New-York tribune., 1907-09-29

THE EFFECT OF OPIUM
I heard little about the beautiful dreams and
visions which opium is supposed to BRING an an
the smokers with whom ! talked could be
roughly divided into two classes-those WIZ
smoked in order to relieve pain or misery, anu
those miserable victims who smoked 10 reAeNe
the acute physical distress brought on by the
opium itself Probably the majority OF the VIZ
tins take it ,lp as az temporary relief: many
begin in early chidhood-the mother viii give
She baby a Whit to stop its crying II Is d
Social vice only among the upper classes ~ Li1e
most notable outward effect of this indulgenIIe
is the resulting physical weakness and lassltude
The opium smoker cannot work hard; ne IliuS
II difficult 10 apply his mind TO problem or ne ne
body to a task. As the habit becomes I niIInS
fastened him, there is a perceptlbie W, Weahen,
ing of his moral fibre: he shows himseh 9hequa5i
to emergencies which make any sudden detIama I Ii
upon him If opium is ID ened him. he VIII lie
and steal III order to obtain it.
Opium smoking is a costly vice A plpe1ui oa
a moderately good native product costs nloie
than laborer can earn in day; conSequehuS
the poorer classes Smoke an unspeakable com COM
pound based on pipe scrapInSs ana cflarCodi, 5
Along the highroads the coolies even scraQs the
CRIME from the packsaddles TO mix with TINS
dross. The clerk earning from tWenty-HNe ~ ~
fifty Mexican dollars month VIII iIequet1I-1,5S ~,
spend from SO TO $50 month on OPIUM Inc
typical confirmed smoker is man who spenos
a considerable part of the night in smoking lill-
self to sleep and all the next morning in sleep
ing off the effects. If he is able TO work al an
it is only during the afternoon. and even al Iid.
there will be many days when the official or
merchant is incompetent TO conduct his analrs.
Thousands of prominent men are ruined every
year -.
The Cantonese have what they call The Ten
Cannots Regarding the Opium Smoker He
cannot ID give up the habit ca ENJOY sieep, ~
wait for his turn when sharing his pipe with
his friends Cl) rise early. 90 be cured if sick,
90 help relations in need, (O enjoy weaIth' ~
plan anything. 90 get credit even when an oIu
rrnetorner 107 walk anv distance. Samuel Mer-
win. in Success
FACTS ABOUT OUR TALLEST BUILDING
The new Singer Building in lower New York
,,fIoe br,ElS Sivrr
seven stories in height. rising el2 rect ahoNe IIe
street When completed this office building VIII
have q floor space equivalent 10 one story
building covering twenty city blocks. 10 con
centrate such an immense space upon a total
area of but 26.eo9 square feet presents At oiiCe
the serious question of sufficient hght ana ar.
Usually high building is designed to cover as
much area Of the lot as possible. thereby cutting
off the Hight of surrounding buildings. For this
reason dark offices are multiplying in the larg-
est American cities and many buildings thal
are now well lighted must soon depend wholly
or in part upon artificial hsh1 as auJa.eHt
buildings are extended upward All the offceS
of the Singer Building Will be wen nghled'
but the building adjoining II VIII not suIer-
The mart Of the building that VIII be Carrled ui
forty-seven stories will occupy hut one-sixth OF
the lot: the remainder will be only fourteen
stories in height. This high portion VIII also ne
Thus every office will be well lighted without
sacrifice Of real estate values that would he
commercially impracticable. The location OF the
high tower near the centre OF the lot also makes
II possible for nearby offices TO share the sun
light.
1t is claimed that the safest parts Of this
building in time of earthquake will be the high
est stories The lesson of the San Francisco
earthquake is that the steel frame structure Is
the best earthquake resister." The steel frame
building Is constructed very much like bird
cage, while ordinary building OF brick IS a
house Of cards in mparison- The only posi-
bility Of danger TO the tenants In this high
building will be the disodgement Of masonry;
this of course, would affect only the lower
floors.
The danger OF fire has been eliminated. for in
f7arnnlable material has been entirely omitted.
Even so-called ''freproof" wood has been barred.
Nothing but metal. stone and baked clay en-
ters into !ts construction. Even the small plugs
of wood usually inserted into the wall 10 receive
nails used in hanging pictures have been eX-
cluded. The fires in Baltimore and San Fran
cisco proved that the alleged ''freproof' build
ing is not freproof for wooden floors, window
frames and trimmings Of such building
millions Of feet of lumber.-Charles
N. Ripley, in The Worlds Work n