Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-04-17
HITTING TIE PIPE
4 xsep Tate ths Opium Jeiats o., tAs Poofl
Coast.


xsrS Tate tAs Opium Jes.s.. on sas Paoke.
Coast.
"Although quite common in almost
oil the large cities in the West, the per,
nicious habit Of opium smoking, or hit.
ting the pipe as it is usually called, il
quito unknown in Detrci.," sold we'll.
known druggist
"This habit" he continued, aha,
grown to ar alarming extent Oh tho Pc
citic slope, and in all other locAiies
where Chinese ara to be found in any
great numbers. Ihavo visited many al
the Chinese opium joints. both in New
York aud San Francisco, and can tell
at n glance whether person is addict
ed to the use Of the deadly drug or not
have had strangers como into nv
store whose facial appearance indicated
that they were tho slaves of the habit,
and 30 far as know there is no sure
cure for it except to shun the drug as
one would virer.
The opium used by the Chinese X
OF On inferior quality, and is brought 10
this country i'll the form of paste, put
up in small round toil-lined boxes SINH.
lar to those used for pills. The pipe is
8 curious looking continuance, and
might be token for common walking.
stick wore it not for the little metallic
bowl placed midway between the
mouthpiece and the end Of the stem
The stem itself is constructed OF ban1-
boo, one end being plugged, tho Other
fitted with amber or metallic tip. II
the bottom of the bowl are two small
holes, one of which leads through into
tie stem, the other only about hall
way.
I'm using the pipe small quantity
of the opium paste is rolled up into .
pellet and placed on wire, the end OF
which is inserted in one Of tho holes in
the bowl of the pipe. The smoker
stretches his or her form on the aoo1
or low dival as the case may be, and
isnites the opium by applying the bowl
of the pipe tc the flames of charcoal
brazier. If il be his first attempt the
initial Whit will be sufficient to par
TALLY strange him, as the fumes o
burning opitm are exceedingly pun
gent and dittasteful. Very soon il
becomes accustomed to the peculis
taste, and gradually succumbs to its in
fiuence, as ORC does to an anasthetic
and finally dfcps off into deep sleep
I tried it opce, and that proved sutfi
Gent for me-. 7 had the most delight
full dreams, ard imagined that owned
she earth, and had chattel mortgage
or the other Planets. When I r.gained
consciousness my head felt as largo o.
q Saratoga trunk, and for two days al
least every bdns in my body ached as
badly as if / had been punished with 9
club. had llo desire to try it again.
with some people, however, the
habit grows like the taste for Liquor.
and they can no more control them
selves than can maniac. The pecu'
1AhI 1CltAACuO HAiCA AVAAOWcA az
tempt does not continue after tile frs,
two or three lessons, and, unless per,
son has very strong will, there is $
likelihood oithe practice being contin
ued. Some Of the joints in the Chinese
quarters in San Francisco are fitted up
regardless Of expense, and almost
every night sitter the theaters are out
men and womcn-and some Of them be
long to the upper crust-can DO seer
vending their way along Dupont street,
when ell of sudden they will disap.
pear and that is the last that is seen Of
sheu until next day. Some OF them
have become 60 accustomed to the mar.
cotic influenoa that two or three pipes
arc required to produce the desired re-
suit. IN Che morning they emerge from
the dens with hacgard facea AMI deep
sunken eyes, and having look OF utter
desperation as csn only to produced
by opium. Tho practice is kept up dNr
after day until their constitutions srs
wrecked and death pnts AZ end to thai,
DetroM F.cs i'Jesa.