The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-01
THE COCAINE FIENDS.
THE HABITS OF THOSE VINO USE
THIS DEADLY NARCOTIC.
Men Fallen From High Estate Spend
Their Lives In Rags and squaior-
Would Pawn Their souls.

The Hypo Club OF men and women con-
| frmed in the cocaine habit meets every
| night In a large, rambling. palsied GU
brick coal shed with three or four com
parunents in narrow alley az the rear
of Il ne Derby" Characteristic P0t-
house of that locality which fronts on
the west side of state street. few doors
north Of Harrison. The Hypos are a
unique and exclusive social organization
OF at least years growth IL this town,
but as yet they have received 80 recoS-
milton in the nice, giit-edge. morocco
bound pages Of The elite directory,
slight which some OF the older members
might be dispt sed To resent II they ever
found it out. But If they have been over
looked by the discriminating editors ct
the book of the elite. IL is a great conso-
lation 10 them to know that they have
also escaped the intrusion Of the police.
As a rule what even the most entnu-
siastic diettante in this club wishes 10
know concerning any richly bound book
or piece OF bric-a-brac Is a sum IT VIII
bring on hypothecatiOn at his uncle s
around the corner: for any windfall or
this character, whether IL come by inert
or by some sudden stroke Of good luck,
means a fresh supply Of his favorite drug
ana so many more hours of lying down
10 pleasant dreams amid the garbage
and strange odors of his sequestcred re-
treat.
SELECTING 4 MANI
In one OF the earlier meetings 90 the
Cub when the selection of a name was
under discussion, Optician Locke char
ter member and probably the best edu-
Gated man in the association, raised his
head drowsily from a rusty joint OIL
stoyepipo which he was using as a pill
low and said Il propose that We can
tllis organization the Lethean club, ana
in support OF my motion l Will read these
lines from the immortal Milton There
upon he fished a ragged and badly soiled
scrap Of paper out Of his seedy clothes
and read:
Far off from these, slow and silent
stream.
Lethe, the river Of oblivion, rolls
Her watery labyrinth; whereof who
drinks
Forthwith his former state and being
fOrgets,
Forgets both Joy and grief, pleasure and
Whereat "Hypo John" who had been
lying in kind Of mental atrophy, rous-
"a up and made a vigorous objection.
None of your Letnean goes IN this
club" he said cts TOO high. we have
mugs here that would never reach IT, It's
Hypo or nothin', seen And Hypo Il
was from that time on. In this case
however. the term was not used as a
contraction for hypOchondriasis, mean-
ing disordered stomach and liver, mel
ancholy, Vapors spleen, disordered imasi-
nation ana low spirits. IL was chosen as
q contraction OF hypodermic, the little
instrument which is regarded as the most
precious earthly possession OF the MEM
bers.
DEATH ~ LIFF.
Not far from the downtown terminus
Of the south side elevated road these un-
fortunate pariahs exist i'm isolation al
most as complete as if they were mem
bcrs Of leper settlement in the sand
wich Islands. The rear of city life IS an
about them. but they dOze ana dream
away the hours in solitude. They toll
not neither 80 they spin. 30 be found
guilty Of performing manual labor
IL considered sufficient cause for ex-
pulsiOn from the club, but there mas
never been any occasion 10 enforce the
RUE. They are known by sight in all
the drug stores and 10 many OF the bus
ines men i'm the Immediate neighbour
lCod. Whether you agree with the hy-
pcs that they enjoy life depends largely
tpon your worldly experience. and con
scquenuy upon the opinion you have
come 10 hoid as 20 what constitutes real
enjoyment. Riches beyond the dreams az
avaiice are theirs. IN Imagination. 80
lCng as they can beg or steal the price
Of q few grains Of cocaine and their
foul coal shed takes on the proportions
and grandeur Of a palace.
Across Harrison street 10 the south
from the mouth Of the alley stands the
jones school. Around the corner m state
street. which IS always thfonged with
the polyel0t inhabitants OF the 'levee'
district, are many dives and saloons that
can claim kinship with THE Derby" the
back door of which opens upon the
strange abode OF the Hyp0s in exile. ga
a stroll Of a couple of blocks along the
west side Of this thoroueniare, between
Van Buren and Polk streets. the onser-
want sightseer will note the Cobwcb. the
Boston, the stag, the Crystal, the sunny
brook the Capital, the owl, the Berhn,
the Welcome. the Aurora. the Old Glory.
the Social. the Fashion, and various
ether places blazing with signs. which
give startling ideas as to the reduction
in price of an mixed drinks ana sufPrie-
inE information regarding tie amazing
quantity of beer obtainablc iy the eNptn-
diture of . cents. Across me street, al
most opposite the Derby. IS the PARK
Theatre whore the most mysterious ana
lNtNlllaulc IlllNN dances ia uNtt Aftl /
are going on for the Gelectatou OF the
canaine. 4 few steps 90 the south is
THE Beer Han of All Nations ID name !
that suggested itself 20 ths proprietor
when the Midway Plaisance vas lie the [
zenith Of its glory.
HOW THY IIvr.
How 10 these melancholy efligles OF 1
mankind manage to- exist? The GistIsCt |
about them Is populous with panel work /
ers and panel games, rul they do no, |
profit by these criminal transactions. !
There is no affinity whatever between J
confirmed HypO and tho man who drinks |
lqu,T. hence tn former Us lever see- /
hanging around any of the resorts clu- |
mcrated. where free lunch OF cnoiee morse /
meat and red-bots O. nice. well fatten-
"a oily dog can be had al libitum, where /
men ana women drink and laugh bolster /
ously together and where any uusus-
pectng person may be relieved Of mis- |
money anc watch with great neatncss |
and d.sratch by Tire "hig mitt." the
"knock,r our or some other equally cf-
fectivc method. The cocaine hcrd. for
his part, seems 70 crave nothing m th.s
world but a supply of the drug a ny
podermie syringe 10 inject the solution |
into his veins, and then the poor boon