Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-19
BUTTONS MAKE
VIVID DREAMS
THEY COME OF A MEXICAN
PLANT
Fastener Grows Eloquent in Telling
of the Results Of an Experimental
Taste of the Drug and Incl
IDENTIFY Gives Warning

"How would you like to spend an
evening in paradise?"
This question was addressed last
evening to Henry Shedd Beardsley Of
Leslie's Weekly by General Manager
Whitmore of the Hotel Alexandria as
they sat together in the formers room
at the Alexandria.
II don't know that am ready to go
to paradise" replied Mr.. Beardsley,
somewhat at loss to understand the
questioner's meaning. Nor am I sure
that 1 am worthy of such a distinc-
ton"
Mr.. Whitmore laughed.
You will not have to stay there
merely go there as a visitor for an
hour or two. At the same time
should want you to make some notes
of your experiment for the benefit of
mankind"
Il am always ready to accommodate
you in the matter of scientific investi-
gation," the writer replied. But can't
you be little more definite? Going to
paradise Is no ordinary occurrence. Be-
sides 1 will assure you 1 do not know
the way"
Trust me for that" replied Mr.
Whitmore. 'Ill furnish you with the
conveyance and you will have no
trouble in getting there"
The two were silent for moment.
paradise Buttons"
ITO talk seriously" commenced Mr..
Whitmore, taking three small brown
objects from his waistcoat pocket and
laying them meditatively on the table
before him. 1.-The paradise to which 1
refer Is a paradise that you will your
self create and there will be no neces-
sity for your leaving the earth. 1t can
be seen and explored here in the
privacy of your own room. Will it be
agreeable for you to undertake the ex-
pertinent this EVENING"
Mr. Beardsley replied that it would.
Then let me explain" went on Mr..
Whitmore, and forthwith made his
guest acquainted with the following
facts:
Some time ago James Mooney of the
bureau of American ethnology called
the attention of scientific society in
Washington to a peculiar religious rite
observed by the Kiowa Indians in
which the eating of a certain species oe
cactus formed an important feature.
The substance eaten is known as
''mescal."' 1t is cut out of the top of
the plant, and the objects which Mr.,
Whitmore took from his pocket were
three of these tops which he gathered
in his recent travels.
Like a Drug
A mescal button is brown and brit
tie substance bitter to the taste 1t
consists of a rolled-up condition of the
dried leaf of the plant. When eaten its
effect upon the system is that of
powerful drug.
When eaten it produces the most re-
IL -. hot
only wonderful and extraordinary but
extremely pleasant. 1t has been called
an artificial paradise" for its effect is
to exalt the senses and mentally
transport the partaker of it to sense
of elysan beauty and enjoyment.
Mr.. Whitmore gave the three buttons
to his guest, asking that he eat them
during the evening. This Mr. Boards
ley did and awaited the results with no
little eagerness. The writer gives the
followingdescription Of what occurred:
The Dream
About an hour after taking the last
but ton / became aware of an increase
os mental energy My mind seemed to
be peculiarly alert and extremely SEN
sitive to every sound and sight. Then
came upon me gradually a curious
almost uncanny consciousness that my
mind was about through its exalted
state to produce for me revelation of
some sort. felt that something was
about to happen; something wonderful,
startling, unheard of.
II became so engrossed in the i'm
pending mental revela ton that failed
for time to notice the change in my
physical condition. Then l became
aware of the fact that 1 was faint and
unsteady. l was standing up looking
absently out Of the window and had
quite forgotten this attitude until l
felt that l was tottering.
'It at once sought a divan and laid
down. In this position all physical in
convenience vanished. / lay facing the
open fireplace, and as 1 gazed at the
tiny blue flames following up along the
ragged surface of the asbestos l be-
came lost in admiration and delight at
the visions which appeared before me.
1.-The electric light in the room
seemed mass of wohdrous color.
Every flame scintillated with varied and
changing hues OF the most exquisite