American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-07-17
Celestial Depravities.

Tho opium which the Chinese prefer
both for smoking and eating comes in the
form of sticks about an inch and one-half
in length and fourth as much in diane
ter. Such Piece OF opium costs at a
Dupont street opium-vcnder's $1.50, and
will last Chinaman ordinarily about
three days. The kind in common use is
the "tailings' of the better kind mixed
with the scrapings from the opium pipes.
This is sold by the ounce, and is compare
lively inexpensive. A Chinaman accus-
toned to the drug, when deprived Of ii
| by poverty or imprisonment is the most
pitiable wretch imaginable. His state is
| worsc than that of the drunkard in the
dclirium tremens He can neither sleep
nor think, and, when waking, trembles as
with an aguc. If deprived of the poison
long enough his complexion turns to a
CHASTITY white, and his stomach will not
retain food. When this state is reached
the only remedy which can save his life
| is the drug itself. The warden at the
| county Jail has often been compelled to
procure opium for the Chinese prisoners.
In one case where 1t was proposed to dis
| cover ii abstinence would not work a
cure the mans lips and tongue dried
| and cracked, and his voice became so
hoarse as TO he inaudiblc, but when
opium was furnished him he soon re-
| gained his health.
The thieving proclivities of the Chinese
are generally ascribcd to the moral and re-
| ligiOus principles of the race and their
| low mental calibcr-in other words, to
"pure ussedncss''-which is a great mis-
| take. Investigation will show that nine
tenths of the Chinese criminals in this city
| are inveterate opium consumers, and that 1t
is solely to supply themselves with this
drug that they plumber. To be sure there
Of al
the race who are not criminals, but mega
| tive proves nothing. The poorer opium
| consumer lies in his bunk day after day,
| requiring little or no food, dreaming gor-
| gcOus dreams of Oriental lands; seeing
and wandering through mighty cities OF
diamonds and gold, with alabaster domes
i and silver spires, living his childhood over
again in the fiowery land using his brains
| as a mere machine to play upon itself with
drugs to give him sensuous pleasure until
at last his money is exhausted and he is
forced into the street to pi1fer sufficient
once more to wrap him in the dclirious
delight of dreams. Unlike his temperate
brethren the opium devotce has no ambi-
ton to acquire a competence with which
to return to China He cherislies no hope
the realization of which is more satisiac-
tory than an opium caters dreams.
Even those of our own proud Caucasian
race, however respectable they may for
merly have been, whenever they have ac-
quired this terrible habit and have i'm
pOverishcd themselves, seem to lose all
moral restraint, and will commit any
crime and run any risk in order to pro-
cure opium. II is notable fact that
among the innumcrable crimes committed
by Cinnamon in this city it is seldom that
larceny or burglary is the main object.
The explanation is obvious. Weak and
debilitated from their sensual habits they
are incapable of a bold, ambitious crime.
In China an habitual criminal is marked,
that he may always be known. Among
the lower and opium-eating classes in this
city are hundreds who arc in some way
marked In some cases the outer rim of
each ear has been removed, in others par
ticular tendons about the mouth have been
cut, which leaves the individual with
something like grin at all times upon
his face; the lower lip is in other cases
scared and the nostrils widencd. 1t is not
to be wondered at that these parties thus
terribly branded, have sought Il newer and
wider field of labor.
As a race the Chinese are the most in
vcterate and consistent of fatalists. Their
indifference in the time of grief and trouble,
which VIC generally ascribe To apathy,
is more commonly the result of their phi
lOsophy. Medicine, as is well known, is
of years no progress has been made, owing,
it would seem, in great measure, to their
fatalism. With a Chinese population in
this city of IL, 600, there are at the most
not more than ten physicians, and these
derive their incomes in great measure
from outside sources. Such remedies as
| are commonly in use among them have
probably been proved by the experience of
centuries. A Chinese criminal, not dcsti-
tute of money, in many cases refuses to en-
ploy an attorney, in the firm conviction
that whatever he do will not alter the re-
| suit of his trial; and such as do procure
| counsel are inclined to be uncommunica-
| tive and Indifferent in enlightening him
as TO the facts in the case, and await the
result with the utmost seeming indiffer.
ence. In answer to the interrOgatiOns of
counsel, they are apt to turn away with a
shrug and You are lawee man. You
know all same me -
They believe that if a dwelling or bust
ness house of a Chinaman is at any time
| in the day thrown in shadow by new
building higher than the old misfortune
| will como upon the older house-sickncss
| or death or other domestic calamity if it
be a dwelling-financiaI embarrassment
| and failure if it be a business house.
A Chinese restaurant was a short time
since doing a thriving business on Jackson
street. A higher building was erected in
| the vicinity and the shadow fell on the
restaurant. The business fell off, owing,
undoubtedly, to natural causes, but it was
| ascribcd to the shadow. A high board wall
was erected between the two buildings by
the proprietor OF the restaurant, to receive
the shadow, and thereafter the business of
the restaurant revived. 1t is undoubtedly
owing to this superstition that such uni
formity prevails in Chinese architecture.
There is a rule adOnted nv n cons Of