The morning call., 1890-11-16
SHE SMOKED OPIUM.
Emily WhartOn's Talk to a Royal
Canadian Com m issiOn.

The good st. Anthony himself was never
in queerer company than were Joseph
Adolphe Chaplain and the Hon. Mr.. Justice
Gray of Canada, when the Dominion Parlia-
ment sent them TO the Pacific Coast to in
quire about the Chinese and they found
Miss Emily Wharton and heard her talk
upon one of the matters they were looking
into. 1t will not do to say much about what
Emily was, though she made no bones of
telling it, but she was beautiful girl, fash
ionably dressed, and the mistress of perfect
English and exquisite manners She was
found, quite by accident. in an opium joint
in Chinatown, Victoria, b. c. While she
did not describe the horrors or the false de-
lights of opium smoking, she nevertheless
left upon the minds of her hearers an idea
OF its hold upon victim and Of its conse-
Quences such as no litera.eur, no matter
whom, ever excelled Her talk became in
turn the talk of Victoria, and it is still often
referred to there, though the strange meet
Ing took place five years ago.
My name is Emily Wharton" said She
land l am 90 years of age. l have been an
opium-smoker about four years. l learned
to smoke in San Francisco"
"Why did yon commence it?' the grave
Judge and the kindly counselor inquired.
why do people. commence to drinkP
Trouble, / suppose" said she. 81 think it
is better than drink. People who smoke
opium do not kick up rows; they injure no
one but thems elves, and 1 do not think they
injure themselves very much. l know
opium-smOkers who are 60 and 20 years of
age There is man here who has smoked
for thirty years
Yes, have read De Quincey's Opium
Eater She allowed her eyes to glisten
and her Shapely nose to curl a little at the
tip. The tone in which she spoke expressed
deep but restrained contempt for the book
in question. IL was an opiunl-smoker before
l read his book. l believe he drew more
upon his imagination than on experience. l
do not realize the pleasures and visions he
dIlates on. nor, believe, does any opiuni-
smoker. l believe De Quincey's book.s a
pack of les"
III it does not afford you any such
pleasure as he describes why do you
SmOke?'
Because must" said she. II could not
live without it. l smoke partly because of
the quiet enjoyment it gives, but mainly to
escape from the horrors which would come
did not smoke. To be twenty-four hours
without smoking is to suffer worse than the
lost"
But does not the smoking make you
wretehed, just as drinking would?"
NO" said she. II require about twelve
pipes, then l fall into state of somnolence
and complete rest. When awake l fell all
right, and can attend to fixing up the house.
am brisk, and can work as well rs any body
else. i do not feel sick or nervous, neither
have | the inclination to smoke more
opium"
Then" said the persistent inquisitors,
why do you return to the use Of the drugr'
"Ah, that's it," said the young woman
admitting all that was sought by her manner
as well as words, There is time when my
hands fail me; tears fall from my eyes;
am ready to sink; then l come here and for
few bits (shllings) have a smoke which
sets me right. There is TOO much nonsense
FOL q nlyip I ia, mt
it would be uncomfortable for me. i am in
excellent health. But suppose every one
has their own troubles, and l have mine"
- do not want to be offensive" said one
of the learned gentlemen, "but are you what
is called a fast woman'?"
81 am, SIR" she repli ed, "but you would
be greatly mistaken if you imagined that all
the women who come here to smoke are OF
that character. In San Francisco l have
known some of the first people to visit opium
houses, and many respectable persons do so
here"
She was then asked how, in the course of
her four years of slavery to the drug she
had been treated by the Cinnamon whom
she had met in such resorts rs she went for
her pipes.
least" said she. waking or sleeping. one
act of rudenesS from Chinaman l have
never expert enced. In that respect they
are far superior to white men. Unless you
speak 10 them they Will not even speak to
you, and, indeed, after the first Yhff of the
opium, you have no desire to speak. You
rather resent having to speak or being
spoken to, and when you want the smoke
the desire to get the pipe ready is far too
earnest a business to allow of any desire
for idle talk. But have known Cinnamon
who were not opium and believe
they are far more certain not to offend or
modest woman than white men, especially
white men with glass in"
You have been well educated" one OF
the committee yentured.
Yes" said she, but that is neither here
nor there now. We will not go into that.
VI course | have not given you my real
name" After pause she added: II will
say this, though. that if opium-houses were
licensed as drinking saloons are, one need
not have to come into such holes as this to
smoke. There would be nice rooms with
nice couches, and the degradation would be
mitigated. At all events, | think the Gov
eminent that will not license an opium
saloon should shut up public-houses and
hotels where they sell vitriol for whisky and
brandy, and where men kill themselves
with a certainty and rapidity beyond the
power of rum"
The grave Commissioners saw many
strange sights and heard a great bookful Of
testimony, but nothing came to their net
that made such an impression upon them as
their talk with Miss Wharton.-N. Y. Sun.
She Gotta Servant. Husband married one
yearl-Why, Eta, what has become of your
wedding ring? Wife-I wore 1t ont. Hus-
band-HOw could you wear it out? Wife
Doing the house Work.-Ep0ch.