Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-06
LIFE IN A REAL OPIUM DEN.
One Who Knows All About IL Tells 0l
His Strange Experiences.
THE TERRIBLE HABIT, ITS HOLD UPON HIM
AND THE STRUGGLE HE HAD TO BREAK
AwAY-cOLD. UNRoMANTIC FACTS ABOUT
THE DEBAsING PRACTICE.

THE DEBAsING PRACTICE.
From the New York World.
| AN HABITUE.
have read SO many untrue and unreasonable
articles about opium and opium smokers that
| deem 1t a duty, as one who has had a thorough
[ INTRODUCTION TO this habit, to write a true and
unbiased account OF all my experience, which
Will serve to enlighten your readers In all the
details that have heretofore remained mys-
terry. 1t Is no fault of the papers that they have
| been unable to get at the bottom facts, because
those addicted to the habit are not noted for
| their veracity, nor do they wish their secret to
become known. But have been cured Of the
| habit and so have no more interest In Keeping
the secrets of the United Order Of "Dope" hends.
One evening three years ago met q friend
| WHOM nad not seen for some time. ror one
| VINO pfOeSSed TO be delighted 10 see me
| again thought 1t very strange he should be In
such hurry to leave, and told him SO. He
was going to "hit the pipe" l demanded he
| should take me with him. He showed great
reluctance, but after some persuasion consented,
pent the visit to joint should never blame
MN. laughed at the idea of harm coming,
except il the place were raided, and this was
| downtown.
Getting off the car we proceeded to Pell street,
a dark hall and raped at door in the back
part leading to the basement.
| Some leone, one from the inside inquired "Who?"
| My friend replied: "Eh she quay" (Ch1nese
| words meaning opium snloker)
| Who en- she quuys" was asked.
| Little DOC, my friend answered again.
| After moments waiting a bolt was with
| drawn from the inside and opening the door
we proceeded down the stairs, which were
There were about six steps, then another door,
! In which little wicket opened and yellow
lace appeared, scrutinizing us inquiringly.
both. $1,000
Two" my friend replied, and another bolt
was was w WI My friend opened the door
1t was a small room, smelling like most Chi
The s abou twenty lpny
| by fifteen wide. On one side extending the
whole length, was a platform raised two feet
man to lie at full length. Four or five feet
above this was another platform only a few
the room were tWo sintar Lne emu Oh
The end of the room was partitioned of, hav-
| ing a door and a large window. This window
! had number of wOOden bars running across it.
| These were to prevent any one reaching their
hands through to the counter behind. This
little room was lighted by single gas jet and II
couple of Cinnamon were in there talking away
| In their own language. The platforms were oc-
| cuped by men and women in little groups
| cites and, afterwards learned, opium. Several
| people were stretched out asleep.
My friend was evidently well acquainted with
the smokers, for they nearly all saluted him,
and asked him what was new out in the world.
selecting vacant place my friend told me to
lake OH my coat and place it on a little stool to
be used as pillow. He sat on the edge of the
punk talking to man who had risen from the
bunk when he entered.
lie invited this man to smoke with US, and
| introduced him to me as frankie the Kid"
The Kid accepted the invitation and lay on the
other side of US, my friend resting his head on
my breast. A Layout" as my friend called it,
was ordered, and one of the Cinnamon brought
ii to u.s. The LAYOUT consisted of an ordinary
little tin waiter knitting needle fiattened at one
to lint at fEa
other, which he called a yen hook, little glass
lamp OF peculiar pattern, wet sponge in a
emma dish, small tin dish to deposit cigarette
stumps or ashes, and a pipe of very curious con-
struction. A small clam shell contained a
black, tarry-looking stuH and this was the
opium.
The kid" prepared the pipe and my friend
smoked, taking one long draw. Next was my
into a tit of coughing. They told me to breathe
through my nose whenever / felt the choking
sensation. did this and got along pretty well,
they said, for a beginner.
FIRST SENSATIONS.
When had smoked several times began to
| have a dizzy sensation about my head and OBJ
| jects appeared very indistinct to my vision.
had an itchy feeling all over my body which
tried in vain to relieve. 1 smoked a little more
and there was feeling of nausea at my stOm-
ach. l then decided to stop smoking.
My friend told me to lay perfectly still and
Sleepy e 'esa
sensitive, the least little noise causing me to
tremble with fear, and my heart beat wildly.
also felt very thirsty and asked for drink but
| they told me that must not, above all things
attempt to drink water. So lay quiet little
while longer getting all the more nervous. and
then determined to start home.
My friend warned me not to, but persisted
and rose up. The moment stood on my feet
the room seemed to whirl around and around
and strange noises buzzed in my ears.
This passed off in a few minutes and my
throat feit so dry could not resist the
that stood on a table in the joint The moment
| drank it was sorry had not needed my
friends advice, for the instant it was down up
| itcame as bitter as gall; so, hastily bidding nv
friend good night, staggered out and started
vomlted every few steps, pitching about like a
drunken man. l was completely bewildered;
everything appeared backward to my mind,
and II was with the greatest difficulty man.
aged to find my way to a car.
But in some way, how am unable to say,
succeeded in reaching home. did not wait to
disrobe, but threw myself on the bed just as
was, going to sleep instantly. woke in the
morning, stu Very dizzy, undressed and got
morning; woke with pale face, bloodshot ewes
| and a dull pain in the back OF the head; felt
like going to sleep again. but conquered this
| and started out to attend to my business for the
day.
AS soon this sickness passed Off longed to
smoke again. and did q day or two later,
This time did not smoke as much lay quietly
in the Joint after smoking and drank no water
1t was not till reached the street that any un.
pleasant feeling arose, and then had exactly
the same experience as before, but was able to
get up in the morning, only feeling very thirsty
and dull.
For several other nights I had the same
trouble, but each night / went it was less
| marked. A few more nights and commenced
to get the real enjoyment from the pipe.
GETTING USED TO IT.
After smoking teit extremely easy and COM
| Portable, lay indnlging myself TO the extent of
my imaginative nature, INDUCING in the Wild
est fancies, that appeared at the moment so
real, and no thought Of worldly trouble entered
my mind. Then the frequenters of the Joint
were always telling stories, cracking Jokes.
Sometimes we sang in low voices. Then we
drank beer. Feeling hungry, two or three OF us
dubbed together and bought kettle of hot
coffee and sandwiches from little restaurant
the time flew! Hours were only minutes and
days hours
My next step was to learn how to prepare my
own opium for smoking, and before this al
ways had to get some one else to do it for me-
This is termed cooking, and takes months to
yen hook is grasped between the thumb and
first two fingers of the right hand. The point
Is dipped into the opium, and on removing il u
small portion, the size of bead, adheres to the
yen hook.
1t is now held over the fame of the lamp and
against the globe of the lamp IL bursts and q
little confined steam escapes, leaving it ali
shriveled up. This is repeated until it ceases to
swell.
moisture from the opium, changing it from a
wax.
The pipe is held in the left hand and the bowl
warmed over the light. The opium, In melted
condition, is rolled over the face of the bowl