Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-10-28

eooos ~ PcillClOuS ell
fects and the demoralizing spread o.
the habit known as opium smoking,
and the San Francisco, Virginia City
and Carson papers, in m with
the SENTINEL, have deplored the ex-
tent to which this curse prevails. Re-
pressive measures have been inaugu.
rated in the large cities, and the indul.
gence in the vice by its devotees, or
the keeping Of a house as a place OF
resort for those who frequent such es-
adjustments. is a misdemeanor, pun.
ishable by fine and imprisonment.
The last Legislature enacted a statute
that was intended to reach and eradi-
cate this evil. but through some defect
In h law ID is imperative. and a dead
letter on the statute books. The pecu.
liar phase developed on this coast diff
fers widely from that obtaining in the
Eastern States. In those communities
II Is used in the form of a drug. The
opium eaters, as they are termed, do
not use opium proper, but take it un-
der the gnise of morphine, laudanum,
NUNS Elixir, or by hyperdemic in.
lection into the veins of the arm and
body.
ON III COAST,
Although one meets with isolated
cases similar to the above, the usual
method adopted Is Il smoke it. after
the ann of the Chinese. who inva-
riably use it in that way. We are di.
rectly indebted to the Celestials for
the introduction of the practice on the
Pacific slope, and It is only within the
past few years that it has become com.
mon enough to attract attention. As
yet, IL has not spread outside Of a class
who constitute the dregs Of society,
and IL seldom INDUCED in except by
depraved men, women and boys, who
constitute the chief patrons and sup
porters Of the dens that exist in China
town. Only those who feel no shame
in the mot degrading of associations
are willing to be seer in the COMPANY
OF the patrons OF these establishments,
and the fact that the habit il confined
to that particular class, repels those
who have a particle Of self-respect. In
Eureka three or foul opium dens are
in full blast, and are patronized in-
discriminatory by whites and Chinese,
and they can be found reclining side
by side. at almost any hour of the day
or night, stupefied by the effects of the
vile drug, and careless or unconscious
of their degradation. There are at
least 70 white men, bows and women
who frequent these opium houses. and
they, AS a rule, make no effort at CON
cealment.
on THEIR WAY.
In the afternoon and evening. they
can be seen vending their way up
Clark street, turning off into the Chi
nese quarter, aud entering the dens,
intent on gratifying their passions,
ana anxious to get under the influence
Of the drug as rapidly as possible.
Pale, wan, l~ifeless, without a particle
of mental energy or physical force,
with only on mbition, and that. to
satisfy the cravings OF "A vicious habit,
Ibese slaves Of the pipe pass along in
melancholy procession, the victims of
of an intolerable and unappeasing ap-
petite. that slowly, but surely under
mines their health, and renders them
unfit for the most ordinary duties of
life. The habit ono acquired. the de-
voice is 10 longer "A free, moral agent.
His manhood, his Independence, his
very self becomes prostiiuted to his
deprayed appetite. and he is absolute
ly powerless to control it. When once
the habit is acquired it may be said
that the cure Is impossible; at least,
radical cures are so infrequent that
they are the exception that proves the
rule. 1t destroys both mentally and
physically, and its use becomes Deces
sary TO his very existence. 1t is incur
able, simply because it insldiously,
but surely obtains a com plete mastery
over the will of the individual, and be-
comes so necessary to the physical
condition OF the victim, that there Is no
resisting 1t. IL is a necessity of phys
zeal ~well-beiDg, as inexOrable as the
appetite and necessity for food. The
craving for strong drink is a. nothing
compared to it. and yet we know that
the victim of whisky can not be cured
unless his will co-operates with the
efforts made for his recla nation. With
the opium, the will Is Frustrated and
overcome by the appetite, and be-
m utterly powerless TO resist the
calls.
INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES.
We can call to our mind an instance
that came under our observation,
where a strong man Of brilliant intel
lect, and an unusual power Of will,
who five years ago stood at the head of
his profession. acquired the habit, and
to day is a mere wreck with no ambi.
ton beyond the indulgence of his vice;
unhappy when not under its influence;
a moral wreck in every sense of the
term. During his residence in Eureka
we talked with him in regard TO its eff
feet, and he described it in the follow
ing words. He said |: II get up in the
morning half stupefisd from my in
diligence or the previous evening, with
a feeling of physical and mental pros
tration that completely unnerves me.
I have n 10 appetite for food or drink.
and care for nothing except a Whit of
the pipe. My first thought is to get to
the den and indulge in the habit, the
same ~ an old topper graves his morn
ing cocktail. A dozen bowlsful re-
stores me to life; ~invigoratss and
cheers me; removes all lasituds. and
substitutes q feeling of contentment
and enjoyment, procurable in no other