is. Commonly IL is known as Tiger Bay" on
account OF the number Of ferocious she creatures
in petticoats that Turk and lair there. 1t is a
narrow lane opening on to High street, Shadwel,
at one end, and St. Georges street at the other.
To the left and right of the narrow lane are
many villainous courts and alleys, consisting
of OnestOry-high novels, each one aeeommO-
dating as many dodgers as might reasOn4-
bly, occupy an eight.roomed house. The inhab.
itsnts OF Bluegste Fields are the worst in England.
consisting Of man-trappers for the shipping lying
in the river just below, and the tigresses before
mentioned, who inveigle tipsy sailors from the
many surrounding abominabe dens " licensed for
dancing and music, p and drug them, and strip and
rob and i'll use them, and pickpockets and coiners
and robbers Of every degree. The mere backing
Of an eye or extraction of human hair by the Vio-
lent process of dragging il from the head is not
regarded in the light of an assault at BIuegate
Fields, but rather as a pleasant psstime to beguae
the lazy hours Of daylight. Judging from the re-
ports of the Thames police court, nothing of less
importance than the biting of of anose or an ear,
or the fracture OF q skull with poker, calls for
the interference Of the police. IL is a fact that,
while was inquiring at public house for the ad-
dress of Chi XII. the Chinaman, / overheard two
MO att ha hor .
that happened in the "Fields" that morning.
" What say is !" remarked the elder woman of the
two, who was fat woman, with horribly dirty
face, and blue seam across her nose that was
curiOusly suggestive of the rim of a pewter pot ,
" what say ls, If wants it, punch me. Pune
me in the face, and black my eyes, or punch me
about the head Kick me, If you like / don't so
much mind that; but when it comes to pokers and
shovels, it's little too hot" q. -7'.
was lucky in calling at the public house where
the two women were, since on inquiry discovered
that it to this place thatChi HI had directed all
letters from his numerous friends. ! was glad to
find that the barmaid spoke of the opium master in
a very respectful manner, calling him Mr.. Chi HI.
She happened to know, moreover, that the distn-
guished Chinsmsn was from home 80 | left with
her message for him, to the effect that, if ii ae
corded with Mr. Chi Ki's convenience, gentle.
man would be glad TO meet him on business at the
hostelry at six o'clock the following evening.
He was punctusl. Precisely as the clock
marked six he put his head in at the door. "Mr.
Cui XII, here's your gentleman" called out the
Obging barmaid and the Chinaman's body fol-
lowed his head aud he came towards me boHiOg
low and rubbing his hands. / must confess that
wac disappointed at Chi ki's appearance. Being
SO celebrated q Character, with lords and mar
qrises for his patrons and customers, | expected
TO see man able and willing to demonstrate in
his attire his native ideas of spendOr. Ii would
not have surprised me if SO exalted a parsonage
&c an opium master had appeared dressed in a
gown Of gold embroidered crimson silk, and with
a sash ard curiy.toed slippers; but poor Chi K
was very poorly clad indeed. He is a man of
Ostlerish cut, wearing long jacket, and a com
forter wisped round his neck. and tight trousers,
and an old cloth cap on his head. He is lame Of
leg, too, as many ostlers are. In few words |
explained my business, and, without betraying the
least astonishmeut at its nature, he expressed his
readiness to conduct me to his house there and
then.
We went little way into Bluegate Fields, and
then turned into the arched way of an alley, a
tTife higher, maybe, but not nearly so wide as an
ordinary coal cellar doorway. IL was dark as any
coal cellar. Come along, sir" said Chi XII,
encoursgiDgly, in his pigeon English" "a 1t is
down at the bottom and turn round the corner;
come along"
We arrived at the bottom, and came on q tiny
square of Unlocking little houses. and appalling
odor Of bad drainage, and Chi XII guided me to a
house in corner as his. II no larger than the
rest, and scarcely as good-lOOking, on account of
its many fractured window panes, and the rough
measures that had been res0rted 20 TO
block out the wind. Pushing open the outer door,
Chi Hi called at the foot of the stairs for light.
While we waited for it, | peeped into the parlor,
which was dark except for little blinking fire 10 an
iron skillet, crouchDg over which was China
man. looking the picture Of despair, with his knees
supporting his arms and his head resting on his
hands, and his pigtai slowed to the fore, and pro.
jecting over bis forehead as a unicorn wears his
horn. i observed too, that there was in the room
q large bedstead, with bed made the wrong way
on IT,
1t was an English voice that resounded to Chi
Ki's demand for light; and presently young.
ish woman, very thin and pae.lOoking. and
scarcely as tidy as she might have been, made her
appearance above with tallow candle in her
hand, and politely invited me to walk up. We
walked up, and at once came in full view of the
renowned opium masters public smOking-room,
which served likewise for his private sitting.room
and his private bedroom, and, judging from the
handle of a saucepan and q suspicion Of dirty
plates under the bed, for his kitchen as well.
1t was an extremely mean and miserable little
room. The fireplace was very narrow, and the
stote Of the ancient narrow wasted pattern. There
" as no fender. In the center of the room was a
small round table, and there were three wooden
chairs. The chief and most conspicuous article of
furniture the room contained was a large four
post bedstesd. and bed like the one down
stairs. The beo was not arranged according to
the English fashion. was rolled up bOlster.Wise