Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-01-21
From he Boston Times.
rnEEE TIE.


Coffee is the product Of an evergreen
shrub which is extensively cultivated in
almost all hot climates.
This shrub (cofea Ara5ica) grows or.
dinarily to the height Of Is feet. ltbears
beautiful sweet-scented fowers--elegant.
~ white, which hang in clusters at the
base OF the leaf, which is Soft deep green,
long aud narrow. The berry is dark red
and resembles very much those OF the
prunus ccraSus.
In Arabia where the greatest attention
10 paid to the cultivation ofcoffee, the trees
are generally raised in nurseries and then
transplanted to some spot where they can
be conveniently watered by streams from
hill side or elsewhere. When the berries
are ripe they are shaken off into cloths
spread for the purpose. They are then
dried on mats in the sun, afterwards the
husk is taken off and they are again dried
and prepared for use.
How long coffee had been In vogue with
the Eastern people before its introduction
into Europe, is not known, although Ale.
ziri Alhambali, an elegant writer, afiirms
that famous shcikh, introduced IT about
$40 Of the Hegifa il at least became so
much in favor with the Arabians, that
coffee houses and booths increased to Rn
alarming extent the government caring
that they induced idleness and vitlated
tastes, several times interiered to suppress
them. But the best producers OF the lux.
ury valued it too highly to yield It easily,
and they chose to give the roins to the
wild sleei that would bear them far away
into the deserts, with their utensils for
making the loved beverage, rather than
live in high places without il.
II once became serious question
among the Mahomedans. whether coffee
was no, included in the intoxicating bey-
erage prohibited by the Koran but Aije-
ziri, ofwhom have before spoken, proved
that il was not included in the prohibited
articles OF drink, IN anably written pamph
let entitled the Support of Innocence,
which is now to be found in the Kings
Library at Paris.
When coffee was first used in Egypt, il
was drunk twice week, in companies
assembled for the purpose, with great
deal of solemnlty.
was not at all known, or at least was
never used.
A minute account Of the Introduction Of
coffee into Europe, and the various opin-
ions concerning its beneficial or injurious
effects upon the physical and moral condl.
ton of man, would be exceedingly inte-
resting; but my object was only to make
few brief sketches for the general reader.
In the early part Of the 18th century,
coffee was drunk at Constantinople. In
1915, Pietro della Vale in writing from the
above place, informs his freud at Rome
that he should teach Europe in what man
ner the Turks drank cahuo and Purchas
writing about the same time, penned this;
they drank coffee as hot as they. can en-
dure it; il is as black as SCOT, and tastes
not much unlike it, good they say for di.
gestlon and mir.h.
For and christians to tHrn Turks, and think
To excuse the crime, because Ills in their drink
Pure English apes ye may, for aught know,
Would it but mode-lcarn TO cat spiders too.
Such in 1868 was the spirit of many
satircal poems which appeared in England
against the use Of coffee. The press and
pulpit heaped the bitterest invectives and
severest censures upon the heads ofthose
who used the beverage which vas COM
monty termed the syrup of SCOT and es.
sence Of old shoes
ThsY drink said an eminent divine,
"a poison which God made black, that II
might bear the devils color In the wo.
mems petition in 1864, they urged rs a
complaint, that coffee made men us un.
fruitful US the deserts whence that unhappy
berry is said to be brought that the of.
spring ofour mighty ancestors would dwln-
die into succession Of apes and plgmies:
and on a domestic message, husband
would stop en- the way TO drink couple
OF cups Of coffee. Bul the more there
was said against the drink, the ulorc the
people drank II, which was much in keep.
ing with the spirit Of the times regarding
the hair, for instance, as the sermons
heightened against the undignied and I'm.
christian usage Of wearing it long, the
hair heightened in proportion, till II reach
ed lis most luxuriant and graceful flow
But the use of coffee, unlike the hair, has
seldom been cut short; and one nation
now consumes annually about II goo, 600
pounds.
Coffee was introduced into England by
Greek merchant, who advertised il as
follows--"The virtue Of the coffee drink,
first publiquely made and sod in England,
by Pasqua Rosee, in St. MchaePs Alley,
Cornhill, at the sign Of his own head"
Coffee shops soon became Numerous,
and were plac. Of resort for the artist,
the literary man, the politician. AT one
lime, Charles II. fearing that TOO many
political factions had their origin in them,
ordered them to be closed. The procIa-
NATION read thus-"The retailing OF coffee