The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-03-09
IN AN OPIUM DEN.
A Couple of English BIoods "Hit the
Pine" in EaAt London.

smiley was now on his mettle. lie
wanted to show that he was good
"siummer." "Well," he said, ali you
care to go little further, l can show
you some very queer hooks. You've
heard of opium smoking in China. l
can show you an opium den down in
Shadwell where u man can smoke him
selfto death as comfortably and cheaply
as If he were in Canton"
Fitzboodle jumped ut the idea. They
went down Commercial road on tram
car, and when they left it Smiley
struck off into the network of streets be-
tween that tthuroughfare and the docks.
In a narrow lane he turned into a
corner public house, the chief decora-
tion 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-
tablishment. The Yellow Dragon was
favorite house with sailors, British
and foreign. The bar and 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 to pass through the
bar, along Il passage and into little
court. from which another door opened
upon small entrance hall, lighted by
a paper lantern.
Now" said Smiley, "try and imag-
inc you are in Canton or Nanl1in."
AS if to help the illusion u Chinese
boy with IL yellow face and black eyes
opened curtained door, and they
found themselves in room, round
three sides of which ran sloping
wooden platform about six feet wide,
with Il few rugs laid Oh it here and
there. On this rude divan 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 fattened bowl, in their
hands, and were in various stages of
the enjoyment of the drug. Not half
of them were Englishmen; the rest
were Chinese and Malay sailors,
mulattoes and negroes. They seemed
a stupid, ill-conditioned crew, but it
was not easy to make out details, for
the lights were dim in the painted
paper lamps. Seated ut one end OF the
divan young Chinaman kept beside
him on Il table supply of pipes and of
the little balls of prepared opium.
To the newcomers il all seemed like
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 Fitzboodle took
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 or
not. BY jove, there's enough opium
in the air for any reasonable man"
'No.' said the other; 1.-THE greatest
pleasure in life is new sensation. The
sight of this place is one; smoke here
will be another
"Well, for Heavens sake let it be
only Il Whit, or you will be so stupid
that | shall not be able to get you
home
Fitzboodle took the pipe offered by
the attendant, and after one or two |
'alse starts got it fairly alight.
This is delicious" he said. "But
thought it would make me sleepy.
Why, | never felt more awake in my
ife. should like to get up and dance
,r sing; by jove, | should!"
Don't make u fool OF yourself"
aid Smiley, who, to tell the truth, was
ceiling anxious as to how all this would
md.
"Ha, ha, haH laughed Fitzboodle,
what would my old uncle say if he
aw me here, and what would he say
o you, old MANI" and he po1ed
'miley in the ribs in way that showed
cry little reverence for his tutor.
IL should not like to take his opinion
n the subject" answered the tutor;
'butif you will listen to my advice you
'ill get out into the open air again
efore you are muddled with this
lace. If l had thought you would
moke | would never have brought
ou here"
"Wcll," said Fitzboodle, 81 will be
utiful pupil, and take your advice.
he fact is, don't feel us bright us |
id, and m afraid this beastly stuff is
eginning to make me feel queer"
just So" said the tutor, gravely,
you are in the second stage of the
such "a pleasant one for
beginner. Here, let me help you up. ,,
ou will feel better in the street." and j.,
hey made their way out through the !,
,urt at the back of the Yellow Dragon. /.
Vanity Fair.
Headlight for Locomotives. /
4