Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-11-05
WHAT [ SAW OUT WEST.
BY DAVID HILL.


supply. There IS one house built
around q small court which is said to
contain 600 opium eaters. The place
we visited was of the lowest type, and
was situated in the second room Of
the first floor in back from the side
walk. One side of the room was ar
ranged with hunks, one tier resting
above the other, and each bunk was
covered with coarse canvas which
was without mattress or pillow. Upon
those hunks reclined several China
men in different stages Of stupefac-
ton, some asleep, some singing, and
some just Waiting off into that bliss
full state which it is said that only q
puff at the drug can produce. Our
presence was not noticed. Each one
was wrapped up in his own thoughts,
wandering no doubt, through sunlit
meadows and Elysian fields of happ-
mess. They smoke the drug by
holding little lump Of it over a
fame of lamp, and when it ignites
stuff it into small pipe, the fumes
being drawn into the lungs and then
pulled out through the nose, the effect
Of it lasting some eight hours. A few
cents worth Of opium will keep an
ordinary Chinaman in a state of in
toxication throughout the day; but
the richer class will spend dollar or
more, their drugs being Of a superior
quality.
From the opium den we crossed in
to an eating saloon and looked upon a
Chinese cheap supper. A large table
stood in the center of the room, and
around it sat some ten Cinnamon. In
the center Of the table was large
bowl which contained a conglOmera-
ton of rice, chopped cabbage, onions
and several other ingredients. With
. two pronged fork in the right hand,
and using the fingers of the left, one
Of them would lift a portion Of the
mess from the dish, work it carefully
into his mouth with his fork and fling
ers, and then pass the fork to the next
who would go through the same per-
Torrance. In this manner the fork
would so the rounds until the bowl
was Ell ptied, or the appetites Of the
Cinnamon had been appeased.
There were other tables in the room
surrounded by Chinese gamblers; but
I only noticed that they used chips
and dice, and did not inquire into the
merits of the game. l noticed, also,
that dominos were used, or something
similar to them. In the better res
tauran 6 and tea houses we visited,
the rooms were decorated and illum-
mated with beautiful lanterns. The
furnishings were of carved teak
wood, the walls decorated with inlaid
panels, and the hangings were ex-
tremely ornamental. The food, too,
was Of superior quality, but not en-
ticing enough to tempt our appetites.
There were oranges and lemons, figs
and ginger, preserves and cakes COW
cred with jelly, chopped fish, salad,
and cakes made of rice. There were
different kinds Of meats, candies and
stews. Several Of the articles were
and red, and marked with Chinese
characters.
From the restaurants we went to
the GLOSS house" This place is visit
ed by all parties and has been univer
sally described. We reach it by
climbing two flights of marble stairs.
The first room we entered was at one
time a high toned restaurant; but at
present it is only used for festivals
which are held there three times a
year. The floor is of marble, if I re-
member right, the sides Of the room
were covered with inlaid pannels,
colored glass is worked into the
finish of the walls, the tables are
round and furnished with covered
seats, and colored lanterns are hung
around you in great profusion. The
room in which the figure Of gloss" is
confined is covered and filled with all
manner of decorations and emble-
matte figures. The several different
spears and standards, the characters
and emblems depicted in frames hung
about the walls all point to masonry
The table in front of "Joss," the stand
on top OF that, each part Of which,
even to the legs, contain masonic
meaning, and the bible square and
compass on top of the stand, and many
other unmistakable signs, all point to
that ancient and higher order of ma
sorry of which the majority of Chi
nese are members. GLOSS" himself,
which IS of gigantic size, and is dress
ed 70 renresent a great ganeral is also