The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-19
TOLD BY AN OPIUM F1RND.
Hopes That Seem to be Realized While
the Spell of the Drug Lasts.
Es.n.., IA NnIo.r,d, 81.


Hopes That Seem to be Realized While
the Spell of the Drug Lasts.
From, the Colorado sun.
When get up in the morning my face is
bloated, swollen, and my acquaintance.
some of them, say that it is the effect Of
liquor, but the more observant those better
versed in the ways of the world, say that it
is morphine, or the fluid extract from the
poppy, and they are right. Do they blame
met Yes, they do. am called a fool. l
am told that l am throwing my life away.
am demoralizing my brain power and my
nervous system along with it. | am told
that should let it alone, and TO add weight
to their argument am told OF all the hor-
rible and frightful ends of the
most frightful malady. Those who tell
me about it have not had the experience;
they go by observation. l have had both
observation and experience. Is there any
reason why l should not know and WHY I
should not appreciate the sad results of an
imbiber in opiatesl All that my WE'LL
meaning advisers tell me is true, yet when
/ retire from my work a siege varying from
fourteen to eighteen hours out of the twenty
four, get to my dingy little room aud find
relief only In my little bottle of opium or in
q morphine tablet. IL is very odd, IL is un-
reasonable, some will say, that man with
brains enough, and perhaps a trlfle above
the average capacity, would thus resort to
deliberately breaking himself down. But
this is an old story.
Do take my medicine with anxiety and
pleasure mingledl No, 1t is with feeling
of repulsion, and as l tip INV head back
draining the very last dregs from the glass
a feeling of detection end remorse fills me.
l think Of what my dear mother would say
II she knew, and sometimes think, yes, be-
lieve that she is looking down on me. 1 can
see her face full OF compassionate sorrow
and that deep, holy love that only a mother
can enter in for her son. l see at such
times the mistake have made during my
life, and though there has been nothing in
eliminating, l have not been an angel. The
poison has been taken, and the spree be-
tween that time and when it takes effect is
not OF the most agreeable. The word re-
morse is not strong enough. 1 am too am
bilious, perhaps, and like the one quality
or feature which pushes a man to the front.
do not get along fast enough, and my
salary is too miserably and insultingly
small.
As I think these things over with all the
bitterness there is In them, the opiate takes
effect and DISTRICTS my attention from
what please 20 term my misfortune. A
kind OF numbDess ereeps over me and seems
to take possession of my whole system. Tho
sensation is not pleasant nor is IL disagree
able, for / know what Ia coming.
Oblivion creeps over me, and the hell of
this world, IL it can be termed so lightly, is
gone, and enter into life, an existence,
that have seen In my earlier worldly ex-
perience, and am In my own hemisphere.
In my fancy l live the life would live in
reality. No, there is no extravaganza, no
dissipation in my imaginary life; all ia as
comfortable and respectable as the most
exactinR and proper could wish. My occu-
patton is such that | have no chance 70 in
dulge In social pleasure, for at che time for
receptions AMI social calls l am the busiest,
and make no effort TO cultivate elevatin9
female society, because know | cannot
follow it up, and more. my salary is too
small. could not move In the society /
would.
In my dream life have my only Joy.
Whenever l enter that existence l am. to
use the only expression, tout Of sightn [
have been seated by fair women at tables
laden with the Injuries of life l have
talked with brilliant men at the banquet
table. and though never take leading
part in any such demonstrations, / enjoy
IL and follow it in the even tenor of nv
way. At other times / will be at my home
a little place l have pictured out In a quiet
part OF the city, enjoying the comforts that
are to be found only In that modest little
cottage. My home. my mythical home, is
not a gorgeous affair, but 1t is 30 happy.
1t is furnished In that quiet, rich taste
that only q true, loving and wise wife
can show. Quite often, while we sit
there, the little one that has been
born to US will utter a cry in her
sleep, and the ever-thoughtful mother will
go and bend over the cradle. Soothing
words, with looks from her eyes beamino
with maternal love quiet the little thing.
The care and the responsibility that are
placed on us by that little treasure draw us
closer together. and our love is infinite.
Again l will drift into the channels OF nv
daily occupation, and struggle on, as do
in actual life, but the results are reversed
and meet with reward and am happy. 1t
may be that at such time am single, as |
really am, and will find myself In the society
of my ideal of womanhood, who In nv real
life l have never met.
All of these most happy events and situa-
tions does the opiate bring on, impressinq
themselves most wildly upon the mind.
When consciousness returns awake with
a heavy, dull sensation in my brain, and
am unable to determine whether what has
impressed itself is true or not. I stretch
and rub my swollen eyes, and the truth of
the situation is upon me- The blood courses
hot through my body, feeling as though hot
irons were applied to the pulse. Thoughts
cannot be collected, the memory is i'm
paired. and the daily grind Is before me.
Mental and physical exhaustion follow, and
then the worst-pay day. sis there any re-
lief to be securedW / debate the question
with myself. Eyes, there is" Then "No y
then Eyes ;" and my hand reaches again
for the fruit of the poppy.
A N6{-ad t3a1aftapobsa