To the Euitor of the "NomtH-Cuina Datty News"
Sm—Will you please give prominent space to the following "in Your widely read valuable paper, I think the general public ought be acquainted with such an important subject' and many arcely realize how the opium corse is going on in China at the To begin with, T would say that opium-smoking "is now a greater vil in China than ever before. It said the number of opium jetims have greatly increased, that is to say, there are now more Chinese smoking opium than during the defunct Tsing dynasty, and this due to a variety of causes. During the Tsing dynasty strong. measures were adopted to suppress opium smoking, the officials who enforced the anti-opium law had still Some conscience in them, and people smoked opium with some fear of punishment, though not of shame. Now, however, it is different, change has come over the.condi tions in the country, and people are almost encouraged to smoke opium owing to the great morbid iduences at work. At any rate, many Chinese have been induced to smoke opium until it is too late when they realize the most serious mistake they have made, affecting it docs the very vitals of their life, and ruining the prospects of their career. Everywhere you. especially in the homes, you find people smoking opium. 'It is trae Feople are not allowed to smoke; pium in clubs, hotels and brothels, but they can smoke it in their Tomes, thus amounting to the same thing.' Moreover, even in the clubs, hotels and brothels there is still certain amount of opium-smoking going on. Whilst so: much opium smoking is going on it is of course only natural that large' quantities fare' imported and transported all over the Republic, and though paying large sums of money for the protec jon which is afforded them by the cficials, the military, the police and the detectives, they can still make very good profits out of the business.
high time that the ant opiam associations, the missionaries fand the many charitable institutions should stand together and do something to stop this national evil in China.
The evil of opium-smoking only too obvious. At first' the Victims do not reste it, but grade ally as they smoke, and smoke, it coils around them' like a. serpent until the tightening hold rear that they cannot get Tid unless put under proper medical treatment. The victims awe no appetite, cannot sleep ight and lose all the vitality ife until they are finished. I have seen people, men and women, who were very nice-looking, very energetic ete, but once victimized by opium-smoking, a terrible change came over them, and finally they look just like devils. The Chinese press would render a great service and the Chinese if they up public opinion against this erying evil in China.
img to the latest news published in the Chinese press a Chinese opium smuggler was recently executed at Hsiakwan, Nanking, for smuggling Ts. 8184 worth of opium to Nanking. This may sound like too severe punishment meted out to the opium smugglers but if such strong measures as this should continually be adopted, it certainly would have a salient effect on the opium evil in Ching, though in may not be stopped for many years to come.
Enclosing my card, Tam, etc, Oxt Wito Kxows. Shanghai,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.