Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-04-09
AN OPIUM-JOINT.

The Chinese is here to make money
and alive or dead, such is his expecta'
ton, will repose with his ancestors.
He accordingly makes good use OF his
opportunities while here, and finding
"Melican" people willing to share with
him the vices OF Oriental lie, gives
them the chance to do it.
His best friends must lament this fact,
to which is due the existence ofthe opium
Joint and accompanying vice.
The Joint itself varies in its pretenStOns
and the price paid for access into it.
Great precautions are taken against the
admission of persons likely to cause
trouble to its proprietor and patrons:
Nobody enters one of these places until
he has been thoroughly quizzed from
within.
The statement is made on good au-
thority that there are as many as fifty OF
these demoralizing places in New YORK
City, and the questionable pleasure OF
smoking opium costs from twenty-five
cents to twenty dollars.
Such places as are patronized by
vicious men and women of the lowest
grade, have an inner room provided
with hunks after the style of the
Storage of steamer, in which the
vice is INDUCED in a recumbent at
| titude.
The rough boards constituting these
| hunks are covered with mating
large table similarly provided is some.
| times made the resting place OF eight
or ten smokers.
Having entered this vile place the in.
tending smoker takes the place he OF
| she wishes to occupy. An attendant
| thereupon brings tray upon which is
| the Pipe, small lamp, and rod OF
iron, which, heated at tho lamp, can
be used to rolght the contents of the
pipe in the event of it's going out.
Previously he has cut off sufficient
opium from "chunk to fill the pipe
which he rubs in his hands and then
places in its bowl. This is small, thin.
ble-shaped and about the size Of that
accessory to the lady's work basket. II
Is made of kind of clay and is situated
about two inches from one end Of the
pipe-stem.
This is of bamboo, and from two ant
half to three feet in length. Bott
pipe and opium are believed to be i'm
ported from China. The former i'm
proves with age and use. like the
meerschaum pipe Of the tobacco
smoker.
An instance is recorded of China
man caught in joint, who refused t.
give his pipe to the police. He per
sisted in smoking while under arrest
and valued the filthy tube in his hanC
at twenty-five dollars.
Before handing the pipe to the smoker
the attendant lights it, and the operation
proceeds. One pipe lasts from half al
hour to an hour and half, accord
ing to the persistency of the smoker.
Some old smokers can burn out fror
two to three pipefuls before stupefaC
ton arises, but in the generality of eases
one is sufficient for this purpose. TIL
stupefaction induced lasts three or fou
hours.
In some stylish JOINTS the entranc
fee is as high as five dollars, an
fifteen or twenty are charged for tn
exclusive use of room in which t
indulge in smoking
Seasoned old smokers visit the joir
once or even twice week.
Some smokers go as seldom as thre
orc even twelve months. Habitual smol
ing certainly shortens life, by how Ion
cannot be more than approximately ave
aged. Perhaps the average OF fifteen {
twenty years, given by man about tow
to the writer, is correct.
SOME OF JOHNS GOOD QUALITIES.
The Chinamans worst enemy mu
give him credit for great personal cleal
illness. What is at least a good found