Reproduced from the Chinese.]
THE
Chinese Opium-Smoker.TWELVE ILLUSTRATIONS
Showing the Ruin
which our Opium Trade with China is
bringing upon that Country.LONDON:
S. W. Partridge & Co., 9, Paternoster Row.PRICE SIXPENCE.
CONTENTS.
I.
The Chinese Opium-Smoker. Twelve Illustrations.
II.
Opium-Smoking in China compared with the Drinking Habits of England.
III.
The Extent of the Evil.
IV.
England’s Responsibility in regard to the Opium-Smoker.
I.
THE CHINESE OPIUM-SMOKER.
No. 1.
The incipient opium-smoker is reclining (asis usual) on a couch in his mansion, whilehis companion is indulging in tobacco throughthe water-pipe common in China.
No. 2.
The opium-smoker, still portly and well-dressed,is entreated by his poor wife on bended knees todesist from the disastrous habit. His child isrunning off with the dreaded pipe; while theaged grandmother is seen coming, leaning onher staff, to add her tears and entreaties—nowfor the first time proved to be powerless. Thehold of the pipe is already established; interest,duty, affection, reputation—all prove too feebleto arrest the downward career of the smoker.Sad indeed is the prospect; the husband is alreadydoomed to poverty, shame, and an earlygrave; his wife to ruin, his child to beggary.His mother will die of a broken heart.
No. 3.
Representing the progress in dissipation of theonce sober gentleman, who has now, alas! becomethe victim of this vice. To him day hasnow become night, and night day. He can nolonger sleep at night; and to banish the tediumof its long quiet hours, and to drown thought ofthe sure ruin awaiting him, becomes an absolutenecessity. Regardless, therefore, alike of entreatyand censure, he now openly introduces into hishouse singing men and women, and gives himselfup to their society. His books, formerly thecompanions of his choice, now lie unheeded onhis table, and will not long retain even theirplace there. As for his poor family, powerless toprevent, or even retard, the downward progress ofevents, they can only consult their own safety bykeeping altogether out of sight.
