The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-09-23
A New York Opium Joint.

w udt was 0oiHk Ah N4otl cIlOCIs
That is my business and your interest
provided you care to read what follows.
I met Brown. Brown was rounder.
Brown took brandy and soda in the
morning. Early in the evening what
Brown took he was able to keep track
of. Later in the evening Brown didn't
know what he took.
But in the morning Brown took
brandy and soda. They all do-the
FOUNDERS. Brown was one of them.
What's rounder? Ask one of them.
When he turns his fishy eyes upon you
and offers his shaky hand, why you'll
know what rounder is.
They'll only stare pityingly at you
and give you some good advice. If
you follow their advice all right and
good; if you laugh and drink with
them, well, in good time you'll know
what a rounder is from personal ex-
perience.
From doorway. whose either side
was embossed by Chinese sign,
woman emerged.
She was dressed in silk, not snowy
but rich. There was sparkling dia-
mond on the forefinger of her right
hand; another brilliant fastened the
lace at her snowy throat Her dress
was rumpled and the back of her ele-
CANT hat crushed in. She steadied her.
self with her right hand against the
Chinese sign while with her left hand
she beckoned a sleepy coachman who
was taking his nap in the doorway of
the vehicle standing at the corner.
The woman doubtingly, falteringly,
loosened her hold of the sign and half
walked, half stumbled forward toward
the carriage.
She tried to lift her right foot to the
step. A lump of lead was attached to
her foot. More lead clogged her brain,
or else she would have resented the
familiarity of her coachmans hands
when he put his arms about her slim
waist and dumped her into the car
riage.
The carriage passed out of sight and
Brown came and laid his unsteady hand
upon my shoulder. ''She's daisy"
said he.
''Who? Surely not that woman"
uttered as Brown fixed his fishy eyes
upon me.
The woman who just drove off is
daisy, l say. She strikes the bowl
daily. Likes it. too. They all do.
Say, young fellow, did you ever strike
the bowl?"
mo; know what it means, but have
never quite made up my mind to the
striking point Who is that woman"
I asked.
Opium Sal; at least that is the name
she goes by here. Upon the ave. she's
got another name. She's got daugh-
ter as tall as she is. One of these days
the two'l meet in Sing Lees joint
Then there II be fun" And the veter-
an rounder. whose old, tough hide was
impenetrable, almost shook with laugh
ter as he pictured the woeful meeting.
''Does the daughter strike the howl?"
l ventured to ask.
"Does she? Well, she strikes it Of
ten. Regular patron here. She don't
know that her mother frequents this
place. Neither does the mother know
of the daughters visits. But one of
these days-oha-"
"And you hope to be PRESENT."
"What, 1? Well, not any. I'm
tough and hard. but dom want to be
present when mother and daughter are
first made acquainted with one anoth-
er's fall. But it'll come. See if it
don't, By the way, got quarter to
spare? My nerves need bracing."
DRINK" l asked as Islipped quar-
ter in his tremulous hand.
mo; something that knocks drink
all into the shade answered he as he
crossed the street and disappeared into
the opium joint.
The foregoing episode transpired
three days ago. This morning I read
the following item:
A well-known character to Mott street,
Opium Sal, discovered her daughter in the
DEVILS Smoking Bowl The girl was too much
under the influence of opium to realize her
mothers upbraidings. The pair entered q
carriage and were quickly driven to their
home.
Opium Sal courts high life in the city
and joins the swim in old oceans surf
with the rich and lofty of the land.
Whether or no she paints her own ex-
perience with the drug for the purpose
OF wooing her child from its subtle in
fiuence cannot say. lido know, how
ever. that Mott street has not known
the presence of Opium Sal for months