Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1886-08-27
UNITING THE PIPE. "
An Old Californian Tells His
Experience With Opium.
How he Became Addicted to Smoking and
How he Broke of tho Habit.

10 uhs"'oiy ouOrS, Il nave 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. Tho opium habit
is like getting into quiclssnnd, once in
its grasp escape is almost impossible"
"You got out, it app ar'.
But not without struggle. l feel
the effects of tho drug even to this day,
and it is many years ago since curiosity
induced me to try tho first pipe. or
course, had to give somo excuse for my
foolishncss: l wished to learn tho Sc
cret of opium's control over tho minds
and bodies of its votarics. This is how
it was, and might rs well make clcan
brcast of it. 1 am not DcQuinccy, but
I'll tell you rs clearly rs l can my feel
ines while under tho influence Of the
drug. had become acquainted with
gambler, one of the most expert in tho
state, whether in front or behind the
game. l noticed that he often left tho
table, when dealing, and after he re-
turned, say i'll half an hour, his manner
had undergone u change; ho manipula-
ted the cards with greater stcadincss
and case. Ono day asked him tho
plain question::
"D--, why do you call on sub
stitutc, and quit the table so oftcn2"
Opium, my boy he said, in fc-
vcrish way. 4 can do nothing without
it. Stcadcs the nerves. Deprive nc of
my periodical pipe and Pm like n fiddle
minus strings. Ever try whiGr
"No.'
Then you'd better take my advice
and continue to let it alone
But my curiosity was aroused and ar-
ter accompanying D. to his favoritc
opium haunt several times, resolved TO
realize the sensations derived from smok-
ing, whatever they might be. l 'hp
my first pipe, as the slang goes about
o'clock one afternoon, and shuddcr
now as the remembrance of the terribly
sickcning experience l passed through
| rccurs to me. 1t was hard work in tho
beginning to get the pipcstcm properly
adjusted TO my mouth, nnl the method
of smoking is different from that when
you arc enjoying tobacco. In inhalng
opium smoke you draw the fumc into tho
lungs by long pull, and then inhnlc it
slowly. A pipeful will last about ono
minute, and then You have to roll new
, pill, and SO on, till tho desired effect is
: obtained. Like most beginners,
smoked too much Mt the start, but hard
! ly felt tho power Of the drug i'll arose
from the bunk where had lain. Then
became comparatively helpless and
F., staggered like n drunken man, zigzag-
ging toward n water-pitchcr, Of the con-
tents of which drank cupful or
more. Nausea followed, and when I
rcnchcd my wooden couch again, my
lower limbs gave way completely, and 1
fell inscnsiblc 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 / got to
my room in the hotel, where ! again fell
into sleep, disturbed by rcstlcssncss
and horrible dreams. I would awake
screaming and with the ilea some ono
was in the room scckng;my life. In
fact, 1 made such n racket that the
night clerk threatened to l.avc me mr.
rested for being drunk and disordcry
and alarming tho house. 1Ic summoned
D, who sat with mo. till morning,
when still felt the effects Of tho drug,
but was able to rise. e. q E2
I "'Wcll, old boy said he, in banter
ing way, how do you likcit as far as
you've gomez .
"'It's pretty rough introduction 1
replied, 'and guess I'll go no further
That's right said he; you'd better
stop now; but I'll bet q 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'practicod s.opium@smokefs drink
only good strong tea
"'Wcll, I'm done with the stuff, any
how n
| 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. pulled away for
about three minutes, consuming three
pills, and this time got glimpse of
what is called the opium dcvotcc's para
disc. With my body and limbs com
plctcly relaxed, dropped into state of
deli .htful dreamy Iialf-slccp, langu dly
knowing all that was going on around
me, but caring for nothing. / was above
aud beyond all worldly considerations.