The Dolores star., 1910-04-01
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VICTIMS or mEscAL HAsl1

W. uvlWS VI MeSON6 UNOsS
csnstans serss1 - Nsrsssss Asse~s
lndians cavsss Alarm and oeme
Asmsay 10 osINO Sought
The constant spread Of the use Of
the mescal % Q narcotic among the
Indians crows alarming and must soon
demand widespread attention with .
view TO discovering some remedy for
this pernicious habit and some check
TO its growth. says the Southern
Workman.
Mescal 10 the product Of certain
cactus which has long been used In
various ways under the name OF pei
Iote. The form in which Il 10 used
By the Indians II the mescal button
q kind OF bean. very bitter to the taste.
which Is sometimes chewed and somc-
times brewed In q kind Of tea. When
taken In either way II produces mild
and delightful hallucinations OF such
4 positive character as to place this
plant In the same rank with haseesh.
opium or any other Of the famous
drugs which have produced for men
the Joys Of an artificial paradise.
The Kiowa Indians Of the Rio
Orande are said to have used the mes
cal button from time immemorial for
the purpose Of producing . beatific
state Of mind In connection with Ger.
tain Of their religious ceremonies.
Gradually the practice has spread
northward from tribe to tribe. The
Poncas and some Of their neighbors
In the Indian Territory and Oklahoma
took II up and soon counted many wor-
shippers Of this strange god. Thence
II extended to the Omahas and Win
nebasoes. among whom II Ii at pres
ent constantly gaining new adherents;
and now the practice II acquiring q
foothold among the Sioux. The tribeu
which have longest used II have In the
ardor of their devotion sent mission
aries to Introduce their wonderful new
medicine among other tribes. and
wherever II becomes known Its allure
ments prove irresistible. Clubs are
formed for social indulgence In this
narcotic and for mutual participation
n the rites and ceremonials which a.
ways accompany It's indulgence for the
purpose Of giving TO II . religious
character. In some cases the stu
dents returned from eastern and other
boarding schools have become mem.
bers Of these clubs.
The meetings usually are held In the
afternoon. After the mysterious cere-
monies In acknowledgment Of the se.
cret power of the strange divinity
have taken place the buttons are
passed around for chewing. four or
nve to each member. and the tea h
bsewsd and drunk. Only the novice
experiences any nausea or unpleasant
sensation. and this soon passes Oh.
There ensues only . blissful feeling Of
iassitude. accompanied by . delicious
sense OF happiness and peace. All
thoughts OF care oe trouble or enmity
roll away and the devotee II possessed
BY the feeling that all men are broth
srs and all the world II good. Mean.
while his sense Of vision ID powerful
y affected. 20 that he sees changing
and beautiful harmonies Of color In
sverything upon which bis eyes rest.
This lasts throughout the night and
until sleep comes next day. when the
effects pass Oh and he gets up and
goes away without any feeling Of de.
preston or other unpleasant results.
And throughout this saturnalia Of the
senses and orgy Of vision the mind Il.
self remains clear and the deyotee In
Q self-po&sessed spectator Of all his
Authorizations. One other effect Of this
remarkable drug must be noted In
this brief summary. The mescal takes
away all desire for alcoholic drink.
Il 10 no wonder that the mescal hab-
II appeals strongly to the simple mind
Of the Indian. No doubt. In many
cases the effect which appeals to him
the most powerfully 10 the one last
named. He loses the desire for whis.
~. which he knows has been his nm.
doing. Whether the means Justify tho
end 10 . question he II little likely to
ASK. Just what steps may best be un.
0O0to1cu w CVVuNUSoIt suse VcSusSsoue
habit are not 1t once apparent. but the
practice 10 assuming such proportions
e 10 require some action. However.
slight may be the physical effects Of
the habit--and they do not appear
from brief observation 10 be either
rapid or serious-the moral effects are
obvious. for these must bs the same
@ those which follow from any form
oe the drug habit. and from these, at
least. Il ID the religious duty Of thu
trends Of the Indian to try TO save
him.
Seer Drinkers 0sWsrsi
4 new terror for bser drinkers has
MT bssn discovered. u 10 not exactly
the peril In the cup. but the peril
roanA the edge Of the tumbier. The
I1Anese hes discovered that the tum.
blee. nnliks 10 slittsrins cousin the
eankard n An evil thing. hecntsas