The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1885-01-09

Two or three evenings ago reporter Of
THE CRITIC sat in an uptown restaurant
taking luncheon, when two cadaverous
dissipated-looking society youths came in
and occupied scat near by. They both
looked as IL they had been conducting
prolonged spree. Their eyes were CLASSY,
their features distorted, and altogether
they appeared as II they had been "doing
the town" for quito time.
A friend of the reporters came up and re-
marked "There is a sad story connected
with the lives of those two youngsters"
pointing to the dissipated- looking youths !;
zone is the son Of the Hon. aud tho
other the offspring of one of our great Gem
erals, now deceased"
What is the trouble with the boys p"
asked the reporter. as it too much strong
drink"
"Oh, no." was the reply "Those boys
are nightly habitues of opium joints"
Opium joints in Washington Have
they not all been broken up by the Police?"
asked THE CRITIC in establishment.
mo, sir not by any means. There are
scores of opium dens in full blast in this
city to-day. There is SCARCELY Chinese
laundry in the city where you cannot go
places myself and have seen lots of men
and boys, the sons Of some of our prominent
business people, there, stupefled and drunk
from the effects Of the terrible drug"
These remarks caused the reporter In the
interest of society and humanity, TO make
an investigation into the subject of opium
smoking in this city, and with view OF
ascertaining, If possible, tho extent to
which the habit is INDUCED. He made in
quiries Of number Of persons who "play
against the pipe" From them he learned
that John Chinaman has made rapid pro-
gress at the National Capital in the intro.
duction of his favorite diversion.
Many ladies, too, are said to smoke the
drug, and these, for the most part, own
'1ayouts," or, in other words, keep at their
houses the pipes, lamps, peanut oil and
other paraphernalia which enter into opium
smoking. The Chinese reap quite har-
vest by initiating the unsophisticated into
the uses of the poisonous drug.
A man who had financial interest in
the establishment OF All Fah at George
town, when that enterprising Celestial citi-
zen operated his Joint" was seen by the
WINS on the increase in this city. Said he
"You may not believe me, but l will bet
money that can show you 200 places In
Washington and Georgetown where opium
is smoked. Talking about being on the
increase, why, where there was one joint
two years ago, there are seventy-fve now
| I've got into the habit myself and cant
stop 1t, but do feel sorry for some of the
| young men who are smoking. It's an aw
| full thing, and once you start in, it's good
by. My nervous system is so fearfully
broken by the use of opium that am un.
| able TO work at my business.
| CT haUa kn0wn vounO man tvhn anpi
from the best families in this District
| to spend as much as thirty-six hours on
stretch in an opium joint, without ever
touching food. l tell you that, though
am smoker myself, should like to SCI
every den in the city broken up. Opism il
sending hundreds of young men to early
| graves"
AS there is no statute in the District pro-
| bibitiDg opium smoking, would 1t not be
well for Congress to enact some Legislation
on the subject? 1t is crime punishable
by both fine and imprisonment to conduct
Joint" in New York aud some of the Other
States. Such u law should be made fol
| this District.