The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-02

now m 4 | should cut It out for a day
I'd go crazy"
Lord, John, take me- out Of this smelly
hole This from Mrs. SmithinS, who II
not 10 much OF n sport as the guide thought
Hush, Maryl Let's hear what this
woman has 20 say"
II wuE born in Plainheld over in Jersey. =
watlB the Queen as her nervous fingers
twiTl the bubblink drop OF opium over
the fame. -My name wlia Mamie Burns.
But l guess I've got no name now 'cept my
old mans name. He's u Chink; names
George Yee; that's his mug over on the
wall.
Il member when l wiz a Kid I used to 40
out and pick wild flowers and sec de boids.
Ah-h.h, 80 long aRo, % long agol Now l
just lies here and hits the black smoke. l
never gets n ray OF sunshine, never sees
de blue light er heaven"
The Queens voice trails on In a sniveI.
Mrs. Smithlns II vlsibly moved to tears
and Cousin George looks stern, III Queen
begins TO lamp the bead OF cooked opium
into the hole in the pipe bowl, droninE ON
the while In her nasal wall.
When You hits de pipe you loses all your
appetite. iOu don't want anything 'cept
sweet stun an coffee. I amt seen a decent
chunk Of meat goin' on this told week"
of course you don't eat regularly, In
gestion.
-'Course 1 don't" whInes Queen Mamie.
i amt seen an egg for two years. amt
eat a turnip nor q radish for nigh onto that
same time. / only eats sweet ~stuf-appls
pie an chink candy wot my old man gives
me-"
The Queen has the bowl charged now and
she takes long. rafting sucks ON tho open
end Of the pipe while the ball Of opium splits
brown beads and the odor Of roasted pea
nuts fills the room.
Mrs. Smithlns, who has been growing
more and moro nervous during the Queens
soliloquy, breaks out:
But, my poor woman. why don't you
the free air Of the country somewhere
My husband and ] know a nioe place up in
the mountains up at Mrs. Coles, near
Blue Fork, you know, John, where ]
am sure you would be welcome and where
you would get nice fresh air. good sun
shine and-and. oh, everything that you
haven't got here"
Mrs. Smithins shows signs OF incipient
hysteria as she glares at the soiled figure
In the circling eddies Of smoke.
faint no use, faint no use talkin','
means the Queen between puffs at the pipe.
Il made me bed an gotter lie in Il, as
the Bible lister say wen l wun a Sunday
school kid back in Plainfleld. Tanks very
me for de- black smoke until l passes in
The Queen gulps down a stage sob.
John" commands Mrs. Smithins, who
Is not a sport. Il will not stay here another
minute. III faint or something II l smell
this horrid smoke any longer. Take me
out immediately"
John, who is not so much Of q sport
either as he was when he came in gets up
to 60. The guide nudges him and there
Is an embarrassing pause.
Mr.. Smithins makes a tentative pass
at his waistcoat pocket with his fore
finger. Mrs. Smithins sees the motion.
John Smithins, IL you give that woman
any money to get that horrid drug with
III never respect you again. Shame on
youl"
But. my dear, the guide says it's GUS
tomary, and anyway"
Il think the guide Is perfectly horrid to
ever bring a lady into this vile den, any
a. Come, this minute"
Mr.. Smithins and Cousin George begin
to move apologetically from the Queens
bed, when that royal person drops her pipe
and jumps up spryly.
-Youse a bunch Of cheap jays, every one
Of yousei l wouldn't dirty up my room
wild such trash as yousel Yes. you'd better
take de hike, you purity bunch OF skirts.
you'll Me for dc lovely sky an dc fllie-loo
boids up at Mrs. Coles, indeed Well,
youse can all go plumb to de middle Of
he'll an den some more. It's ~ for youse."
The Queen follows the three sporting
persons from Allegheny to the head Of the
stairs and her wonderful vocabulary floats
down the stairway after them in corrus-
eating segments.
The guide is coarse in his remarks when
the street is finally gained. D..
What can you expect II you hold up
on her dope?" says the guide. "A party
OF three is usually good for at least two
bones, and Mamie expects us guides to
shake down about a dollar besides next
day. You say you come from Allegheny
City, Pennsylvania, don't your"
This last with whitening sarcasm.
John, says Mrs. Smithins to Mr.. Smithins
an hour afterward. when they are in the SO
clusion Of their third floor front on Wash
ingtop Square, do you know, / don't be-
lieve that woman IL any such thing as
Queen of Chinatown"