St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-02-01

Chinatown of New York, and Of
San Francisco, and even of Chicago,
il knUwn throughout America as one
of the sights worth seeing on visit
to any one of the cities named. And
foreign visitors to this country always
feel a special curiosity to go through
the queer section of the cities, and
think perhaps that no city of Europe
can in any way duplicate the sights,
the people and the customs. And yet
London it seems has its Chinatown,
as much as either New York or San
Francisco, though perhaps not on SO
extensive scale.
There are four opium dens of Hop
Joints" in London which cater for the
public. Three of these are controlled
by syndicate of Cinnamon, members
Of tong" or society. The other
''joint," perhaps the most luxuriously
appointed place of its kind in existence,
is owned by notorious Chinaman of
great feud in San Francisco three
years ago between two powerful
'ETongs," which led to wholesale muir
der, was known there as the mayor
of Chinatown. This mans establish
ment was furnished by a well-known
west end firm at a cost of $4,000
Whereas the cost of layout or
use of one, ranges from ten cents to
$1.25, according to the amount OF
opium used, in the syndicate Joints :"
Wong's charge is $500. All these
places are within a stones throw of
each other. The Oriental sailor has
less than a hundred yards to walk
from the docks to reach the cheaper
Joints while Wong's place in Lime
house is just round the corner in an
| old1ashioned Unrestricted brick build
ing, formerly used as the freight Of
fees of world-famed shipping COM
pany. The day trade is composed
mostly of sailors or Cinnamon residing
in the neighborhood for the latter are
barred at night, much as the residents
Of Monaco are denied the privilege
Of gambling at Monte Carlo BY three
o'clock the places have been cleaned
and put right for the coming night
trade, and a little later the sallow-
faced, holloW-eyed habitues are return
ing-for they have "yen yen," which
means that the terrible craving has
come on them, and there is no deny
ing 1t.
The visitor to Chicks" establish
ment-one of the Joints" controlled
by the Chinese syndicate-pays so
cents and is given half walnut shell
filed with opium. He then enters a
large room, the floor of which is
covered with rows OF mattresses, and
chooses his favorite bunk; and Kip"
a well-known personality in China
town, who acts as sort of servant.
approaches with the layout" This
consists of small square Japanese
tray, containing an oil lamp, a STEM
or pipe and bowl, two needles about
five inches long, much like woman's
hat-pin, known as wen hok," and
"shying needle" and glass Of water.
The smoker now lights a cigarette,
and proceeds to cook pill'' by turn
| ing the needle with small ball of
opium rapidly about in the fame of
the lamp Every few moments the
needle is withdrawn, and the small
ball of opium it contains is rolled on
the edge of the bowl for the purpose
of removing certain amount of pois-
on and also to give the pill conformity.
When properly cooked. and emitting
the peculiarly pungent smell so sick.
ening to the uninitiated, the pill is
placed directly over the small hole
In the bowl and the needle is pushed
through; then the smoker, placing the
bowl over the flame of the lamp, in
bales the fumes into his lungs. A
beginner usually takes short, quick
pulls; but the habitue takes what ID
known as the long draw" never stop.
ping to take breath until the pill is
consumed. The bowl is then rubbed
over with small damp sponge, and