Connecticut western news., 1886-06-30
HITTING THE PIPE. "
An Old Californian Tells His
 Experience With Opium.
How he Became Addicted to Smoking and
 How he Broke off the Habit.

"Oh, yes," he said, as he sauntered through Chinatown and was assailed by its unsavory odors, 'T have smoked opium. I Irecognize the familiar smell"
 "And still continue to do sop
 ''No, 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'grssp-escapszi is almost impossible.
 "You got out, it appears. '
 But not without struggle. 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 se- cret of opium's control over the minds and bodies of its votaries. This is how it was, and might as we'll make a clean breast of it. am not DeQuincey, but rll tell you as clearly as can my feel ings while under the influence of the drug. had become acquainted With a gambler, one of the most expert in the state, whether in front or behind the game. I 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 ease. One day I asked him the plain question:
 "D-, why do you call on sub- stitute, and quit the table so often9"
 "'Opium, my boy,' he said, in fe- verish way. I can do nothing without it. steadies the nerves. Deprive me of my periodical pipe and Pm like fiddle minus strings. Ever try whiff3'
 "sNo.'
 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 favorite opium haunt several times, resolved to realize the sensations derived from smok- ing, whatever they might be. I hit my first pipe, as the slang goes, about 4 o'clock one afternoon, and shudder now as the remembrance of the terribly sickening experience I passed through recurs to me-. It was hard work in the beginning to get the pipestem properly adjusted to my mouth, and the method of smoking is different from that when you are enjoying tobacco. In inhaling opium smoke you draw the fume into the lungs by long pull, and then inhale it slowly. A pipeful will last about one minute, and then you have to roll a new | pill, and so 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 I had lain. Then became comparatively helpless, and staggered like drunken man, zigzag- ging toward water-pitcher, of the con- tents of which I drank cupful or more. Nausea followed, and when reached my wooden couch again, my lower limbs gave way completely, and fell insensible and helpless. 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 I got to my room in the hotel, where again fell into sleep, disturbed by restlessnesa and horrible dreams. 1 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 disorderly and alarming the house. He summoned D., who sat with me till morning, when still felt the effects of the drug, but was able to rise.
 "'Well, old boy,' said he, in banter ing way, 'how do you like it as far as you've gone9'
 "1t's pretty rough introduction,' replied, and guess I'll go no further
 "'That's right, said he; you'd bette, stop now; but I'll bet a twenty you won't. Of course, you smoked toe 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 tt give up beat.'
 'D-- knew me better than l di6 myself. The time came, sure enough when did tackle the pipe again, think ing myself strong enough to smok' without getting sick. pulled away fo about three minutes, consuming three pills, and this time got glimpse O what is called the opium devotee's para disc. With my body and limbs com pletely relaxed, dropped into state o delightful dreamy half-sleep, langu al. knowing all that was going on around me, but caring for nothing. was abov and beyond all worldly considerations all responsibilities. Then there came change. Restlessness supervened, ant , this dream of delight was rounded off b. horrible mental images that resemble' 3 the harpies of Dore, as he pictured then in the Inferno. Then I came back, il dazed way, to real life again, dranl 7 the strong tea, as I had been advised 7 and went home with all my nerves in , state of protest. :,." \ 'Dating from that time, I indulged i r the pipe for three months, and felt tn