Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-07-14

Eureka's Opium.smokinx Deu.,

The vices of civilization are numer-
Gus and aggressive enough to furnish
the moral portion Of the community
cause for alarm at the prevailing de-
generation that obtains, and to this
coast belongs the doubtful honor Of in
PRODUCING a barbarian habit that is de-
moralizing in its associations, degrad-
ing in its indulgence, and, withal, exer-
cising a wonderfully seductive influ-
ence over its votaries. Opium.smok-
ing dens exist in every city and town
Of any considerable lie on the coast,
and the %frequenters are by no means
confined to the Celestial race. A walk
through Chinatown day or night re-
veals the fact that its white devotees
are numerous, and TAKE no pains to
conceal from the outside world their
indulgence in the debasing pipe. The
details connected with the method and
manner of using it have been exposed
in the columns of the SENTINEL fire.
quen'ly. 1t was hoped that the pass
age of Smiths Opium bill would have
some effect in restraining the vice, IL
not actually REFRESHING it, but the law
is entirely imperative, or at least no
effort is made to enforce 1t, and its
sale and use goes on as openly and TO
as great an extent as ever. The defect
in the law Is in not making the own
ers OF the dens and the customers liza
BILE. Furnishing those who ostensihly
conduct the places, and those who
sell 1t amounts TO nothing, as the real
proprietor hires some irresponsible
person for this purpose, keeping him
self in the background and out of
reach OF the provisions of the law.
The arrest of the Chinaman who deals
the drug would amount to
nothing, except the en,ailing of ex-
pense on the county. as the fines i'm
posed would not be paid. ard the Ce-
lestisi would enjoy his enforced Sc
clusion with the certainty of having
his wants supplied by the authorities.
The class who patroniZe the resorts
are OF those who are considered out
side the pale of society-inen and wo-
men who have lost all self respect, and
seek the comforting influences that
steal over them aftes their indulgence,
and possibly To obtain some m
of forge,fulness and calm contentment.
Gamblers and lewd women are to be
found i'll great numbers in these dens,
and If they were the only ones who
gave Themselves up to the drug, it
might be well enough not to interfere,
but in Eureka 1t has become fashion
able among the boys to learn The habit.
We noticed, on a recent visit to that To-
cality. half a dozen youth. all the way
from is To 20 years of age, lying curled
up in the hunks provided for the use
Of the patrons, and smoking as vigor-
ouslv as the most confirmed habitue.
The boys consider II a great acquisition
to their accomplishments, and boast to
zach other of their capabilitv in con-
summing a large amoun OF the drug.
The same crowd OF boys can be met
With In front of the hurdy houses. or
on the hack streets, at late hours OF the
night, impudently chatting the deni-
Gems OF the lower levels and apeing the
of the elders of the class of
whom IL il their sole ambition to be
come a member. Some of these youth
full candidates for the State Prison have
parents living in the town, but they
seem TO be outside of all the restrain
ing influences that should he exercised
yer them by their progenitors. A
heavy hand should be laid on them
and their dissolute ourse checked, for
out of such material graduates the
criminal element that vexes and dis
turbs society.