Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-06-23
HITTING THE PIPE" !"
An Old Californian Tells His
Experience With Opium.
How he Became Addicted to Smoking and
How he Broke off the Habit

through Chinatown and was assailcd by
its unsavory odors, 81 have smoked
opium. recognize the familiar smell"
"And still continue to do so2"
''No, thank God, my experience with
the drug was short and decisive, but
sharp while it lasted. The opium habit
is like getting into quicksand, once in
its grasp escape is almost impossible"
"You got out, it appears.
But not without struggle. feel
the effects of the drug even to this day,
and it is many years ago since curiosity
induced me to try the first pipe. OF
course, had to give some excuse for my
foolshness: wished to learn the Sc
crct of opium's control over the minds
and bodies of its votaries. This is how
it was, and might as well make clean
breast of it. am not DeQuincey, but
I'll tell you as clearly as l can my feel
ings while under the influence of the
drug. l had become acquainted with a
gambler, one Of the most expert in the
state, whether in front or behind the
game. | noticed that he often left the
table, when dealing, and after he re-
turned, say in half an hour his manner
had undergone change; he manipula-
ted the cards with greater steadiness
and case. One day asked him the
plain question:
"D-, why do you call on SUBJ
stitutc, and quit the table 50 oftcn2"
"'Opium, my boy he said, in a fe-
vcrish way. 4 can do nothing without
it. Steadies the nerves. Deprive me of
my periodical pipe and Pm like fiddle
minus strings. Ever try whiffp
"'No.'
"Then you'd better take my advice
and continue to let it alone
But my curiosity was aroused, and af-
ter accompanying D. to his favorite
opium haunt several times, l resolved to
realize the sensations derived from smok-
ing, whatever they might be. l hit
my first pipe, as the slang goes, about
A o'clock one afternoon, and shudder
now as the remembrance of the terribly
sickening experience I passed through
recurs to me- 1t was hard work in the
beginning to get the pipestcm properly
adjusted to my mouth, and the method
Of smoking is different from that when
you are enjoying tobacco. In inhaling
opium smoke you draw the fumc into the
lungs by long pull, and then inhalc it
slowly. A pipcful will last about one
minute, and then you have to roll new
pill, and so on, till the desired effect is
obtained. Like most beginners, l
smoked too much at the start, but hard.
ly felt the power Of the drug till arose
from the bunk where I had lain. Then
l became comparatively helpless, and
staggered like drunken man, zigzag-
ging toward water-pitcher, of the con-
tents of which l drank cupful or
more Nausea followed, and when l
reached my wooden couch again, my
lower limbs gave way completely, and |
fell insensible and helpless. lay in
that state for three hours, Or until D.,
who had missed me, and suspecting
where l had gone, found and brought
me to myself. With his help I got to
my room in the hotel, where I again fell
into sleep, disturbed by restlessncss
and horrible dreams. / would awake
screaming and with the idea some one
was in the room seeking my life. In
fact, I made such a racket that tho
night clerk threatened to have me ar
rested for being drunk and disorderly
and alarming the house. He summoned
D., who sat with me till morning,
when l still felt the effects of the drug,
but was able to rise.
"Well, old boy said he, in banter
ing way, how do you like it as far as
you've gomez
cots pretty rough Introduction l
replied, and l guess I'll go no further
"'That's right, said he; you'd better
stop now; but I'll bet twenty you
won't. OF course, you smoked too
much, and then drank water to make
the matter worse If thirsty after the
pipe, all practiccd opium smokers drink
only good strong tea
"Well, Pm done with the stuff, any
how
"'No, my boy he said, quietly;
you'll tackle it again; you don't like to
give up beat
CD knew me better than I did
myself. The time came, sure enough,
when / did tackle the pipe again, think
ing myself strong enough to smoke
without getting sick. Ipulled away for
about three minutes, consuming three
pills, and this time got glimpse of
what is called the opium devotee's para
disc. With my body and limbs COM
pletely relaxed, | dropped into state of
delightful dreamy half-slccp, langu dly
knowing all that was going on around
me, but caring for nothing. I was above
and beyond all worldly considerations,
all responsibilities. Then there came
change. Restlessness supervened, and
this dream of delight was rounded off by
horrible mental images that rescmbled
the harpies of Dorc, as he pictured them
in the Inferno. Then I came back, in
dazed way, to real life again, drank
the strong tea, as l had been advised,
and went homo with all my nerves in
state of protest.
"Dating from that time, I INDUCED in
the pipe for three months, and l felt the
habit was gradually binding me in
chains. One night, however, not feel.
ing well, Irctired earlier than usual and