The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-19
CHE 3utland 1ailu 6lnbe
TUESDAY, OCTOBER l6, 1876.
Special correspondence OF the Troy Daily Times
THE HERMIT's LETTER.
Opium Eaters-The Opium Trade-How the
Drug 10 Eaten-S Startling Facts Regarding
its Consumation-Th Baxter Street Opium
Smoking Club House.

its Consumation-The Baxter Street Opium
Smoking Club House.
New YORK, Oct. 10, 1875.
A very remarkable scene lately occurred
at the door Of leading drug establishment,
the principal feature in which was wo-
man shrieking at the top Of her voice, and
apparently gong into Mysteries. The
crowd might have supposed her to have
been grossly wronged, but the pro-
prietor explained the matter by the
statement that It all proceeded from
his refusal to give her dose Of morphine.
The woman was confirmed opium eater,
and spent in this way all her money. She
had come to beg the article when she could
no longer purchase, and on being refused
gave way to her feelings in the manner
above described. She punished the dealer
by getting up "scene."
REQUEST.
A druggist thereupon requested me to
print suitable warning upon the subject
"Sir," said he, 'the public has no idea of
the extent to which this habit is carried
1t has reached all classes, rich and poor
1t is time that something should be done to
stop the consumption of opium" The
druggist to whom refer has no desire to
increase pernicious traffic merely for the
sake of profit, and there are others in the
trade who are compelled at times to refuse
the sale of an article when only used for
vicious indulgence. This class of dealers
could tell of the strange expedients re-
sorted to for the purpose of obtaining the
drug, and they could reveal some secrets
concerning its use which would startle the
community. What a sensation indeed
would be created were all the opium eaters
made public l shall not attempt lecture
on this subject, but shall simply give some
facts and leave the reader to draw his own
moral.
ITS IMPORTATION.
Opium is imported either by the way of
London, or else direct from the Levant
In the former instance there is a risk of its
adulteration while in the hands of London
merchants. These men often open the
cases and extract the morphia from a por.
ton of their contents, and then mix up the
whole together in order avoid detection.
The cases having been carefully closed are
either sold in London or exported to Amer
lea. These cases are enclosed in wooden
boxes about three feet long, and Is inches
both breadth and depth. Inside is a tin
case, which is soldered in order to be wa
ter-tight, and thus avoid damage at sea or
loss by evaporation. Opium is the only
drug which is not sold by sample. A dealer
will buy case of indigo worth $50, by a
sample not larger than walnut but when
opium is cold, no samples are issued. The
purchaser goes to the importer and sees the
case opened, and, if he choose, may ex-
anime every lump, and the bargain is made
on the spot. Large quantities of this drug
are sold to the manufacturers of morphine.
and the remainder finds purchasers in the
Wholesale drug trade, through which 1t
works its way into the country.
HOW OPIUM is EATEN.
Opium eaters employ different methods
Of using the drug. Some take morp hine,
some eat it in crude shape, while others
drink laudanum. De Quincy, in his 'con-
fessions of an opium eater refers to the
use of laudanum negus, and Coleridge used
the same preparation. These men are the
most striking instances on record of the
rum of genius effected by this pernicious
habit That strange succession of beau
tiful imagery called "Kubla Khan," which
is one of the finest productions of Cole
ridges genius, is supposed to be specimen
of the visions which foated before his mind
during his opium dreams.
WHO EAT OPIUM?
This question may be answered by re-
pesting the statement that opium eaters are
lawyers, whose brains are overtaxed, are
often led to adopt the fatal assistance of
this drug, and some of the finest flights at
the bar are due to its use. Many of the
hack writers who manufacture the sensa-
ton stories for the cheap newspaper press,
work up TO the necessary excitement by
eating opium, and one of the most facile
writer's for the Ledger is said to compose
under its inspiration.
STUDENTS IN DANGER.
A large number OF students at our col
leges are opium eaters. This follows as a
matter of course the free use of tobacco.
If the excitement of the latter be delight,
how much greater pleasure must there be
in the more subtle and refined excitement
of opium, and hence there are many tai
ented young collegians who dream away
their time. and when they attend Rotations
(Which is seldom make tree use of the
''pony."
AMONG WOMEN.
Large numbers of nervous ladies in high
station use opium to give new life to their
effcte and exhausted frames; perhaps the
largest proportionate consumption is among
this class. They prepare for the enjoy
ments of party OF n ball by the use of this
stimulus, and when it has brought the sys-
TEN to its acme, they shine with unusual
brilliancy. The use of stimulants as a
preparation for social epjoyments is pro-
digious. and in large party perhaps one
half the guests are keyed up by opium or
Bourbon to a proper state Of felicity. The
reason why opium is becoming more pop
ular is because its devotee need not incur
the opprobrium inseparable from the drunk
ard. He need carry no bottle with him,
and his breath will not smell of liquor. His
stock can be put in his vest pocket, and
can be used imperceptbly to the world.
Having these advantages over fire water,
we do not wonder at the increase of the
former, and the only reason why it does
not become universal as q substitute for
alcoholic drinks, is simply because they are
social, while opium is not. A group of
young men would not feel so much inclined
to eat opium together as they would to en-
joy social glass.
now TO PREVENT.
The result of the general use of opium is
now beginning to show itself through the
country. The question now is, how shall
the evil be arrested2 Among other means,
we have the advertisements of quacks, who
offer remedy for the shattered constitu-
lions and the half lunatic intelects which
ora tho raanlt of this habit hut heinr