1883-10-02 — Page 2

Hongkong Telegraph 港電新報士蔑新聞 All

verifying them. Mr. Tong King-sing" tells a story in illustration of this very point. He ↑ had a friend who wanted to go to Ceres with", "him", last; "year," but he WAS D (opłym smoker, and Mr. Tong 'could not

také him to a country where the use oplum is unknown and forbidden. The friend promised not to smoke while he was in Corea. "He kept the promise, and after ten days was laid up with severe dysentery and other com- plaints, and had to take to his bed and pipe. This proves the difficulty of giving up the opinti Habits but unfortunately Mr. Tong goes on to destroy his own argument and confirm Dr. Ayres by telling of a very heavy smoker who was put in gaol in Hongkong in 1856 and entirely deprived of his opium, and thereupon became reddish and strong and stout, and at the end of a month weighed twice as much as when he was first confined.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1883.

CORRESPONDENCE.

{We-de-soi-mecawarily endorse the opinions expré

Correspondents in this column.)

ICE MACHINES.

TO THE EDITOR OF the "Honaxonɑ Telegraph," S18, The last evening's issue of the China Mail publishes an extract from the North China Daily News, which if taken verbatim by the public would lead them to believe that the Ice Machine offered by some persons here was of the same class as the one in Shanghai referred to. The facts of the case, as nearly as my memory serves me, are as follows: Some time ago Shanghai wanted pure ice; the doctors wanted it; the public wanted it. A few of those who cater for public opinion-with the main chance in view after which dn public opinion started a company and sent a young man to purchase the "triumph of American me- chanical skill." I am not going to quote in detail the fable of going for wool and com- ing home. shorn-but that was about the fact The Shanghai Ice Association then purchased a similar machine to that which the Victoria Ice Company of Hongkong now, pro- pose to erect and work-not that triumph) which the N. C. Daily News with so much self-assumed complacency ancers at.'

Dr. Ayres does not deny that opium smoking is a form of dissipation which leads men to waste their money and their time, and deprive themselves and their families of necessaries, so that it brings in its train many evils which are avoided by the non-smoker. These are the evils on which Mr. Tong King-sing chiefly dwells in his address. He says very inle about evil effects on the bodily constitution of the opium smoker. He points out that the habit makes a man lazy and disinclined to work, makes him neglect his family and his affairs, and

The Shanghai paper further suggests that in- brings on himself pecuniary ruin. None of this would Dr. Ayres deny, but he contends that tending applicants for shares in the new com opium smoking has no efect whatever on the pany had better make some inquiries from friends oplum smoker. He offers an old opium smoker before making investoients. That is exactly four different preparations of opiumis, one is the what they have done, and are prepared to pro- Hongkong optum farmer's regular mixture, conduce the answer of the managers of the Shang taining seven per cent of morpbia; the second is hailce Association, which, I may add, is every the same with ten per cent of morphis added or thing that the most sceptical could desire. seventeen per cent of morphia altogether: the third in the same with twenty per cent of morphin added or twenty-seven per cent altogether: the fourth with all the morphia extracted; that is, to tabulate them:

No. 1 has 7 per cent of morphia

#327. n.

4 has no morphia at all."

are

Now whatever pleasure is given or harm done by the smoking of opium must be due to the morphia: and the old smoker, one would think, would choose the opium containing the greatest quantity of morphia. But his verdict is that Nos, and 3 good: No. 4 fairly good but not so good as 1 and 3; and No, a not very good. That is, he makes no difference between opium with 27 per cent of morphis in it and opium with only 7 per cent, and only a trifling difference between them and opium with no morphia at all. This bears out the theory of those who see no harm in opium-smoking, because the morphis is volatilised, and does not enter the system of

the smacker at all. The fact is that the sup. -porters of the anti-opium league, intentionally or ignorantly, confuse opium-smoking with opium- eating Dr. Ayres has had much experience of both habits, both personal and by observa- tion, and his conclusions: are founded on Hazra

Of course a newspaper has and exercises the right to quote from all sources, but I hold that they should use some judgment in publishing such extracts as that alluded to above, particularly when the subject may be of some moment to a number of the community from which they gain their support, and of which, through want of in- quiry, they are in utter ignorance.

Yours truly,..

FIÁT JUSTITIA RUAT CŒLUM. Hongkong, 2nd October, 1883.

NEWS BY THE AMERICAN MAIL.

The Pacific Mail Co.'s steamer City of Peking, Captain G. G. Berry, with the American mails of the 4th ulto, arrived in barbour yesterday afternoon. We extract the subjoined telegrams from our San Francisco exchanges :d”

PARIS, August 28th.

The success of the French in Anam, has ren-

dered China more hostile to them. Chinese troops continue to arrive at the Yunnan frontier."

The Minister of the Interior has started a fund

CAIRO, August 23rd. for the relief of the families of the victims of English troops in Egypt will subscribe one day's cholera Large sums are being raised: The

pay."

LIVERPOOL, August 28th.

and figures known to himself to be correct, not on hearsay, He has no more sympathy with oplum smoking than Mr. Tong has, for he says, a man who would take to such a habit as opium- smoking mult boʻz miserable object, a habit James McDermott, charged with having been that requires you to muddle away more than an

connected with the dynamite, conspiracy, was. hour loading a pips in order to get five minuter brought into Court for further examination to- smoke, for each pipe takes about five minutes day. Evidence shows that the prisoner was con- to load, and less than thirty seconds to smoke! nected with the conspirator Featherstone, re- No doubt Dr. Ayres will be again violently cently convicted, and that the card of the latter, attacked, for every one likes to take the chance introducing McDermott to Dalton, another con of "fdamning the sins that he's no mind to." spirator, was attached to the collar of a dress The wretched · subjects that are occasionally coat which was found in McDempit's box. pointed out to us as victims of oplum smoking, LONDON, August 28th,-' and whose existence makes good men decry the

"The Daily News' correspondent at Madrid habit with such vehemence, have probably be says the Ministers who opposed King Alfonso's come oplum smokers because they were already visit to Germany agree that it would be more po retched from other vices and diseases. The litic for the King to surrender the idea, because active energetic man will not give himself up of the umbrage France would take if he carried to this time and money wasting pursuit; it is the it out, peld, predy NEEMA man indolent by nature or rendered inactive by disease who flies to an inordinate use of opium as a means of consuming the time that bangs heavily on his hands. Ha furnishes the shocking examples to the philanthropists, who should father endeavour to wean their victims from their vices by the offer of higher enjoyments, than use them to unfairly condemn the English people. for introducing a drug whose modérate use is harmless if unnecessary --Shanghai Courier.

IMPORTANT FIRE INSURANCE

CASE.NE

CONSTANTINOPLE, August 28th, The Sultan has pressed Prince Nikits, the Montenegrin ruler, to prolong his visit here. The impression is gaining ground that it is the intention of Montenegro to oppose the further advance of Austria into Turkey.

BAGO MADRID, August 28th." Prime Minister Sagasta to-day tendered King Alfonso the resignation of the Ministry. The King deeming it unnecessary to hasten the crisis, postponed his final resolution concerning the Ministrý-until he returns from Coruña.”

ALEXANDRIA, August 28th, The Court-martial trying, the" saldiere who participated in the massacres last year, has sentenced thirteen of the culprits, charged with having organized the massacres, to be hanged opposite the police station; and two to fourteen years, and 'six.to-five years' pénal servitude. Moller Stad

PARIS, August 28th.

Beveral dour and corn mills were destroyed by fire at Toulouse. Damage, 203,000 francs.

An action of considerable interest to people engaged in business has recently been decided in Her Britannic Majemy's Court for Japan at Vokchama, Mr. Turtles Hannen preaking From the reports of the proceedings in the local papers, it appears that the Chartered Mer, cantile Bank held thros policies aggregating Placards appeared in various quarters of Faris $8,000 issued by the Hongkong Fire Ingur ance Company, the goods covered by such today inviting citizens to rally to the support of policias being pledged to the bank. By fire placards were destroyed by the police

the monarchy, under Louis-Phillipe÷11, The In late March the greater portion of these rond Foods was damaged -or destoyes,; and shoệ claimed from the insurance company 893,611 in round figures, The sum realized by the salvage sale was $3,585, and the company paid, or expressed a willingness to pay, that amount and $75,000 mare to the bank in antisfaction of the policies. The bank, however, claimed 36,173 in addition, making altogether the loss some $25,600, but this claim the company resisted on the grounds very explicitly stated by Mr. Kirke wood, their counsel. That gentleman said in effect that the particulars of logs furnished, to the company after the fire were inaccurate in the steamer Obir, has arrived there, having on A dispatch from Vardoe, Norway, tater that other words that the value of the goods de board the members of the Dutch expedition to stroyed was over climated, and the quantities the arcile which, alled on the steamer Faran grossly exaggerated" This, it was contended. That vessel, foundered July 4th: In latitude Bi had been the conduct of hypofittated the property to, the bank Barth, longitude 6 east. The Obi, reports the Aaretid steamer Blindmas ico-bound near Wal

LONDON, August 18th. in Upper Egypt, and six in Lower Egypt.

Monday there were 10 deaths from cholera

China, to make an immediate attack on Canton, and other Chinese poris,

BERLIN, August 31st

The opinion of the Chinese Legation here in regard to the treaty between France aħd 'Anam is that it is invalid, as China has not recognized the new king of Anam.

The evidence adduced at the examination of Dr. and Patrick Connelly and their sister Cath arine, charged with complicity in the murder conspiracy, indicates that the conspiracy was formed to accomplish a private and not agrarian purpose as was supposed Witness Dineen swore that Dr. Connolly forged the name of John Carroll to the will by which Carroll's property was to be left to Connolly, Dineen was to murder Carroll and to receive 650 from the sum expected to be realized from the latter's property.

The steamer Gaorga has started from Arch- angel to seak the Dutch Popular vessel Varsa, || for the discovery of which a reward of £2,000 is offered by

& reward of 63,000

LONDON, August 31st

very great deal of evidence WAY called on gat Throughout the winter all on board were both sides, but in the charge of Mr. Hannen to well. The captain is confident of reaching open the jury the real questions at laun appear in water. The crew of the Varna left the Bijinoknáð concise formi. After going briefly through the August: ast, and were rescued by the Offr 'salient points raised during the trialy His Honour on August 15th, STA

...

BATAVIA, August 31st. The captain of a steamer which was in the Strait of Sunda during the recent volcanic erup- tion, reports that ashes, fell on the deck of his vessel to a depth of 18 inches. He passed masses of floating pumice stone seven feet deep. It is estimated that 10,000 persons lost their lives at Tjiringin. ́

The total number killed by the eruptions and tidal waves will reach 30,000.

PESTH, August 31st. Lessa, President of the Hungarian Council, in order to put a stop to outrages upon the Jews, has decided upon severe measures, which are to be put into operation whenever anti-Jewish riots occur. The measures provide that any one who shall be condemned to death by martial law shall be executed within three hours after the sentence is imposed..

LONDON, August 31st.

The Vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon has signified his willingness to allow the remains of Sbakes- pear to be exhumed. The object is to compare the skull of the poet with the bust and portrait of him,

LONDON, Sept. 1st

A dispatch from Hongkong says, uneasiness over the Tonquin affair is unabated, and the movement of Chinese troops continues. The French Admiral is watching everything closely, and is in constant telegraphic communication with the French Ambassador. at Peking. The French force is considered insufficient. At least ten thousand will be required. A dispatch from Hanoi says the recent defeat of General Courbet is generally known, and that the Chinese are greatly elated therent, which feeling the downfall of Hue hus in nowise checked.

PARIS, September ist.

undertakes not to correspond directly with the A telegram from here says the King of Anam Emperor of China.

BERLIN, September 1st.

The French Minister here attempted to reopen with the Chinese Ambassador to Germany, negotiations which were being conducted by the Marquis Tseng

FROUSDORP, September 1st. Manager Vanuitti, Papal Nuncio at Vienna, consecrated the remains of Count de Chambord to-day-in-the-presence of a delegate from the and others. A certificate of death was placed Emperor Francis Joseph, a number of Legitimists

in the coffin....

VIENNA, September 1st. Emperor Francis Joseph yesterday received all the Orleans Princes here: Three thousand

Frenchmen arrived at Garitie to attend the funeral of Count de Chambord. It is expected 4,000 more will be present on the day of the Orleans Princes with royal ceremonies. funeral Countess de Chambord received the

LONDON, September, 1st Queen Victoria has sent a magnificent bouquet, of filies and white roses to Frohsdorf to be placed on Chambord's coffin!"" 270OLONIES

1883-10-02 — Page 2

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