The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-26
A BANEFUL. SPIRIT.
An Opium Pipe That Has a Very
Romantic History.
Cincinnati Examiner.


An opium pipe with remarkable history
was recently presented to Mr.. Charles Bur
dick. 1t is made wholly of ivory. which is
unusual, as 1t is very costly. the more so be-
cause of the carvings and Chinese figures
upon il.
This pipe cost fully 500 when it was new
and but for bad usage would now be worth
much more. as to pipe fend the value of
pipe is enhanced by long usage much as
fully colOred meerscheum is valued by the
owner.
The ivory opium-pipe does not color like
meerschaum, but 1t acquires an door and
flavor" from long usage which 10 the de-
yotee OF the drug makes it highly priced.
The last owner of this remarkable pipe
was an inmate of the Stephens Sanitarium
at Lebanon. The patient brought with him
TO that institution his wife.
Both were young people who had lived a
romantic life In mining towns, where he
mined for gold with deck of cards and a
dextrOus wrist. Both had acquired the
habit from watching the Chinese, and began
out OF curiosity. So. when they arrived at
| the saniiarium they were novel inmates
| even of such an institution. because they
| had unique way of sharing the seductive
| spell of madjOor. he would COOK the
| opium or 'hop" over the little blaze OF
peanut oil and then with the 'yenhocS," or
needle, place II in the bowl.
and place a pillow upon her body. Then
the husband would reeline at full length,
resting his head upon The pillow, and she
would begin.
When her hand relaxed and she was revel-
Ing IN riches and enjoying the thrills Of an
impossible existence, the husband would
take the pipe and in few moments join her
IN the missionary realm, where delightfully."-
beautiful and yoluptuOus hours ever en-
chant the Gevotee. Thus they wOuld alter
70 hair FNFafFc amin INaa
the day and night, only to awaken, sick,
disguised, nauseated, and yet anxious to
try IL again, until cured. Then they we're
glad TO give the baneful pipe away, ana it Is
now, with all ths paraphernalla, at the
cigar counter of Burdick's as a curiosity.
Is Is very old and was brought from
China, where it once belonged TO a very
high-caste mandarin. In fact, IL was proba-
bly, stolen from him by an enyIous fellow
Celestial because of its value.
In San Francisco il belonged to Chinese
gan bier who, IN fight over game OF IAN
tan. broke the pipe over the head of a
fellow Cbinaman and was arrested.
The tube was cOnfiscated, but China
man who knew It's value soon got IL from
the police. and then there we're great efforts
among others TO obtain it. The result was
that several Cinnamon owned it at different
times, having gambied for il; but il was a.
ways used as a stake only In the last eX-
tremity. One prosperous Chinaman had
saved enough money TO return 10 the Flow
cry Kingdom, and he managed to get the
pipe. So he sailed with it. gambled on slip
board and lost everything, even the fatal
pipe. Then, as is the custom among bank
rupt Cinnamon. he jumped overheard rather
than GO home pennlless.
The one who won it came back and was
killed in mining camp. A saloon keeper
got the pipe and put il up at q rattle.
Tickets sold rapidly at 81 each, and every
Chinaman for miles around wanted that
particular pipe. He realized $500 and a
Chinese cook got the pipe. only TO regret il.
because the other Chinese made life
burden for him and he was afraid of q
violent DEATH So be threw the pipe into
stream, from which boy rescued it and
sold it for trife TO the devotee, who
brought il 10 DIR. Stephens
The "hOptai," which holds the opium or
'hop." the ''yenshee-gow." with which the
pipe is cleaned of 'yenshee" or burned
opium, and the .'yenboek" or needle with
which the hep" is cooked or applied, all
came with the pipe. and all are OF Chinese
make. The old pipe has made Tor a short
time more millionares than Wall street
ever knew. and likewise caused aGonizing
torture.