Warren sheaf., 1898-08-11
Marshall County, Nnnesotn Thursday, NJ

|
there were Chinese cooks, and the
chamber work was done by China
men. Many Of our party visited the
| Chinese booths in the afternoon buy
ing trlnkets and souvenirs of various
kinds. Late in the evening we, to-
gether with several other editors, es
corted by an officer from the police
court, made tour of Chinatown.
The worst phases OF Chinese life we're
then seen. First we visited an opium
den, a little dingy room, where a
number OF Cinnamon were laying in
wooden hunks enjoying their opium
smoke. We were shown how the
smoking is done. A small quantity
OF the opium, which is a dark pasty
substance, somewhat resembling
printers ink, is placed in a pipe which
is held inverted over a burning taper
and AS the smoke is given off from
the burning mass it is inhaled. 1t
requires only a little while to smoke
a pipe. One Chinaman. who could
speak English fairly well, said that
he usually smoked 25 to 80 pipes
in a night, and that he felt no
injurious effects therefrom. Whether
he knew it or not, the deadly narcotic
nevertheless was surely gnawing at
his vitals and shortening his life.
The opium habit is the curse of China.
We we're asked if we wanted to smoke
a pipe of opium, but courteously de-
clined. Next we visited Joss house,
or Chinese temple, with it's many
grotesque figures, carvings, and
images representing gods. There
were no seats in the room, only
rug in front of the Gods. A China
man in the room showed us how they
conduct their devotions, which, ap-
parently, are rather lacking in rever-
ence. No wonder that even the
heather Chinee should lose respect
! for such gods. How thankful we
ought to be that we have been reared
and live in a Christian land. In all
Chinese booths there is an odor that
struck us as being peculiarly orient
al. A Chinese drug store filled with
bottles, boxes and jars Of strange
Chinese remedies, was an interesting
point visited, but we did not buy
any medicine.
| Victoria is a fine city Of 20, 900 in
habitants, and it's location in the
gateway to the Pacific will always
make it a point of great commercial
Importance. Vancouver island pos
sesses vast mineral, timber and agri-
cultural resources, just beginning to
be developed. Large portions of the
island are yet unexplored. Extensive
coal mines are located at Manaimo,
about 70 miles from Victoria. The
view from the city is grand. 1t
boasts of an ideal climate, with
! scarcely any winter.
Next morning we boarded the
steamer City OF Kingston for Seattle.
Meyer will be forgotten the grand
panorama spread before our eyes as
our steamer glided on the waters Of
the Gulf OF Georgia towards Puget
Sound. In the distance towards the
south loomed up the Olympic range
with the stately Mt. Olympus rearing,
high It's snowy crown. The Cascade
range with majestic Mt. Baker was
seen towards the east. At Port
Townsend, situated at the entrance
to Puget Sound, westopped for few
minutes. Here he 9. S. government
has recently erected extensive fortifi-
catiC MS. AS our steamer piled the
waters Of Puget Sound, in full view
of the pine clad shores on either side,
!, the editors thought it opportune to
hold a thanksgiving service for our
victories in the war with Spain, it be-
| ing impossible for us on the Sunday
| previous to heed the presidents re-
commendation. Editor e. M. Slant
on was the orator of the occasion
and did himself proud. a service OF
thanks was held, also, in honor OF
our ever watchful committee, Messrs.