Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-03
A LIou1D-nYED BEAUTY
From the South Teaches Feather Drained
Youths of Columbus How TO Smoke
Opium.


Youths of Columbus How to Smoke
Opium.
COLUMBUS. ONO, July 2.-It will be
surprising information to the general
public that within the last few weeks
the scions of the capitals aristoeracy
have been reveling in the Oriental vice
Of opium smoking.
The circumstances surrounding the
introduction of the strange dissipation
here are quite romantic.
Its dreamy mysteries are being re-
vealed by an olive-skinned, liquid-eyed
Southern beauty whose remarkable per-
sonal charms, perhaps, more than her
weird vocation, win patrons without
number. 1t is she who acts as tutor to
the smoker, filing the pipe with her
dainty fingers and holding the mouth
piece to the tips while the enhancing
fumes are drawn.
1t was just five weeks ago when the
fair tempter made her initial appear
ance In Columbus. She took room In
a top story not more than mile away
from the corner of High and Long
streets and soon began TO attract atten-
ton In the popular thoroughfares. She
dressed richly, but in good taste, and,
although not averse to street Irritation,
there was modesty in her manner that
puzzled many men who lifted their hats
and smiled responsibility as they passed.
White her general appearance was too
blase for that OF either school miss
or a mischievons shop girl, it was evil
dent at a glance that she was no or
binary woman in the shady walk of
life. 1t was not long until dozens OF
young bloods had made her acquaint-
ance and accompanied her TO the room.
Upon their arrival there they found
that she had enticed them there for an
unexpected purpose. She informed
them that she was not q woman OF the
town, but teacher Of the art OF OPT
um smoking" For a fee OF S. she
would reveal the fascinating secrets OF
the vice and care for her visitor while
he was wrapt in the delightful dreams
that drug produced.
She epjoined the utmost secrecy upon
her patrons lest the police interfere with
her business, and IT has been conducted
with the greatest quietude. She soon
sprang into great popularity, most OF
her patrons being members OF some OF
the aristocractic families OF the city.
1t has now become quite the latest thing
for a party Of young gentlemen TO en-
JOY the pleasures Of an opium smoke to-
gether. Fearing that they might be
seen going to or coming from her room
many Young men meet her by appoint
ment at swell houses Of designation,
where there is no danger Of discovery,
and there they chit the pipe to their
hearts content.
Despite the fact that several young
men have become quite deeply interest
ed In the beautiful Southern girl, who
initiated them into the peculiar vice,
and have endeavOred to learn her his
tory, very little is known OF her. She
says that her name is Marian Dumas
and that she came here from Nashville,
Tenn, having conducted an opium
smoking business a short time in that
city. The manner in which opium Is
smoked and her clay out" or Darapher-
MALTA is, TO the uninitiated, an interest
inG feature OF the affair.
told TO remove his coat and collar and
loosen his clothes In order that he may
have free respiration. Then she I'M
locks trunk and takes from 1t tray
bearing a silver urn, which contains
the opium, long -stemmed, clay-bowled
pipe, a pretty little lamp and long
needle. The opium in the urn is mixed
with wax, forming a substance similar
TO salve. She drives the needle into the
the opium, pulling 1t out with piece
OF the salve about as large as peanut
kernel, and then holds this over the
lamp until it burns and sizzles. This is
what she calls cooking" it. After the
opium is sufficiently cooked" she
places it into the bowl Of the pipe and
closes down little golden lid.
Then she places the stem in the visi-
or's mouth and holds the bowl over the
lamp. at the same time telling him to
draw" the smoke from the pipe and
blow il out through his nose. 1t is not
long until sleep and the opium-produc-
ing dreams come, and the smoker drops
back on TO the bed to enjoy the strange
pleasures.
While the patrons Of Marian Dumas
have been mostly men, scores Of the
dem-monde are numbered among
those who shit the pipe" at her hands.
The inmates Of some Of the swell houses
have her call with her pAraphernalia
and administer TO them the weird pleas
ures Of the pipe.