Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-12
Done DRUGS

D,d Won see the picture of BABY IN
one of the Atlanta papers represenuns
an 11-months-old child that had oeen
fad on naregoric until II twitched ana
cried whenever the effect Of the drug
had died down in its little body?
Its eyes were glazed and without JUS
ter and its entire attitude betokened q
restless craving for something tnal II
lacked for it's comfort or peace.
There are tens of thousands Oh peoplo
who are very much older VINO are III sn0
same condition, growing out OF the con-
tinuous use of opium in some form OF
other. and I am reliably informed tnae
drug men and clerks are beseiged Win
neonle who have the drug appetite ana
must have the dope in some shape OF
torment everybody about them as wen
as themselves until they get the seoa-
tive.
IT may not be true. but ii is reported
that some popular brands OF shun an
doctored with dope and the users VIII
have no others, because OF the pleasing
effect of drug upon their nerves.
Some years ago the city council Oh
Augusta was memoralized In regard 70
the dope sold to negroes, and IL was
plainly stated that these drug victims
went about their daily avocations IKE
they were in a dream, stupid ano WIN
vacant stares.
opium habit than the liquor habit In
men or women, after II gets We'll ;es-t
tened on them and when long continued,
II seems to eat out the moral sense IN
regard to truthfulness and honesty. Tne
decention starts In the intention TO Sc
cure the forbidden drug, and one DE-
ceptive act brings on another until tne
habit becomes easy as well as nalurai
to present plausible tales and CRAFTY oe-
malls to effect the purpose.
Some years ago / was Invited 10 spend
the day to meet a friend OF my childhood
from whom I had been parted for at
least 20 years and / was delighted TO find
her an elegant lady In manners ana ap-
nearance. Up to the noon hour she was
bright and entertaining, but as the day
wore on she dozed in her chair and by
the time we parted after / had spent
the day and was ready 10 go home sne
could hardly answer a question or keep
her eyes open.
Her kinspeopIe said she took small
dose about o'clock In the morning,
but took big dose after IL. and her
afternoons were simply q dope period
every day of her life, so heavy were
her eyes and Supplied her condition.
Her young daughter strove TO hide the
truth and told OF long spell OF neFV-
Gus prostration from which her mother
had not fully recovered, but the facts
were not to be concealed, the poor wo-
man was only sensible or sane during
the early morning hours and / was not
surprised to hear of many restless nights
and unhappy feelings.
The dope mastered her soul as wei
as her body and I went home devc1'
thanking my Maker that had been
kept from the temptation Of opium, and
grieved that this friend at my youth
had given herself to the destroying ap-
petite.
How many difficulties, disasters, sui
cides and murders have grown out OF
minds diseased by dope drugs only eter-
nifty will show!
How many misstatements. perjuries
and falsehoods have been encountered
growing out of the diseased mentality
of doped people. no statistics can be
gathered or tabulated. The Lord made
man but little lower than Himself yet
the man by yielding to dope win make
himself a little lower than the brute
by vitiating his mind along with his
body. The Psalmist prayed, Keep me
from presumptuous sins" Doping IL
certainly a presumptuous sin.