Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-24

neSe House In Denver.
From the Denver Nows.l
The almond. eyed celestial Of Wa2eC
street who opened the door at our bid
ding told US, as plainly as his abbrevat
ed stock OF English would allow, that we
were welcome; and turning to take one
parting breath of pure air, we entered
the wretched abode and sat down upon
some artistic specimens of seats in the
shape Of candle boxes that had been sci
up for our comfort. The atmosphere ol
the room was oppressive, and the pecu.
| liar, sickening sensation that greeted us
upon our entrance-Dut which had now
begun to give way to feeling of numb
ness and lassitude-was readily ex-
planned by the presence of thick smoke
that hung over the farther corner of the
room, and which we had been inhaling.
The " heather Chinee" who had bade us
welcome pointed to the floor where the
smoke was thickest, and there we discov-
cred Pickering light which made ghast-
ly the livid features of man recumbent
upon mass of blankets, while near by lay
pair of Chinese shoes, a small box, a vial
of dark looking material, pipe, and
another victim of opium smoking. We
drew near and the person engaged in
the practice muttered few words which
the attendant understood, and we were
assured that our presence wasa not un-
welcome. Indeed, we hardly perceive
how one could decide between welcome
and unwelcome guests when so near the
border land of stupor. All Shing or Wa
Shing, we don't know which, but he
certainly followed the latter calling for
living, and who was lodger in the
house, was evidently disgusted with the
spectacle, and remarked that he never
allowed himself to follow the habit OF
smoking, that it would kill one, and that
the present victim was No good he no
workee; he no sleep; he welly much
smokee; he no account any way. And
we we're inclined to believe the fellow,
for the seemingly half dead man before
us was certainly good for nothing at
that present moment save for opium
smoking. He had smoked but few
pipefuls, and yet the hand Of death
seemed to have been laid upon him, 80
CHASTITY was his appearance.
While we were looking in astonish-
ment upon the performance Of whiting
the smoke, the charge was exhausted,
and without losing any time he immedi-
ateiy act about preparing for another
b.ief period of bliss.
To the uninitiated this smoking mate
rails are curiosity, and look very little
az though they we're intended for the
purpose for which they are used. I'm
primis-there Is the pipe, and it is no
ordinary pipe. The stem is Of bamboo,
of uniform size its entire length, the
orifice being about half inch in diam
eter. The bowl is placed fully three
inches from the lower END, and is made
of some peculiar red earthenEare, look
more like an old veteran meersGhaam
than anything else we can compare it
to. This is hollow, but gives no snch
evidence outwardly, as the top is Gov
cred. Close examination will reveal
hole in the center, as though the cover
ing has been punctLred by darning-
needle. So much for the pipe. 10
smoke opium blaze is needed, and the
smoker prepares small lamp with
which to heat the dark mass. There ls
also a stiff wire, for what purpose will
shortly appear. The most important
thing Of an is the opium itself, which is
carefully put away IN small vial Ihe
one we saw would hold nearly 81 ounce.
This is heated until the opium Is
of about the consistency OF very
cold syrup. Ready to commence
the horrid practice, the deVotee
throws himself on the floor, takes the
wire in one hand, the vial in the other,
aud secures upon the former piece Of
opium about one.quarter of an inch in
diameter when rolled into a sphere.
Grasping the pipe, be holds the top Of
the bowl near the fame, while the wire
holding the opium is thrust into The iire
and turned rapidly as il melts, 10 pre-
vent its falling, and is then rolled upon
the Eat top Of the pipe. This heating
and rolling is continued until the opium
will adhere 10 the pipe Immediately over
the small puncture in the top, and also
allow the wire 10 be Withdrawn, thus
forming a hole similar 10 vent Of
ire-arm. This done, the wire is laid
aside, the pipe is grasped IN both hands,
the opium is held against the blaze, aud
the smoker inhsles. He take . long
breath, aud holds the villainous suoke
10 his mouth for several seconds, when
be elects il through the nostrils. A
half dozen pufs Of this character are
sufficient 10 exhaust the charge, and be
Immediately grasps his materials and
prepares for another season Of delIriun.
The preparation Of the pipe vas done
10 mach less time than We have occu-
pied in telling i. and the miserable mau,
drunk With the terrible destroyer, again