The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-11-25


7 NO MEANS OF VENTILATION.
(The idea never entered "John's"
head) the combined breath of the thir-
.ty or more tenants of the filthy den
rentered it nearly intolerable. The
proprietor of the establishment, the
only one beside ourselves who was
able to move around-our quonddns
guide had long since succumbed-
hastened to prepare place for his dis
tinguished company. One Chinaman
was rolled over into bunk which al
ready contained't two snoring debauch-
ees, and another was acce annotated
with quarters OF thc floor, being tum
bled of neck ana heels, Ikea 4ogA OF
wood.
Then, not witbout some nisgiying,
however, we rsclined upon the hard
table, resting our heads upon the
Chinese pillows-which convey no
particular suggestions of luxury, for
they are nothing but wooden blocks
covered with coarse cloth, shining
with the cSnactlof thousand qveues
i79nd msde ransements for entering
Tie realnso5 aAraby the Blest."
OuUME srfuM PIPE ~ (
Has q long stem Of reed or bamboo
and globular metallic bowl, with a
fiailE9h spsd ofiaeea innwhich the
ding iHfshi lighted lis plse Cd. The
opium is taken up on the end ola wire
held for q moment in the flame of a
lamp and then inserted in the pipe.
The bowl is now placed over the fire
and the opium stirred till the mass is
ablaze, the smoker in the meantime in.
haling and swallowing the smoke
The fumes mast be ret: in d. as lopg
as possible in order to produce the de.
aired intoxication effectually, as little
of the drug is consumed at time, the
pipe holding a lump abeHt the size OF
a pea. A few whiffs generally suffice
fonalnewsbeginner, bnt old veterans
can stahd .haifa dozen pipes at q sit
ting and frequently repeat the dose
two or three times day. The taste
was sweetish. and quite pleasant, and
the action of the smoke rather exhilar-
ating than otherwise, but as your cor
respondent did not take enough to
feel its power perceptibly he is unable
fo speak concerning it's full effects.
Certainly It must possess q ! terrible
fascination for its unhappy victims, for
the filthy surroundings Of the holes
where the vice is carried on give one
every impression but those of pleas
ure and happiness. "John," however,
is in:many respects but degree above
stt1e brutes, ana the fact that hetan ex-
tract the highest enjoyment from such
debased sources is anything but cred
table to the civilization which he
beasts as so much superior to that OF
the "Mslican man." Handing our po-
lite host smalf fee for his luxurious
accommodations and the pipeful OF
opium We had spoiled, we stepped
down and out, glad enough to breathe
fresh air once more, and fastened
home to disinfect ourselves.
-ir-srt- soPIUM-sMoKERs
Always lie down, and never use tho
pipe in any other position. The Gus.
Etsu iss very general one: even w0-
'mds practicc it and young 5sys are ID
be seen in the shops waiting along
with their elders TO have their boxe,
filled. In some the habit is acquired
and the. drug becomes necessity in a
week i'm others a month or a still
longer time is required, depending, oI
course, upon the frequency of the dose
and tho life, and constitution of the in.
dividnal. Unlike many other vices
when once fixed it is an incubus never
to be shaken of, and the victim be.
comes an abject and miserable slave
He must smoke at regular intervals
and soon a larger quantity is needed
to sustain his failing powers, while an
intolerable longing seizes him if de
prived of his daily debauch. His eyes
grow inflamed, and discharges Of mu-
Gus issue from his nose and mouth. He
is in state of continual languor, with
out any ambition save that of procur.
ing the poison whick is destroy ing
him. With general debility comes de.
cay of the virile pow ers, and it is said
the inordinate use of ophrodisiacs by
the Chinese is to be. traced to their
abnse of opium. Rich Cinnamon have
private apartments in their houses
where they can enjoy q social smoke
with their friends, the public dens,
such as the one above described, being
patronized only by the ,canaille, who
hayei no; homes of their q wn.f
Every Chinese Immigrant is CAREFUL
ly searched blythe authorities before
being permitted to land, and the in.
ducsme MS, for s@ngglingsare SO great
OF accohnfS Of ahishn&duty that
.scarcsly 2 vessel. arrives without q
store of contraband opium. 1t is found
sewed up in clothes, and in the soles
of shoes biddeniin toys, ip~furniture
and bamboo canes. On the return
Iuipfof the City Of Tdkio. "a !Chinaman
told the officials he knew that opium
was eoneealed in some cans OF cocoa
nut. Oil standing on the lower deck
he could smell it; Upon examination
sure enough each can was found to
have false bottom, a, large quantity
of the drug was discovered. and the
informer received his share of the
spoil. The cunning Pagan had scented
the familiar odor through two thick
nesses of heavy TIM. s