Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-16
Madame de Saint Point
Writes of the |SArtii3f ;iic iiaZ
Paradises'' of The Cav
French Capital Which Are
NosU Dark and Desereeol---
BY Nine. de Saint Point,

II EFoRE the war Paris was overrun
~ with establishments which l may
politely term artificial Para
discs"
The war has put an end TO all that, but
first l will tell you of the strange condi-
lions that existed.
Paris was, of course. above all places
the centre of cosmopolitan luxury, where
the people of all countries. whether idle
or hard workers in quest OF relaxation,
came TO seek mental distraction or lib
crty in their pleasures 1t thus became
the chosen resort of seekers after the
impossible.
In Europe. where ambition is limited
and where one is contented with very
small fortune, hosts OF dlcrs posscssors
of comfortable incomes, asked for ano-
dynes, for surroundings that would create
the illusion Of luNuries that were mate
rally inaccessible to them. To these
people were added many artists who
wished to create chimeras on the wings Of
which they might launch their creations.
Mystics who have no longer any faith
iii their religion, but who have preserved
the love OF the mysterious and the
strange, OF penumbras and Of strange per
fumes; women who need something to
make them forget the pleasures" to
which they have been addicted; the dis
contenlcd ones of life. who are hurt by
stern realities: those who are too weary
OF living TO attach themselves to creative
work--all these formed the inner circle
OF initiates around whom the curiosity
mongers of the entire world came 10
group themselves.
The desire to escape from ordinary
life is universal and eternal Every civ
ilization, every race. has sought and
found the artificial Paradise" which an
swered best the needs of its soul.
In the immense Asiatic continent opium
has assisted the taste for metaphysical
dissertation Of the yellow race and its
horror Of action.
llashcesh has stimulated the sumptu-
Gus imagination of the Hindoos.
Europe and America have alcohol and
tobacco which they introduce, alas!
among the people they pretend to civilize
Paris has brought together all the
poisons OF the different countries and
added to them its own--morphinc, heroin.
ether and cocaine.
Each OF these products was enjoyed in
Paris amidst special surroundings ar
ranged with all the rehnements possible
TO give il its greatest effect.
We had an idea oil what was to happen
in earlier generations, in the days OF the
poet Baudclaire, who wrote THE Flow
ers of Evil" The hashcesh orgies in the
old mansion OF the Pimodan family re-
ferred 10 by rhcophilc Gautier in his
famous preface to The Flowers Of Evil"
helpal to create the satanic legend of
theApoet, who was only great poet, sad
and panstrickcn. OF whom Victor Hugo
wrote. "lc has created a new shudder.'
IL was al this period also, that Thomas
de Quincy became the analyst and the
ecstatic singer of what he called Divine
Opium"
These posons. which We sometimes
call divine" because they open a door
upon the Infinite. may be divided into
two classes. the Supplying and the cx
citing. according as they cause insens-
biity or sharpen sensibiity.
In the class of those that stupcfS are
morphine, heroin and cocaine.
In the class OF stimuants are hasheesh,
alcohol and tobacco.
AS for ether and opium. they may belong
10 one ur the other class. according to
the users, the Quantity taken and the de-
gree OF intoXication.
According 10 his temperament the
paradisiac aspirant has only an en-
barrassment OF choice. The only .precau-
tion necessary. If he wishes to obtain the
fullest enjoyment possible. is not To mix
the drugs, because they neuiralize one
another
Cocaine furnishes the much desired
paradise OF the poor little women who
frequent the cabarets OF Montmartre.
Foreigners only tlnd in them a frivolous
carelessness, a goodhumored and witty
gracefulncss An ''.t is only an ap-
pearancc which these Women know how
TO affect and to impress on others Their
life is not gay and their hazardous OK
periences not always fortunate Dancing
and laughter do not always come easy
TO them. Coco" as they call it, is be-
loved By them inasmuch as il helps them
to veil the realities always present.
cloud Of iasenshility created by the
COCO places itself between them and
those realities They are then charming
automata. with their disgusts and their
miseries overcome and they create illu.
sion without suffering from il too much.
For these reasons the coco has
created innumeraDlc adapts in these cir
cles Ether is in use among the moro
fortunate sisters OF those OF Montmartrc
among Observation-Disclosures aud among our
intellectual and artistic classes ho,b
men and women.
Many OF our observation-disclosures who ara
addicted to ether began the PRACTISE by