Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-04-04
IN AN OPIUM DEN.



wanted to show that he was a GOOD
"slummer." WELL he said, ''if you
care TO 90 little further, / can show
you some very queer hooks. You've
heard of opium smoking in China. I
can show you an opium den down ia
Shsdwell where a man can smoke him
selfto death as comfortably and cheaply
as if he were in Canton.
Fitzboodle jumped at the idea They
went down Commercial road on a tram
car, and when they left il Smiley
struck of into the network OF streets be-
tween thatth0roughfare aud the docks.
In narrow lane he turned into a
corner public house, the chief decora-
ton of which was great shining yell
low dragon Of Chinese porcelain, which
the landlord had bought years before
from one of his sailor customers, and
which had given its name TO the es-
adjustment The Yellow Dragon was
favorite house with sailors, British
and foreign. The bar aud the parlor
were hung with pictures of ships; and
curios. chiefly Chinese, gave quaint
look TO the place.
While Fitzboodle was refreshing
himself AT the bar and staring at the
dragon, Smiley exchanged few words
in whispers with the landlord, the re-
suit of which was that the two young
men were allowed 20 pass through the
bar, along "a passage and into little
court, from which another door opened
upon small entrance hall. lighted by
paper lantern.
Now, said Smiley, 'try and mag
ine you are in Canton or Nsnkin."
As if to help the illusion, a Chinese
boy with yellow face and black eyes
opened curtained door, aud they
found themselves in room, round
three sides of which ran slOping
wooden platform about six feet wide,
with q few rugs laid on IL here and
there On this rude divan a score Of
men were lolling in various lazy atti-
tudes. Three or four were fast asleep.
Two, more energetic than the rest,
were playing cards. Nearly all of them
had the little opium pipe, with its
short stem and Aattened bowl, in their
hands, and were in various stages OF
she enjoyment OF the drug. Not half
of them were Englishmeu; the rest
were Chinese and Malay sailors,
mulattoes and negroes. They seemed
stupid, ill-conditioned crew, but it
was not easy to make out details, for
the lights were dim in the painted
paper lamps. Seated at one end OF the
divan young Chinaman kept beside
him on a table q supply of pipes and of
the little balls of prepared opium.
To the newcomers il all seemed like
a dream, II was so sudden transition
from all they had yet seen; and the air
OF the place added TO the half-dreamy
sensation. Smiley stretched himself
on the divan, and Htzboodle took q
place beside him, while the Chinese At
tendant reused himself TO offer them
pipes.
you had better not smoke, said
Smiley. Give him half a crown and
he won't mind whether you smoke Cr
not. BY jove, there's enough opium
in the air for any reasonable man."
No said the other; the greatest
pleasure in life is new sensation. The
sight OF this place is one; a smoke here
will be another
well. for Heavens sake let it he
only Whit. or you will be so stupid
that shall not be able 10 get you
home.
Ftzboodle took the pipe offered by
the attendant, and after one or two
false starts got it fairly ahght
This is delicious" he said. But
| thought il would make me sleepy.
Why, never felt more awake in my
life. should like to get up and dance
OF sing; by jova | shoald''
Don't make fool OF yourself,
said Smiley, who, TO tell the truth, was
feeling anxious a. 20 how all this would
end.
'Ha, ha, ha.' laughed Fitzboodle.
what would my old uncle say if he
saw me here, and what would he say
TO you, old man. and he pol1ed
Smiley in the ribs i'll a way that showed
very little reverence for his tutor.
Il should not like to take his opinion
on the subject, answered the tutor;
'but if you will listen to my advice you
will get out into the open air again
before you are muddled with this
place, II had thought you would
smoke | would never have brought
you here.
We'll, said Fitzboodle, II will be
dutiful pupil, and take your advice.
The fact is, Idon't feel as bright as l
did, and I'm afraid this beastly stuff is
beginning TO make me feel queer.
just so. said the tutor, gravely,
you are in the second stage of the
businessmen such pleasant one for
beginner. Here. let me help you up.
You will feel better in the street." and
they made their way out through the
court at the back Of the Yellow Dragon.
---Nanity Fair