MAHONING COUNTY OHIO - MISCELLANEOUS- An Opium Den (published 1895)
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Nancy Reynolds
JEFFNAN65@aol.com
21 February 2001
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As I have been searching the Vindicator for a particular obituary, I also look
for items which might be of interest to the list. That is the first 
criteria--of
interest. Then the item must either contain some local names, or, give
a feel for the times. In this case, the scene is the same as today, only
the product might be different, but the same result.

This article falls into the 2nd category.

From Youngstown Daily Vindicator, Saturday, 20 JUL 1895, pg. 2

                AN OPIUM DEN,
                    _______

           Youngstown Has One Which
               Is Situated on North
                  Hazel Street,
                           _________

               Men and Women Visit There,
                   _________

        Opportunity Given To Those Who
            Are Acquainted to Smoke
                the Deadly Drug.
                           __________

  Youngstown, the metropolis of the Mahoning valley,
is rapidly assuming the airs of the larger metropolitan
cities of this country in more ways than one.  The
larger the city the more prevalent is vice in all its forms,
and as this city grows in population and importance
in the commercial world, new forms of dissipation
make their appearance.
  This city has not been regarded by outsiders or
residents either, as the most moral city in the world,
but recent disclosures have revealed the fact that 
there is one form of vice practiced here that but few
of the residents are aware of.
  "Hitting the pipe" or, properly speaking, the smoking
of opium, is a habit that once cultivated is almost
impossible to destroy, and an opportunity to contract 
the habit is at present open to the people of this city,
according to a well known criminal lawyer who is in a
position to know.
  "Do you know that there is a 'joint' in this city where
you can go and hit the pipe if you want to?" was the
reply made by the attorney in question to a Vindicator
representative who had once more quoted that oft heard 
expression, "what's new?"
  "There is an opium den on North Hazel Street," 
continued the attorney, "where almost every day men 
and women of this city go and smoke the drug. I know
several of the ladies who visit the place regularly and I 
asked one of them why she did so. Her answer was that
the sensation realized from the dope was a pleasing one
and that when under its influence she imagined she 
owned the town."
  Further investigation resulted in the information that up 
to the present time the only habituates of the joint were
"men about town" and women who have reached that stage 
that no name is appropriate other than demi-monde.
  The place designated by the attorney is known as the
Star Laundry and the name of Tueng Lee is displayed in
the front of the establishment.
  Although the devotees to the habit in this city are few 
and those few of a character that would not greatly interest 
respectable people, it would be wise for the proper authorities 
to take the matter in hand at once.
  If this is attended to the newspapers will not be compelled 
to do, as many of the periodicals in the larger cities do 
almost every day, chronicle the down-fall of some bright 
young man or lovely young lady, due solely to the use of 
this body and soul destroying drug.