CHAPTER XIII
THE PURVEYOR OF DREAMS
"East and West—'and never the twain may meet,'" said Quong. "That is a bold saying. We shall see. But there are many things that seem differences between us that may not be so wide apart after all. When you of the West say China sleeps, you think of opium. You forget that China herself made the biggest effort to rid herself of the drug, that one of the modern races preferred profit to helping us do it.
"I sold opium, for a profit, in San Francisco. It was one of several of my means of revenue. I believe in opium, for the present generation. We, who furnished the base for Japan's boasted civilization, can take example from her. From her methods of colonization in Formosa. She has succeeded where other nations failed because she has regulated, restricted opium, instead of prohibiting it. No one who has not formed the habit is allowed to do so. Those who have become habituated to the drug may obtain it. Without it many would die. I have no doubt there are many old people in this country whose lives have been shortened for lack of their stimulating toddies. And I fancy it will take you a full generation to inhibit alcohol, to ensure Prohibition—if it is not revoked,
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