Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-10-05
From the Ne,c York National Democrat.
Coffce--Curious History OF its Use.

Coffee is of Asiatc origin, and brought to TIN
Occident by the Turks. They called il cahreh
Yemen, province of Arabia, is generally consid
cred place where the coffee sprung up. Certain
it is that Arabian herdsmen ofth edesert Of Al-Dshe
sira, approaching one evening the shore OF the
Euphrates, were the first to discover the enliven
ing power of coffee. Worn out as they were, af
ter a tiresome journey through the desert, they
were reclining beneath coffee tree, and for pas
time commenced chewing the coffee beans. They
soon observed their WEAKNESS passed away. and
left them fine spirited during the night. Next
evening they repeated their pastime, and 1t had
the same effect They were convinced that there
was hidden and refreshing power in the coffee
BEANS ft.-
| 1t was then introduced as kind ofmedicine for
relaxation, for which purpose it was roasted,
ground and builed in hot water, in the manner we
prepare coffee now. Consequent on the prohibi-
ton of wine drinking by Mahomet, the use of
coffee soon became in extensive demand all OVER
Arabia, Turkey and Persia. From these coun-
tries coffee was introduced by the Vepetians, in
the year 1891, into Italy, to be used only as an
enlivening medicine. At first they tried 1t with
the leaves of the coffee tree, which was, however,
abandoned, and they resorted to the coffee-beans
and prepared them in the same manner as the A
rabians. After whiieit became a fav0rite bev-
erage for dainty persons; and its importation from
a foreign country rendered it, in the eyes of the
aristocracy of that period, desirable.
From Venice, coffee was introduced into Eng
land, France and Holland. The first public cof-
fee-house was opened in London in the year 1862;
"a few years afterwards second appeared in Par
is, and third in Amsterdam. Not, however ,un-
I'll the year 1892 was coffee known in Germany,
it was imported from Holland already roasted
The first public coffee-house was established in
Leipzig, in the year 1920, which, no doubt, is the
oldest coffee-house in the world, as it is even at
the present day place of public amusement.-
Two circumstances contributed principally to
make coffee general beverage in Germany first
ly, that coffee was exempted by the government
by the taxes laid on beer and wine; and, second
ly, the powers of coffee to produce an agreeable
excitement without intoXication. These qualities
made it the most agreeable beverage to the ladies
and business men. The Jews in Germany known
to be the most active merchants, became exceed
ingly fond of this enlvening beverage, and also
the poets. 1t is well known story that the
French poet Rousseau, once on visit TO Voltare,
remarked to the latter that coffee was poison
Voltaire replied, ,"True, but poison which affects
the health very slowly, as have been drinking it
for sixty years."
The greatest opponents to coffee drinking are
the homeopathic doctors, who consider coffee as
most injurious to the health. Indeed it is to ner
vous people, particularly strong coffee also to
dyspeptics it may prove not digestible, but in the
latter case its Indigestion arises from the impure
milk which is mixed with it.
The French and Germans drink more black
,yhifa ond fate soon wards uIacc
of pure cool water, and that custom is one which
it would be useful to adopt in this country, as in
this manner coffee is not even injurious 10 pletho-
ric people, if they drink only small quantity of
lit. 1t serves under this condition to aid digestion.
and enliven the spirits. To young people, it is
not so wholesome as beer-soup, which is used for
them in Germany And young ladies who wish
to become as fleshy as the vocalist Alboni must
refrain from drinking coffee, ,and had better initiate
the German in the use of beer-soup. There is Of
ten added to coffee roasted roots, as that of succo-
nv or carrot for instance which diminishes its fla
vor Roasted beans Of cocoa, on the other hand,
are most healthy and palatable,f mixed with cof-
fee. The Turks add different spices, and the
French pour rum in it, so do also the Italians and
Germans; and they use sometimes theyolk ofan egg
instead Ofcream which iscommendable where there
is no good milk to be found. Particular care is e.
very where taken, ercept in this country, not to
roast and grind the coffee before it is wanted for
immediate use, otherwise it loses by exhalation
the volatile oil which imparts such an excellent
flavor to it.
The smoke of roasted coffee is one of the most
powerful disnfectants Coffee is also an antidote
to poisons Of opium, cherry laurel, and intoxica-
ton. 1t is also a preventative Of costiveness-
The consumption Of coffee is from year to year in
creasing. In Europe, alone, for instance, the i'm
portation in period often years,tha is from l8l7
to 1928, increased from one hundred and sixty
millions to two hundred and twenty five millions
of pounds.
The coffee tree reaches the height of eighteen
or twenty feet, has with its branches pyramdal
form evergreen leaves, and is considered one ofthe
most beautiful of trees. In the third year it yields
three pounds of beans. In highest estimation,
concerning the quality, stands Mocha coffee from
Arabia; next to it St. Domingo, Java, ST. Jag de
Cuba, and then Rio, of Brazil and Cuba. How
ever, one kind is found more papatable in
country than another. and different nations give
preference to different kind Of coffee.