Thayer, William Roscoe The Life and Letters of John Hay v. 1,
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1916, p. 47. The quote comes from Rev. J.
H. Gilmore:
On one occasion, at least, his enthusiasm for literature was carried to
excess. “The Hasheesh Eater” had recently appeared (1857) and Johnny
must needs experiment with hasheesh a little, and see if it was such a
marvelous stimulant to the imagination as Fitzhugh Ludlow affirmed.
“The night when Johnny Hay took hasheesh” marked an epoch for the
dwellers in Hope College. It’s fifty-six years ago; but I remember it
well.
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