Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-27
OPIUM RESORTS,
+ IN MOST CASES,
DENS OF FILTH.
Magnificent Hangings and
Oriental Splc1dor Not in
Evidence.
SOME OFFICIAL FACTS

NEW YORK. Dec. 27l-The spell o. the
poppy grows stronger
Opium smoking is on the increase in
New York CITY
Certain districts contain deus where
poor humans IL fettered in wreaths OF
smoke which arise lazily from elaborate
opium "Iayouts."
Opium-den-wha the words suggest !!
\ wicked and gorgeous luxury, a dim
Oriental splendor, cushions OF cloud like
softneSs, deep piled rugs and magnificent
hanginea. Thus fiction writes of the
sumptuous joint where a pipe and a
pillow watt visitors off TO dangerous
heavens.
But fact writes of opium dens, too.
Fact writes on blotters in police sta
TONS.
Fact records as the predoninating fea-
ture-dirt
From no less a person than DR.. Garlic
ton Simon, commissioner of narcotics OF
the police department, we have authority
for the statement.
Such Joints are sordid, always. I
want to dispel the idea that they are
fascinating" DIR. Simon says.
Real dens have not even furniture to
garnish their squalor. Wet sheets hang
against the doors to keep the fumes in
side. The hangincs do not consume the
smoke, but keep it from leaking out and
thus betraying what is going on within.
as we'll as preserving the atmosphere d "a
sired by visitors. Often these sheets ara
wet with vinegar to disguise the odor
IN all the many raids I have witnessed
on Joints where women of the UNDER
world gather. marvellous hangings and
the diyans Of great resiliency do not
exist.
Dirt is always the predominating fea@
-ure. There may be plain Jap mat on
the floor and a dirty mattress upon that.
Often the mattress upon which smokers
recline is thrown over horse This is
n support which holds up a narrow fiat
board.
CAN'T AFFORD
FINE FURNISHINGS.
Then there are places kept by private
individuals which can be had for 'hop'
parties. Most of these parties are formed
among the white lights. Tessie, Monte,
Jim and Harry decide to go to the fat
Of some person whom they know will
rent them the place for a smoke.
Needless to say these establishments
can't be furnished extensively, for the
occupant must move often They contain
whateve- the unfortunate who IS run
ming them happens TO possess.
But there is one elaborate feature,
the smokers pipe. Tobacco smokers
take pride in their meerschaums. They
love to color them, and keep them.
THE hop smoker dotes on his pipe.
II IS often exquisitely carved Here is
one with carat emeralds studding its
surface
The little affair in which to burn hops
is attached 10 4 long ivory pipe, looked
rs If carved from dark walnut. But the
crab-shared lamp was of dark jade,
against whicA Ihe two emeralds tvinkled
maliciously.
There are two classes OF smokers
who patronize these places. One comes
because the drug drives him-the other
is 4 'rle1Surc-smoker' He says
likes the sensation but would be angry
If you called him an addict. He Is one
nevertheless.
"Inspector John Coughlin. possibly tsS
greatest detective in the United States
today. knowing every crook in every
line. told me that il you 60 TO an
opium uarIor you are bound to find
some crook who has just made big
.hauI.' They 20 20 sleep OF the nervous
tension which has accomplished the
job
OF course. many men who smoke
have no criminal records. but the ma
forify who do smoke are on the road
to have their names written on police
blotter