The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-20
CAT AN OPIUM FIEND.
Contracted the Habit From Her Chi
nese Master.
From the st. Louis Republic.

Contracted
nese Master.
From the st. Louis Republic.
In one of the most fou-smelling and
least ventilated of the dens called living
rooms in the Chinese quarter there has
lived for years an animal which, while 1t
has long been slave to the habit which
holds its master and so many of his race
captive, apparently enjoys the best of
health and comfort. The animal, a fat
sleek tabby cat, is to many one Of the
most interesting sights of Chinatown.
II would at first thought seem impossi-
BILE that cat could smoke opium. But
| this cat has learned TO crave as madly for
the drug as ever human being did, and
| apparently gains as much pleasure from
it's effects as do her master and his fell
| lows.
Every night kitty can be seen curled
| I'D in happy slumber in her masters lap
| or with her head resting on his knee.
| Wong Sing is the commonplace name eX-
| plotted by the owner of this remarkable
| feline Sing lives on the lower floor, II
floor it can be called, of a Chinese lodg-
ing house at 719 Jackson street. He has
had his dumb friend ever since its earli'
| est kittenhood, and, as kitty is now about
| years old, a very strong attachment has
| sprung up and grown stronger between
| the two. .
Sing Is self-confessedly the worst kind
of an opium fiend. Moreover, he will tell
you candidly that he is positively incura-
BILE. although he would give everything he
has in the world. which is certainly al
he could be expected to give, II he could
free himself from 1.-The habit"
Me smokee 80 year now Sing admits,
with a sigh when questioned upon mis- ex-
perience with the drug. me velly bad boy.
Me likee velly much TO stopee, but Sing no
can do now. Two .tlee, TO time me tly
veny hard stopee smokee pipe. No good
tly, no can stopee. Me begin smokee when
sixteen year old Catchee habby velly
quick Catchee habby In tlec months. Yes
me velly bad boy"
And Sings narrow Sits of eyes turn up
ward with look of resignation to his
awful fate, which seems rather out Of
keeping with his plaintive and self-accus-
ing statements.
"Cat, he catchum habby long time, :"
said Sing as he stroked the head of bis
pet You sable catchum habby? He
likee smokee opium velly much, alice
samee me, but, he no want to stopee. You
no sable him smoke? You come some time
cat catchum habby. Then you see. Then
you sabby" And but a short wait in the
foul air is usually sufficient for one to see
a sight which, to say the least, is seldom
TO be found no matter where one may
search for It.
In an instant ktty's nature changes.
She is no longer calmly stretched in lazy
slumber. she starts up nervousy, gazes
about hurriedy. First she ascerEains
whether or not her master is indulging in
a few draws at his own master, the pipe
| AS Sing sees the cats movements he lays
with a smile: "Habby, he come now. You
watchee, see. He lookee find somebody
smokee. You sabby? Cat velly much likae
find smOkee now"
And Sing knows Should puss discover
that Sing is not smokng--for that worthy
| does not smoke all OF the time-she
springs to the ground The cat then runs
rapidly around the close quarters which
constitute tho abode OF ten or more Chi
! nese. As she throws her head to one side
! and looks eagerly into the faces Of the
Mongolians in search of one who is smok-
| ing opium, she appears to be different an
| imal from tn one which lay so quietly
sleeping few moments before II puss
does not find a pipe in use-whch seldom
! occurs-she makes her wants known by
| cries and frantic rushings to and fro unfil
! her cravings are understood by those IA
| miliar with her ways, and until they have
satisfied her appetite for the soothing
| fumes which come from the poison of the
poppy.
When the pill OF opium rs neatly cooked
| and the little ball has been placed in its
proper place on the pipe. ldtty's enjoyment
| commences. As the smoker Is compelled to
| emit from his mouth or nostrils that Dor-
ton Of the smoke which he is unable 70