St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-29

and who find in the
drug means of escape, at least for a
BRIEF season, from sense of their mis-
cries, even if it be at the expense of
after prostration and twofold suffering.
This class constitutes at least two
thirds of the number of habitual opium
smokers. The balance is made up of
men and women in all ranks of society
who use it for various reasons, most of
them because during some spell of sick
ness they contracted a love for the drug
administered in its liquid form for the
relief of pain.
Hence the morphine habit. Outside
of the extract the principal form in
which opium Is used in New York is
morphine. Druggists of this city tell
strange, almost incredible stories, of
the Sufferlngs of some of the poor crea-
lures who, after having entirely aban-
doned themselves to the deadly habit,
find themselves without the necessary
means to procure the drug upon which
their very life depends.
The dose to start with is generally
about one grain, though the average
morphine victim uses from six to twelve
grains daily. The effects of morphine
are at first eXhilarating and then stu
pefying. The after effects are severe
mental and nervous prostration, which
continue until the drug is again re-
sorted to.
THE EVIL ON THE INCREASE.
Opium smoking as an habitual stimu-
liant producing eXhilaratiOn and pleas
ant flights of fancy and then headache,
halluclnat:on, mental sluggishness, loss
OF strength, laSSitude and a condition
fr0n {nHn fhnv
anything else, is daily becoming more
prevalent in New York. 1t is vice
less easy of detection than alcoholic in
toxication, which it would seem to re-
place where law and custom have made
the latter disreputable.
up to very few years ago the opium
joint was confined exclusively to the
district embracing Mott. PeIl and Doy-
erS streets. Now joints are scattered
plentlfully throughout the city. They
flourish along Sixth avenue. Third av-
enue and the cross streets from Four
teenth to FOrty-firSt street.
The victims of the drug formerly had
to exercise certain amount of diplo-
macy in order to be admitted to the
denS, which were exclusively run by
the almOnd-eyed residents of Mott
street. AT the best the opium joint of
those days was miserable affair-mis-
cradle in appearance, surroundings and
accommodations, Now there are opium
joints in this city which are palatial and
luxurious in every detail.
On the south side of East Twenty
seventh street, between Third and Lex
1ngton avenues, one of the most pre-
tentious of these joints is to be found.
1t is run by a rather preposSesslng
woman, who might in pugilistic circles be
claSsed as heavyweight The Woman's
character is rather bias cut, and she an
swers to the name of Gussie, which is
blazOned forth On the bell handle COM
municating with her apartments. To
properly and completely administer to
the wants of her customers Miss or Mrs.
Gussie has six young women in attend.
ance.
These ladies represent nearly every
type of beauty. and literally indulge in
various articles to heighten the charms
which nature has not been too prodigal
in bestowing. The apartments in this
house are fitted up with Oriental mag
nifcence. A large parior, which is also
used as reception room, is furnished
in gorgeous style, though net with the
greatest possible taste. Five other rooms
in the suite are equally dazzling and
elaborate.
WHERE FANCY PRICES ARE PAID.
The opium smoker who patronizes
this establishment must pay tall price
for satisfying his desire. Five dollars
is the regular tariff charged for smoke
The patrons belong to class whom S.
is the merest kind of bagatelle.
The customer, on entering, is waited
i,x Of civ IL x
rens, who silently ushers him or he1
into one of the smoking divans. Here
complete opium ''layout" is produced.
The lamp. pipe and drug are of the best
quality. Little delay is made in getting
the pipe into operation, and the visitor
soon enters that dreamland which opium
slaves call Utopia. Two hours is the
limit of time allowed by the proprietors
of the place, and at the end of that
period the smoker is aroused and sent
on his or her way unless more money is
forthcoming
Along Third avenue a cheaper grade
of joint may be found. Near Twelfth
street, on the east side of the avenue, in
one Of big row of flats, the police re-
Gently made raid and arrested three
women and two men who were under
the influence Of the fascinating drug
when the raid was made. Between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, on the
east side of Third avenue, there are
three fourishing joints. The fittings of
these places are plain and comfortable.
In each the charge Is 81 for the privilege
of deadening the sense of humanity.
Clinton place, Lafayette place and
West Twenty-eighth street are, how
ever. practically the homes of the better
class of opium joints. They flourish
thick as flies IN molasses barrel in
these three streets. but particularly i'm
the last named. They are known to
every policeman in their respective pre-
cincts, but that does not worry their
proprietors much. and the nefarious
business is carried on without any fear
of the law or its alleged champions.
THE SQUALID DENS OF MOTT STREET.
, The Mott street joint and the brand
to he found in Pell street. Doyers street
and Marion street is totally different
kind of institution. The Press reporter
who visited these places with regular
patron, whose appearance was an open
sesame to proprietors. found state of
things beyond anything like an ac-
curate description. In each the atmos-
phere was sitting. The surroundings
were NlI0y.
Stretched in hunks ranged in tiers.
after the manner of those in the steer
age of foHrth-rate German transat-
lantic liner. were men and women, the
substratum of society, with pale and
livid faces. their skins covered with a
cold persDiration, the pupils of their
eyes Weirdly contracted-all listless. all
plunged into a condition resembling
coma. Here the habit can be INDUCED
in for payment of from 25 to so cents.
Pell street.-the smallest, shortest, vii
est street in tOwn-festers with such
joints. Located near the head of Chat
ham square. it is so narrow, so insignifi-
cant. that it finds no place on the map
of New York. Yet Pell street is the
most notorious plague spot in the Sixth
precinct.
Indulgence in the opium habit soon
depleteS the purses of those addicted tn