Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-11-19

vived US. We had not yet finished our
tour, however, aud wo next ran
up oreaking stairway OF an Old IRE
trap, turned TO the right, knocked ut
door and were admitted by Chinese
woman. Though somewhat startled,
she asked no questions rs abe was nc.
quaintei with the detective who rs.
sured her that | was only a friend.
We were greeted by her husband who
was lying curled up on matted couch
on the opposite side OF tho room with
an eighteen months old child asleep In
his arms. Our conversation aroused
the little one from Its slumber and II
began 70 cry aud refused 10 be p.clflei.
We offered II candy, nicknacIs aud
nickelr, but II was OF no avail. II bai
evidently made up Its mind 10 cry and
continued 10 below Justify. a score
or more OF Cinnamon popped their
heads In at the door TO ascertain the
cause OF the disturbance and when
they saw rs they disappeared Instantly
and one OF them frightened the Others
almost out VI their wits by
telling them that We were San Fran.
cisco custom house opium sellers. The
woman, however, soon disabustd their
minds Of this idea. In the meantime
her husband had succeeded In gulcting
tho llttlo one by folding u In hts arms
rs he lay upon the bed and allowing II
TO inhRle the fumes OF opium as the
smoke was emitted In dense volumes
| from his own nnatrils. Tho child
drew the amoke into its lungs In a
manner that was truly astonishing.
I "Oh, no like smoke, too" laughed
! the father when we expressed our sur
prise and horror at the performance.
Understanding that confirmed opium
votaries are generally ohildless, asked
the father how long no had been an
habltual smoker anu he replied, zone
year" He stated further that no CON
sumcd one dollars worth OF opium
every twenty.four hours. His hablta.
ton was perfect picture OF poverty
and wos. Wretohedness and misery
were stamped upon the counienance-
Of the ertire family, which consisted
OF tho parents and three children.
Whom l saw the terrible deBtitution
that prevailed there asked the Mon
goiian IL he would not forego the
awful habit ia order 10 bettsr provide
for his wife and children, and he
muttered as he continued TO smoke
away at his pipe, "Me no can doee
that die II ] no amokee." And no
no doubt told the truth.
Most OF tho Cinnamon In this coun.
try, II Ia claimed by dealers In opium,
smoke superior article OF the
drug while tho majority OF opium
smokers IN China are too poor
to buy tia best and consequently get
what they cana vile suulteratipn.
The habit IL mora widespread In this
country than Ia generally imagined.
Even Americans indulge In Il TO an
alarming extent. They are, as n rule,
however o. the criminal classes. A
close observer eau detect them on the
streets by their ashen complexion,
sunken and ekpressioHless eyes, spare
forms ana feoblei walk. Several such
characters were engaged In smoking
In Que OF the places we visited. IL Is
claimed by some that opium eau be
moderately used without III effects.
Those who thus contend arc unquali-
fiedly mistaken. The best informed
physicians say that 1t oaunot be taken
constantly In the slightest degree with
out soon making yisible rsvages on the
aystem. A man who contracts the
habit soon becomes indoleut and use.
less, loOsing all business tact and en-
terprise and finally becomes slave,
"A Disgrace and pitisbls wreck. No
reliance whatever can be placed upon
the word or hopes'T OF such mau.