Untitled

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 336, 26 September 1879, Page 16

A gentleman residing on Vallejo Street, San Francitco. lately was infoimed by a young man with whom he was acquainted that ho had until recently been a victim of the opium-smoking habit, and that, having been rescued, he deemed it his duty to inform the gentleman that the son of the latter, a lad of 18, was also a victim, and that as such he nightly visited a Chinese opium-smoking den. The gentleman was horrified, and, although still hopeful that there must be some error in the information, the light it threw on recent physical ailments of bis son rendered it possible that it might be true, and he determined to ascertain. On Wednesday night, therefore, he stationed himself in the immediate vicinity of the place designated as the den, so that he might see all who entered. It is one of the vilest and most squalid quarters of the city, the den itself being in a house in a filthy little court leading off Pacific street, between Kearney and Dupont. He watched from 8 o'clock till 9, and in that single hour he counted over twenty American boys ranging in years from fifteen to twenty-one who applied for admission and were hurriedly passed in. There were a few grown men and many Chinamen, and of the Americans the dress betokened that they were of the better class. They would come to the corner of Pacific street, glance hastily around to be assured that they were unobserved, and then effect a hasty entrance, apparently by giving an understood signal. At length he saw his own son enter, and so quickly that he could not intercept him. He then himself went to the corner, and approaching the door he rapped for admittance as nearly as he could in the way he had seen the others do. The door was opened by a tremulouslimbed, bleared eyed Chinaman, but when the gentleman attempted to pass he was stopped. It was in vain that he said that it was all right, that he wanted to smoke opium and that he offered to pay ; he was not possessed of the cabalistic sign, and consequently the Chinaman was utterly unable to " sabe " anything. The father then went home and waited for his son. who returned late in the night still stupefied from his regular nocturnal deadly debauch. When he learned that his father knew of his whereabouts he disclosed everything. He had first acquired the habit when only 15 years old, and before he know of its horrors it had obtained such control of him that all effoits to break it weie iutilu. For throe years he has smoked constantly. Hccently his family has noticed the complete prostratiou of his nervous system. During the last six months he has been so nervous that in the mornings he has almost been unable to convey his food to his mouth. His parents have consulted physicians, but as the boy would never tell what the real malady was, the medicines prescribed have done no good, and to-day, at 18, he is almost a complete wreck. He persistently refuses to give the signs by which admittance may be had to the den, but he says that it is jealously guarded, that four doois have to be passed through before the smoking room is reached, where a "dope" for ten cents, requiring about twenty minutes to smoke, is obtained, and on the bare floor of which the smokers lie extended there during their torpor. He says there are over a thousand boys who are regular habitues of this or similar dens. The father yesterday made a full statement of the facts at police headquarters to Counselor Clarke, and it is expected that this particular den will be raided and broken up. But unless a keen watch shall be maintained for the detection of others, or the recstabhshment of this same one, and a relentless prosecution of the keepers of all commei.ced, the business of supplying the deadly drug, the use of which more swiftly than any other known process hurries its votaries to irretrievable physical and mental ruin, willbefuitively conducted. This is one of the most malignant phases of the Chinese evil, and one that has its most awful meaning for the better classes of society. The domestic government of the family of which this young man is a member is not more lax than that of the average family of San Francisco, the affection of the father and mother for their eldest boy is of the waimest and most thoughtful, and yet for three years he has been enabled to indulge in the habitual use*of the deadliest drug known to humanity, till, with shaking body and shaking voice, he doggedly declares his utter inability to fiee himself from the awful ela\cTy that has thus soon bi ought him to the very ver^c of the grave. D

Messrs. Mekcer and M'Donald rcpoit for the week ending bept. 1/th :— Fresh butter, in 1 and lib prints, best and favourite brands, Is 5d to Is 6d per lb. ; good ordinary butter, Is 3d to Is 4d per lb. bait is scarce, and firm at Is Id per lb. Eggs plentiful, and worth lM per doz. Cheese, best quality, 8d per lb ; side and rolled bacon, 9d per lb ; colonial hams, 104 d per lb Messis. A. Gibbs & Co., Cumberland street. Dnncdin, arc prepared to supply the building trade with materials of the best quality at moderate charges. They also supply bone-dust and upholsters' nock.