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

the performance repeated until the
smoker has had enough.
The second of these Joints" is pre-
sided over by a person known as kid
Lee" a half breed Chinaman, who was
at one time valet to a famous Yankee
jockey. Under his management this
place has become the rendezvous OF
foreign crooks and "grafters," pick
pockets, touts and confidence men.
This place is known to the fraternity
as the Dream Shop" and is run on a
slightly better plan than Chicks, the
charge being $1.25. Partitions divide
the smokers, the surroundings also
are somewhat better, the walls clean
er, and the paraphernalia of a better
kind, and there are two exits for use
in case of emergency, unknown as yet
even to the habitues. A fair estimate
would show Lee to do daily or
nightly business of some three hun
dred Shells" or 1915, for many OF
his customers call for second and
third shell of hop" Fifty per cent
of this is profit, and many of the
regulars" purchase opium for home
consumption.
The third of the cheaper "joints" 10
found six doors further down, and
this time, instead of descending to the
basement, one ascends the stairs of u
comparatively new house, the ground
floor being occupied by fried fish
shop. This place, known as Hop
Harbour" is exclusively used by ORR
entails, and a white man finds it en-
ceedingly difficult to gain an entrance.
Each of these places has manager,
the Chinese syndicate which OWLS
them remaining in the background.
At Wong's there is no secret pass
word, no special knock is necessary,
for almost the moment you approach
the door it opens, two Cinnamon in or
binary clothes look you over, and, be-
ing satisfied, bow you to & second
door, which opens silently. The hall
is lighted by four large lamps bearing
red shades; the walls are covered
with Chinese hanging screens and or
naments, while a red sign with black
lettering reads: Chinese Restaurant"
On the first floor to the right of the
entrance hall is a dining room con.
tanning eight tables. Chinese lanterns
hang from the ceiling; the decorations
are in red and black, and even the
floor is painted black with a border
of red around the room Here come
any number of respectable people to
dine la Chinoise. They have not the
remotest idea of what goes on above
the dining room floor, though others
use the restaurant only for a blind,
and, later on, smoke pill or two up.
stairs.
You pay your bill. then ascend the
heavily carpeted stairway to the
rooms above. At the top of the frs.
fight, in small recess, sits a China.
man spotlessly dressed in white. He
gives you a keen glance and awaits
your pleasure. Il wish to rest awhile,
Loo; let me have ROOM" Loo bows
and an attendant comes forward and
leads the way into a small but. lux.
uriously furnished apartment fitted nm
as sleeping-room, the bed, however.
being divan raised some six inches
from the floor, with a silk-covered
| mattress and silk cushions, or a nil.
low. The attendant waits for further
orders Bring me layout" With
a bow the man departs, to return
with the paraphernalia, The tray ia
work of art, the stem is inlaid with
| ivory, and the shell" is q mollusc's,
Shall l cook for you. sir?" inquiries
the servant; but the visitor has been
| there before, and requires no assist.
ance. Should the attendant be called
upon to do the necessary "wo1a,' and
added fee Of SIPS is necessary. The
man then says: "0ne guinea ($5.00)
please" and, taking the money, leaves
the visitor to himself
MAURICE VERNON.
Elasticity of conscience has been