The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-05-20
OPIUM SMOKING,
Former Keeper or q Den Denies the Tn, "a
orthe Drug Upon the Imagination.

n former Nccper 0t n Zen Denies tho Fife
OF the Drug Upon the Imagination.
Several newspaper clippings giving ac.
counts OF opium smoking In uptown joints,
were recently shown to u man who had been
part proprietor OF ono OF these places. Not
being Interested in any joint now" ho said. Il
don't object to speak u little from experience.
II Is charac; erstic Of opium smokers that they
can seldom he induced to talk about tho drug
To- the unnitlatcd. They have plenty Of con.
versation for one who il given to the habit or
shows that he understands the why's Of tina
gang Ut. as 10 IL called. tho society OF hrnd-.
II opium smoking was anything like what 1t IS
generally represented to DO. the whole country
would have been given over to the habit years
ago. ! have smoked in all parts OF the States
aud have nsyer seen any ono under the in.
fiuenco OF opium who could not tell painted
woman from mermaid. u mat-coyercd bunk
from n silk hammock. or a nickel from asi
gold piece. II would be very fno II you could
float oil into space to invisible music. see
Spanish castles in thick clouds Of blue smoke
or think Yourself In lapd OF rurpl. daisies
n nsGe sSSfSe our family and they say dn
lack Imagination; but 1 never. got any
such elect. from smoking dope ,lopumi.
isS 'n me- to 1'f n n tke ppc and f iRn
is what bring. In new recruits No matter how
inocuate with the habit. Hundreds have tried
the Ss for ,A M a mns. ' ar .s s fey
never saw one that wasn't disappointed. Tho
beginner is always told that no one gets III" "f
feet good until tho system has becom" accti,.
toned To tho drug 10y four or five smokes. THO
pleasure seeker comes again and again, and
no has n good cook one who knows how
to dange the paste over the fam. until
oor ss som me- Ike c Cocoa he gets The S%
after n while from eight or ten pines. The
sensation Is peasins. ht times dehsntinl; AMI
Conversation il greatly enjoyed. especially
when 1t needs only an assent now and then
from the smoker. who is 50 comfortable. so tl
speak that he does not like to make an clrntt
He becomes afTectionate. wishes everybody
we'll aud Is generous with his money. But he
has no Authorizations no dreamy wandering,
with incoherynt mnttorings; ,
defects are not brought out. complications ap-
pear to he all alike aud there Is Kind OF for;
hidden fruit pleasure about everything snd
effects to be- had from opium smoking. But II
Is not the effect that is sought by the average
tho continued novelty OF the surroundings. tho
agreeableness OF the Associations, and the gen
era Soeiabty Of AL eoneerp h, Th nsot at,
new candidate for the society Of il"nds.
They have an ambition TO get the habit.
the Joint loses half lis enicement. r, The Joints
in Thirty-second. Twenty;-siyth, Fourteenth.
Spring. and Crosby streets Ind few regular fire.
uuontcr,. except sporting men. CROOKS. va;
riety actors. n small number OF professional
scene Was sometimes made more attractive by
singing or some kind OF quiet music from out
sid, who pnssia TSTnf ns bnn ,
when they came in. Many OF the Old timers
are wishing the club, would oren one m.rr.
pnrk benches are wet. The joint was Kind of
first and last resort for tho crook with "
When peison has smoked opium regular
| " Tor IA long time 1t becomes ahecesSiy t"I'm
Without it he is nervous and irritable has cramps
| and gripping pains. and the most intense long
| ing for the soothing smoke. Then he knows
that he has the habit. and has -, bet3me a real
| Now Orleans. who're they smoke good deal.
there arc about hfty genuine tlend-;, Ia New
| York there are more. but excepting Cinnamon
| it is doubtful whether there are loo residents
| OF the city who have the habit liked. II -
ably less Than twrnty.fvn whites here VINO can
as q Chinaman can. bad cook Will make ma, g, A
roll up a pill and slip ii into his hoptoi' tbox,
Tor the inyan' when it catches HIM in his
| by attending persons who order layouts' to be
brought to the house.
Jared at tho right time. 1t has strong foot
hold among certain people and needed 6nt
clubs in tho upper part of tha city whore opium
is smoked by people whose reputation and
| standing are good. smoking Is probably tho
least injurious form in which the drug is con-
| sumcd. Many have reSorted to the pipe To rc-
dmce flesh and some declare that it wards
| or disease. There may be some truth
| in this. as ii is well known that opium eaters.
| laudanum consumcrS. and morphine takers
| people. The authorities are now'payiDg good
| deal of attention to opium smoking. and II
| they are in earnest about the inntter they
ought 10 take look NJ the druggists who sell
| and the physicians who prescribe the drug IN
It's other forms. The opium smoker car,
| iaprr of on ycn-hcc' trcsiiuuml and
| whskey. aud shake off the habit altogether
| white the gum eater takes M the watcry oN-
| tract aud makes Roadway backward