The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-10
HONE PIPE DREAMS
Chlcagoans Do Not Paircniza
Opium Oens Now
LAW is QUITE STRICT
But It Doesn't Reach to Vice
in Public Life.

Opium smoking in Chicago has become
not a business. but a pastime. in the be-
lief OF those thoughtful students OF soci-
ology, the police. The places where it
! used 10 be possible TO spend 90 cents for
a smoke which cost the owner Of the out
1T five cents 10 furnish. nave al van
ished. IN their stead there are many
| houses in which opium is smoked by 10
one except the owner OF the layout
on the face Of it this fact has nothing
in it TO interest normal people. Below the
! surface IL has plenty OF meaning for an
the Cinnamon in town and for students
of social conditions in Chicago who may
have the advantage of more education
than is at the disposal Of the police. II
means that the city's revenues from po-
lice court fines levied upon those VINO
kept opium dens and those who smoked
therein is to be "a ching OF the past and
ii means further that laundry work in
many Chinese Iaun3ries viii be better
done. In many Of the loundries the con-
dition Of the opium pipe used 10 be Of far
greater Importance than the condition of
the polish on the shirts and collars con-
/ signed TO the Chinamans care. Whether
the new system of things is an improve
ment or step backward IS something
that those interested must settle for
themselves. At any rate III has lifted
great load rom the police. AS is usual
with many reforms granting that this
is a reforml economy was AT the bottom
Of it. and the good Ia wof supply and
demand.
To understand the conditions that now
obtains it is necessary to be acquainted
with the situation. as it was before
opium smoking began 10 be practiccd IN
homes instead OF public meeting places.
In the old time it was computed that one
would not have 10 pass more than five
| Chinese laundries before coming upon one
in which it was possible to buy a pin Of
the drug and TO rent a pipe. In the
cheaper grade of Chinese tea stores and
curio shops. especially those along Clark
street between Van Buren, and Harrison
streets. an opium layout was an essential
part of the establishment. No questions
We're asked Of applicants. All that was
needful was that the smoker be not a
member of the police force or a person
without money.
If those two questions were answered
satisfactorily the would-be smoker might
enter and smoke to his or her hearts cor
tent 1t is a demonstrated fact that the
vast majority of the criminal classes and
the CLASSES out Of which the Grim
inals are made are addicted to the use of
drugs. So most of the patronage the
opium joints received was from men and
women who weren't in active training for
/ careers Of usefulness II not Of actual dis
ton, in the penitentiaries. OF course, it
ont as many OF these places as possible,
They We're actuated by the same motive
that sways them when they raid disorder
Iy saIoons-they wanted to nip crime in
the bud
The notion that in tie opium dens might
be seen criminals who were not engaged
in burglaring and other pursuits and
that with them might be seen strange
siant-eyed Orientals. made many persons.
who would not think Of going 10 such
places if the inmates were an normal
white folk, venture into Chinatown 20
see what might be seen. some Of the
weaker minded visitors began to be
habitues. and so the list of persons well
known 70 the police" as the phrase is
grew. Then came curiosity seekers who
thought that in opium dens they would
see the gorgeous sights and magnificent
Furnishings so wildly described by per
sons who had only seen hop joints" 80
imagination. The cold hard fact is shat
none of these dens ever was or is now a
scene OF splendor. The picture of what
idlers expected To see and what they
really did behold might b. interesting
Most people thought that their eyes
would meet rich hangings Of thick and
multi-colored tapestry. The lamps would
burn in semi-darkness. The carpets
would bury every football and over the
whole place would bee the indescrioahle
air Of refinement and the acme Of luxury
So often dreamed by one De Quinoey.
who. it viii be remembered. was some
thing Of an expert on opium. although
in another form Seeker after now sen-
sations looked in Chicago opium resorts
for dreams that no possibility could come
true.
a little thought would have shown that
such paEeantry would have been utterly
impossible. No Chicago opium joint ever
was conducted with the oncial sanction
Of The police. Every one II them was
likely % be raided at ans tiue and al
the furnishings destroyed. s. chear stuG
was put In instead 81 the magnificent
fittings that new devofees and laexpetl-
enced Summers thought would he il
place The actual csst If lttae $3.50
place where opium could be spezed and
10 which admission could he srrel
astonishing The figures are gffn 81
the authority % Sargent o. Hyrua - te
Harrison street Police Station vhe lar
wears has had charge ~ the police crl-