Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-07-02
HITTING TIE PIPE. !"
An Old Californian Tells His
Experience With Opium.
How he Became Addicted to Smoking and
How he Broke off the Habit.


ooh, yes" he said, as he sauntcred
through Chinatown and was assailed by
its unsavory odors, al have smoked
opium. Irecognize the familiar smell.
'Aud still continue to do so2o
mo, 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 app, arr
But not without struggle. l 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
foolishness: wished to learn the Sc
cret 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. l am not DcQuincey, but
I'll tell you as clearly as l can my feel
ines while under the influence of the
drug. l had become acquainted with a
gambler, one Of the nost 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:
CD, why do you call on a sub
stitute, and quit the table 50 often?"
Opium, my boy he said, in fe-
verish 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 favorte
opium haunt several times, ! resolved to
realize the sensations derived from smok-
ing, whatever they might be. hit
my first pipe, as the slang goes, about
o'clock one afternoon, and shudder
now as the remembrance of the terribly
sickening experience l passed through
10 Tt 4I,o
/ beginning to get the pipestem properly
/ adjusted to my mouth, aud the mcthosl
of smoking is different from that when
you are enjoying tobacco. In inhaling
opium smoke you draw the fume into the
lungs by a long pull, and then inhale it
slowly. A pipeGul will last about one
minute, and then you have to roll new
pill, and 50 on, till the desired effect is
obtained. Like most beginners, |
smoked too much at the start, but hard
ly felt the power of the drug till | arose
from the bunk where | had lain. Then
l became comparatively helpless, and
staggered like drunken man, zigzag-
ging toward water-pitchcr Of the con
tents of which | drank cupful or
more. Nausea followed, and when I
reached my wooden couch again, my
lower limbs gave way completely, and |
fell insensible and helpless. l lay in
that state for three hours, or until D.,
who had missed me, and suspecting
where | had gone, found and brought
me to myself. With his help l got to
my room in the hotel, where l again fell
into sleep, disturbed by restlessness
and horrible dreams l would awake
screaming and with the idea some one
was in the room seeking my life. In
fact, I made such racket that the
night clerk threatened to have me ar
rested for being drunk and disordcrly
and alarming the house. lie summoned
D., who sat with me till morning
when still felt the effects Of the drug,
but was able to rise.
" We'll, old boy, said he, in banter
ing way, how do you like it as far as
you've gomez?
" It's pretty rough introduction,
replied, and guess I'll go no further
"Thats right, said he; you'd better
stop now; but I'll bet a 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 practiced opium smokers drink
only good strong tea
"'Well, I'm 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
D 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 l got glimpse Of
what is called the opium devotee's para
disc. With my body and limbs com
pletely relaxed, l dropped into state of
delightful dreamy half-slcep, langu dy
knowing all that was going on around
me, but caring for nothing. was above
and beyond all worldly considerations,
all responsibilities. Then there came a
change. Restlessness supervened, and
this dream of delight was rounded off by
horrible mental images that resembled
the harpies of Dore, as he pictured them
in the Inferno Then l came back, in
L dazed way, to real life again, drank
the strong tea, as l had been advised,
and went home with ali my nerves in a
state of protest.
'Dating from that time, l INDUCED in
u ~ 7 FL