The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-03
A PIPE OF OPIUM.

We sat in the corner anxiously awaiting his
had to iron. The evening was coming on apace,
and the children Of the neighborhood seemed to
be taking advantage of the few hours before bed
time to make desperate charges on the front door
of the shop and shout in: sob, Fung Chez!
Fung Chee Washerwoman washerwoman 4"
These salies of Occidental humor did not in
the least annoy our host, for, saving now and
then roguish twinkle of the eye, he evinced the
most stole fortitude at what the children thought
the deadli est thrusts at his character as man
and brother. Whether it was because he was
ignorant of the gender of the word "washer-
woman" or whether it was that his trade made
MIN, for the time being, epcene, we. can't say e1-
actly, but certain it was his temper was not in
the least ruffled and he went on with his ironing
Obvious of the many roguish faces peering in
the door.
1t is somewhat difficult to throw anything of
the Oriental about the appearance of upper Ram
part street, in the neighborhood of Poydras
Market. The shops and stores are crowded in
closely together, and Miss Tibbits, the milliner,
hustle almost brushes the cabinet-makers work
bench next door. Humanity seemed to be thrust
in one heap together, and it did not seem to dis
play any desire to relieve itself in the least of the
elbowing on a | sides in the push forward to-
wards that ultima ttule-bread AID meat for the
morrow.
At last Fung Chez took up his iron to put his
famous polish on the last shirt DO som, and the
Arabs at the door "silently stole away" a half q
dozen pieces of charcoal from the bucket at the
door, and there was comparative silence IN the
streets.
We watched the Chinaman as he went on with
the work before him, and every thug the iron
woulo make striking the ironing board had about
it SORT Of Monaghan sound, not in the least
American.
The shirt at last was turned over to pile Of it's
brothers 1--WE believe there ought to be a brother
hood in Shirts for they all have the same yoke to
bear), and Fung, without more ado, begun to put
up the little shutters to his diminutiye shop win
dow.
Gail yightee now," said he. and in profound re.
spect to his superior knowledge on the subject,
we bowed assent. The purpose OF our visit to
this laundryman was not to become initiated into
the mysteries of the washboard, but in response
to to an invitation to s'takee some night ppee"
Of opium with the hospitable Fung.
Following him, at his motion, into an uncom
fortably SIN all back room. we found ourself con :.
fronted on the one side by two berths built up
against the wall like ships bunk, and, on the
other, by mantelpiece extravagantly adorned
with plumes OF chicken feathers as charms
the floor made of some kind Of grass, and two
something's that looked like stunted saw. horses
which, we were informed, were pillows.
Disdalnlng to give more critical examination
to the surroundings when Fung was busy with
the important ceremony OF making two opium
pills on little table, we approached and looked
over his shoulder. He had lump of the crude
drug about the size of plum. and from it had
taken two pieces about as large each as pea. We
confess we felt some little misgivings when he
fpnl- ton nl-pn INnyV md
it over the pills. 1t was perfume, Flung said;
so we concluded it must ba all right.
After rather super. abundance of directions
as to how to keep the c)al of fire over the bowl
Of the pipe, when to an American eye the pipe
had no bowl, and considerable putting and blow
ing, we allowed Fung's example and laid down
on. one of the mats and placed our head on tae
little saw-horse. The Chinese pillow is not a
success to civilized head, and it was with diff
Guilty we could refrain putting on beautiful
smile. so strong was the imp ession that our
head was in a photographers rest and We were
having our pictures taken.
We took our first Whit at the pipe, and then
felt ourselves all over to see whether it had any
effect, but without discovering any serious re-
suits Puff after puff followed. and bitter, bu mt
coffee taste gave notice that our opium Was
alight. Alternately devoting our attention TO
the pipe and then to the drugs action on our
senses, many minutes passed, when we noticed
marked diminuton in our in crest In the coal
of fire on the bowl and distaste to everything
present.
The necessity of moving finger was posi-
lively annoying, and rest, perfect rest, was what
was desired. The room opened its walls, and we
were roaming back through some of the delight
full spots IN memory. But the visions. Ali OF
them were not different from those any one Of an
imaginative disposition can call up, except, per-
haps, they were more intense, sharper cut in out
line and higher colored. The taste of the smoke,
although dry to the mouth, was not more disa-
greeable than poor tobacco.
We remarked as present during the whole time
we were smoking, one thought or rather feel
ing, of anticipated regret when the pipe should be
smoked out. We hoped after each puff it would
pleasing but rather because we feared the sensa-
ton of languor and quiesence would disappear
At last the last red light of the little bead OF
opium coal died out and we knew We had smoked
one dose.
There was but little desire to sleep, for we had
charged Fung Chez not to give us enough for
that, but there was certainly present superla-
live laziness about US that would have done credit
to any government official.
In about twenty minutes we felt the old self
coming back, and with it great thirst. Our
ideas were somewhat clouded, but nothing to
speak of.
We had stolen peep at De @ 1incy's land of
fancy and this peep was all we wanted. The
gates are pearly, the meadows daisy banked,
the skies feecy, but when the opium sun there
A man may look once through the keyhole OF
the gate in safety-once only.
HOT PEANUTS.