Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-05-17
Smoking 0pium.

lttt Is tllC 0uAlduluD Is concerned,
The writer-"Yes, is youll give me a
moderate dose
The boss-"Evel smokee sometime al
leady9"
The writer Once a long time
ago.
The boss-"Allec ligbtee Fixee
You.
The writer Don't put more than a
pound and a half in
The boss with a grin that looked as
if the side OF the house was coming in)
Me iiXee all hghtee Gette up.
The writer took possession of a private
Stateroom, while the bias-eyed son of
the sun manipulated the gummy mass
and filed the pipe.
Now, smokee said he elbow
Though uosee.
The writer inhaled several more or
less putls, and then began TO expert
ence u heavy, depressing sensation
across the chest.
At this commencement the ears were
thrilled 10y softly weird strains of such
music as no mortal ever heard before.
and at the same time the writer was led
to large gilded or golden platform,
which lowered aloft in the upper por-
ton of the room, and was reached by
stairs that dazzled the eye at first, but
afterward soothed it and seemed to en-
trance the visitor. Ascending, the SUM
NIT was reacbed, and, looking down to
the floor he had Just left, sight pre-
sented itself which the writer must ac-
l~,,,.trInI Ifv,,rnlT 81,
Ii was a hundred thousand fairy lands
combined in one vast picture of lowell
ness and supreme beauty. Seated on n
diyan, and surrounded by beyy of be-
wilderingly beautiful minxes. whose an
gelic voices and merry laughter made
the brain whirl, the writer prayed that
he might never again see the outside
world, but that he might live TO eternity
amid those scenes. His every wish was
gratified on the instant A request was
scarcely made but it was fulfilled He
hesitated to give voice to his wishes
lest they might offend, his every thought
was interpreted even before it had ma,
tured, and his desires were answered,
and the rare wine and costly Jewels were
brought him and laid before him before
he had dared even hope for their pos
session.
Below me was Il scene of dazzling
beauty. Fountains of golden waters
glGddeued the eye at intervals about the
room. while the perfume of rare eXotics
filled the atmosphere and enervated the
brain. Thousands upon thousands Of
pretty girls in Oriental costumes fitted
here, there and everywhere, and came
and went at the writer's command. No
wish was ungrattied, no desire unful-
filled. 1t was a paradise on earth
There was no male present but himself
The Chinaman had disappeared and the
writer was alone in his glory. Oh, for
the pen of a Dante! Oh. for the descrip-
tive powers of a Byron!
Suddenly a shadow came across the
room, and the pretty girls disappeared
one by one. Even those upon the dais
withdrew. The Chinaman reappeared
and informed the writer that terrible
storm was approaching. and that they
must return at once. Even rs he spoke.
the distant mutterings of thunder could
be heard and then the Lightning flashes
darted across the room. II was ter
rible storm. The attendant tore the
costly lace from the writer's body, and
at his command q hundred or more hid
eous looking creatures gathered around
and aided in tormenting the writer
They took off the top of his head with
hammers and chisels. and picked his
brain out piece by piece, grinning hid
eously the while. Then they began to
tear the flesh from the bones. and one
more vicious than the rest grasped bis
tongue and kept pulling it out inch by
inch, foot by foot, until he could feel the
very sole> of his boots give way and
start on their upward journey through
his marrow. They then placed his head
between two large revolving stone CYL
inders, and he heard his skull being
crushed, rs he was drawn into and be.
tween the grinding wheels that appear
ed TO be turuigg al the rate of one revo-
luton ii a million years. Each inch Of
of diaphragm was subjected to years
and year, Of tbs crushing process, and
the prayers 10 De put 10 instant death
brought forth maniacal laughter and
jecr, from the torturers. If the first
scene was paradise the second was
worse than Hades. Not Tor 100000
worlds would the writer pass through
the horrors Of chat torture again. Then
came the noise like the bursting Of 100
600 bombs.
Look there, said one Of the nous
ters- pointing to q corner Of the room.
The writer slowly opened his eyes,
locked in the direction pointed out and
saw the man with the cross country
grin and the banjo head features, sit
ting by the fire, sewing a button on his
trousers.
II was not until after the expiration Of
nearly half an hour that the writer could
find tongue 70 speak, and then the
words came thick and husky.
Upon asking how long he had been
there, the man pointed to the clock It
was twenty minutes past 10. When he
began smoking il was a few minutes
past 8. Rolling from the shelf, the floor
appeared to shelve upward, and he be-
came impressed with tie idea that he
was in danger Of being cut in twain by
the sharp corners of the room, which
whirled about him with a digging
speed. II was some minutes before he
trusted himself on his feet, and then his
head paincd. and the very blood in his