Holbrook argus., 1905-02-18
OPIUM IN THE EAST.
Rich Users of the Drug in China Have
 Luxurious Smoking Rooms.

Although there are in the Orient various liquors that will produce in- toxication, the favorite method of reaching that condition is hy the use of opium or hasheesh.
 Opium smoking does not conduce to conviviality and sociability as drink ing whisky does; the smoker in time becomes skeleton and half-dumb beast He loves gloomy corner, where he may be left to darkness and to himself.
 The chair coolies of China and the house servants, too, are very much given to the use of opium. The for eigner often finds himself exasperated almost beyond the point of endurance by the dullness, apathy and disinclina- tion to move that steal almost imper- ceptibly over his household staff. Ex- postulation, entreaties, threats have no effect; one might as well talk against stone wall as to try to req son with coolie while under the in fluence of his smoke.
 Rich men in China often have lux urious smoking corners arranged in their reception rooms. Again, man who is confirmed smoker will have den set up quite apart from the re- mainder of the house. The only sign of comfort to a great barren Chinese house is frequently the smoking cor ner. Here will be found an opium divan, covered with red cloth sym bolic of pleasure, standing on dais. The bed Is flat and hard, with a big bolster for the head. A stand with night light of smoldering charcoal dust balls is near A tray containing the pipe, a big hollow piece of bamboo, usually with the tiniest possible bowl, and q small receptacle for the opium rests on the tripod or another stand.
 Some of the public opium dens of China are elegantly fitted up with carved and gilded holdings and very handsome furniture, but the ordinary ones are not much if any, better than the cellars that are fitted up in Amer ican Chinatowns for that purpose There are hunks for the smokers and tables covered with mating for the convenience of those who desire to play dominoes. The profit on the opium consumed and the portion of the winnings set aside for the use of the tables soon brings to the owner comfortable income.
 When a certain point is reached in Chinaman's career, the confirmed smoker desires to quit the world That he may help him in the laudable desire the opium dealer keeps on hand mixture of opium refuse and ash, and upon application he deals out quantity sufficient to destroy life.
 It is mixed with water, and when drunken the victim finds a place and stretches himself out to die and little more attention Is paid to him than a dead dog. The narcotic taken in this form is invariably fatal, as it adheres tenaciously to the lining of the stom- ach and withstands all antidotes.
 Hasheesh, which is largely used in Persia, India and Egypt, is the top leaces and seeds of Indian hemp. It is a curious fact that the hemp plant will produce the intoxicating resin only when grown in India; on being transplanted to colder climates it loses this quality entirely. The ancients knew it and used it to produce an ex- hilarating intoxication. It was intro- duced into Egypt in 1250, and since that time has been in common use there particularly by mendicant priests. Its effects are quite contrary to those of opium; whereas the latter produces apathy and sleep, hasheesh produces a boisterous mirth that is difficult to subdue and is often the oc- casion of quarrels and ultimately of madness.