New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-21

out Of the ignorant and snperstitious people Twice
year The Chinese have eass when they dress the joss
house in gay attire Big paper giants are hung ABOUT
building, and tnsel and various decorations feheve
much OF the dngy appearance The Ignorant Oh sucn
occasions go TO the temple with their money ana puy ps
OF paper from the priests, paying from Genus 10 w
These bits of paper are burned in and the dcuded
heather think the ashes TO the worship VINO
are pleased to receive the money The money however
probably goes to buy coolies and prostitutes learned
that from 900 to $4,000 paid by the lower classes
In this way every year.
CHINESE OPIUM DENs.
By the time we had gone through the Joss-house the
evening was well nigh spent 1t was proposed thai We
should next go into the opium dens IL was propa'y ~
O'clock or perhaps half hour later Anderson said
they would be in full blast The first We went to was
near the thcatcr on Duponts think t was place to
be remembered. 1t about six feet by ten the
ceiling being not than six seven feet from tho
floor. There not window in the ROOM ana the en-
trance was through door down short flight OF
rotten stairs The itself wls foul to degree
could hardly imagine possible The floor was damp ana
slippery The ceiling md walls were covered with
Shiny mold. The only lights were from disgusting OIL
cups with wcks floating in them. The proprietor OF the
place seemed to be- his best customer He lay on
lower bunk with his head propped up with pillow reek
ing I'm filth and swarming with vermin 81 nave
brought" said Anderson. addressing him, some East
ern gentlemen to see you" Chinaman Is natu
rally hospitabe and polite, and although that
night We went into tho worst places tha'
human beings inhabited. there was not sury
word or an annoyed expression from their occupants
The keeper OF the opium den was half gone with the de-
licious ntoxication. His eyes we're sunken and half
closed but they indicated q feeling OF supreme
bliss. His mouth open, disclosing his yellow
opium stained teeth. but there was look OF happiness
even there. His checks sallow and sunken. ana
could not help thinking that them was the same mod
that covered the floor and the ceiling 1t was evident
that his ears the words OF Anderson, and there IL
no doubt his brain comprehended them but such was MS
supreme happiness that doubt II he would have changed
places with the most favored earth or In heaven He
tried TO greet u.s. but dro effort IL was struggle
between his hospitality and his dreams. Ordinarily he
would have arisen and offered US pipe. II we had been
committee to tender him the Empire Of China doubt
nc would have broken the spell which bound hiin al
though he could have done with an effort OF will lie
made however feeble effort to wave his hand 70 open
his eyes and smile The hand and eye expressed little
hospitality whatever their owner may have meant ana
his smile was simply CHASTITY. About him, on his dirty
COUCH were several little white jars OF opium, holding
about three thimblesf and several opium pipes there
were also two or three lamps, unlghted. These were
for customers as they in There were probably nine
bunks placed one above another three sides OF the
ROOM and each one was occupied by Cinnamon more or
less under the influence OF opium Two or three were
doubtless insensble for their lamps had been removed
and their pipes had fallen from their lips They'll nave
head on them ia the morning" said Mr. Anderson By
which remark understood that they would have ui!-
ness about tho adj OF dull aching feeling The others
were some OF Them in the condition OF the proprietor,
and some had Just begun to smoke These were particu
larlv polite One Of them offered me his pipe, which
took.
HOW OPIUM SMOKED.
The pipe In which the Chinese smoke opium mas stem
probably feet long made OF cane sueh as certain
fishing rod. are made Of; about 20 inches from the
mouthpiece which Is inch in diameter, Is the bowl
This appears be made Of lockwood and ia not unlike
small low coffee cup large at the top and small az tne
bottom with tight fitting in II. In the center Of
this cover is small hole. The opium Ia not put 10 the
pipe as might be supposed but in little wad on the
top of the cover the hole The smoker takes long
needle and the end OF gathers from the little Jars
piece Of opium the size OF bean. This he holds over
the lamp and thus mes and burns 1t until it Ia OF the
proper consistency Then no places 1t over the hole IN
the cover Of the pipe. and with his needle punches
hole through 1t, which Joins the hole ID
the cover Then he lights II aud smokes away. when
il gone he repeats the process smoked one ppeiu
opium. but the fumes aud poscns OF the place had
made me insensble to other influences, ana
coud not understand where the fascination was.
The smoke OF the opium ia this den hung ike threaten
ing shadow over heads and all about us The amos-
phere was stimulating II it was not intoxicating and
witha 1t not unpeasing. Other senses reDeled az
the situation. The beds, one above anOtli, WIN sVcey
two feet between them dirty beyond description
The Cinnamon occupying them, with one exception a
tobacco dealer who had Just begun to Indulge In the dis
spaon were nearly dirty "a the beds they occupied
Only one or two took the slightest notice OF u.s. The others
smoked away as though they had only moment between
the pre- sent life eternity We stayed In tins denneary
half an hour observing the different smokers and could
not help contrasting the happiness they felt that night
with the misery that would overakc them tie morning
They doubtless the depression Of spirits and the pains
during the day the hope indeed the certainty OF the
lows that await them at night.
The other opium dens visited. half dozen in num-
her, were all more wretched than the first We saw
places not eight feet square where there were twenty
peope living one another two or three In bunk
and in pairs on the floor.
From the opium deus went into the most wretched
OF the Chinese quarters Anderson began with the least
repuIsyc and at last when entered the den or the
leper whose whole body black and fostering sore
bose face was covered with black spots his lips nose
and eyes eaten out, SICK and was glad enough
TO let the Chinese quarter take care of itself
TIE FINANCIAL ISSUE INEpITABLE.
From The Nation (Ild.)