The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-11

the process OF preparing or inhaling the
drug and apparently entirely dead to
the outer world.
carefully over them" said their guide,
suiting the action to the word-some Of
the party hesitated-"Oh, it's all right"
he said. reassuringly, they won't mind
it at all as long as you don't actually
step on them or kick over the trays
Stopping atsa convenient vantage
ground near the top of the paddle-box.
he began: "You notice. that everyone is
lying on his side, generally the left, so
that he can have his right hand and
arm free to handle the pipe, and is
facing the little lacquer tray. Now look
carefully and you will see that each
tray contains four articles, viz: little
oil lamp, small pill-box made of black
horn, a set of long steel knitting needles
and a bamboo tube about an inch and
half in diameter and a foot and a
half in length"
Just let me jot that down, please
said Miss Atherton, as she drew out
her little notebook. there's still light
enough to write by and fits so interest
ing don't want to miss a word Of 1t.
There! I've got them all four down,
now, please go on, Mr.. Wang"
Let me describe these articles sepa-
rately," continued the detective; 1.-The
oil-latnp has no chimney. you see, but
IS covered with a little glass globe
about three inches in diameter-made
very thick so that the heat will not
crack it-and In the top OF this is
little opening which is just above the
tip Of the flame and through which
the smoke and hot air escapes. The
pill-box, as call it, is the little re-
ceptacle made Of horn which contains
the opium: this is about the consist
ency OF thick mo1asses and is made Of
this material because they believe it
will preserve the drug and not affect
its flavor" -
at is awfully expensive. is it not?"
interrupted one of the party.
'Oh, yes, it runs all the way from
silver to gold, as they say. OF course
there are all varieties and values, from
the comparatively reasonable article
raised in Yum Nan to the golden fluid
that is imported from Patna- What
they are using right here upon the deck
is the poorer quality, as all OF these
are steerage passengers; down in the
much more expensive variety. Now.
the knitting needless always use that
term in explaining the process to Amer
leans, because it makes It 80 much.
clearer-are simply long steel points
which are used to dip out the opium
from the piil-box, and the long bamboo
tube is. OF course, the pipe itself. Look
at the one right next to US. here! You
see It is closed at the shorter end and
has a small perforation at the longer
end, which generally consists of a cop
per cash fastened In there and gratifies
native whim of breathing through
money as they say. About a quarter
Of the way from the end, or where the
mouth-ho1e would be in an old-fashioned
flute, you will notice the bowl. This is
made Of red pipe-clay and Is completely
closed over with the exception Of a
tiny opening little larger than a pin
hole right in the centre So there you
have the apparatus, now for the trick!
Let us, watch this fellow on our left,
for he Is just beginning. First. he lights
his little lamp and adjusts the wick to
just the proper height, then he dips one
Of the needles into the pill-box and
stirring it. around draws out a little
bail of the drug; he spreads the ONT
around the edge of the opening and
then holds it over the lamp. Now,
watch him! He puts his lips to the
cash opening at the end OF the pipe and
as the hot air volatilizes the opium and
it fills the bowl, he slowly draws the
heated mixture into his lungs and the
pleasureable sensations begin. He
quickly forgets the world and all it's
troubles and wanders around in a native
paradise OF undiluted happiness! hope
have made 1t clear to YOU"
'TYou most certainly have" replied
Miss Anterior, rendering to Wang Foo
the appreciatioTs OF ali the party land
now, permit me to ask you just one
more question: Which do you consider
the greater curse, opium or alcohol"
well" thoughtfully and slowly said
the detective, that is, of course, one of
the leading questions which is often
put to us by our American friends and
do not believe, speaking after many
years Of careful observation. that a
positive and decisive answer can be
given to it. The slavery and degrade
ton Is about the same in either case,
whenever the poor victims get really
under the spell. There is, however,
difference in the form OF the effect. If
not in the degree. Alcohol will lead
man to commit violence and crime on
others; opium rather to deceit. dis
honesty. sneaking theft and the more
degrading forms of self destruction.
The drunkard will beat his wife and
children and starve them FOR his drink;
the opium smoker will not attack them,
but he will sell them-body and soul
for his drug. AS our friend Captain
Collins says, You can take your
CHOICE"
And is there really no cure for It?
That is one Of the questions I was told
to especially ask when L came to
China"
an answer to that can only say,
that, while there is an enormous traffic
all over the East in the so-called opium
cures'-many of which are only the
drug under another name and most OF
which are frauds and deceits-it is the
general testimony Of the ablest physi-