Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-05-26


many year thereafter joe Chickweed looked
upon him as a most valuable assistant.
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CURIOUS HISTORY oF THE USE OF COFFEE.
Coffee is of Asiatic origin, and was brought
to the Occident by the Turks. They called it
Cahveh. Iehman, province in Arabia, is
generally considered the place where coffee
sprang up. Certain it is, that Arabian herds
men of the deseIt of Aldshesria, approaching
one evening the shores of the Euphrates, were
the first to discover the enlivening power of
coffee. Worn out as they were, after tire
some Journey through the desert, they were
reclining beneath coffee tree, and for past
time commenced chewing the coffee beans.
They soon observed that their wcariness pass
ed away, and left them fine-spirited during the
night. Next evening they repeated their pas
time, and it had the same effect They were
convinced that there was hidden and refresh
ing power in the coffee beans.
1t was then introduced as kind of medi-
cine for relaxation, for which purpose it was
roasted, ground, and boiled in hot water, in
the manner we prepare coffee now. Conse-
quent on the prohibition of wine-drinking by
Mahomet, the use of coffee soon became in
extensive demand all over Arabia, Turkey
and Persia. From these countri coffee was
introduced by the Fenetians, in The year 1891,
into Italy, to be used only an enlivening
medicine. AT first they tried it with the
leaves of the cofee-tree, which was, however,
abandoned, and they resortcd to the coffee
beans and prepared them in the same manner
as the Arabians. After while it became a
favoritc beverage for dainty persons, and its
importation from foreign country rendered
1T, in the eyes of the aristocracy of that Pc
riod, desirable.
From Venice, coffee was introduced TO Eng
land, France and Holland. The first public
cofee-house was opened in London in the
year 1862; a few years afterwards second
appeared in Paris, and third in Amsterdam.
Not, however, until the year 1902, coffee
known in Germany it was imported from
Holland already roasted. The first public
eoffee-house was established at Leipzig, in the
year 1920, which, no doubt, is the oldest
coffee-house in the world, and it is even at
the present day place of public amusement.
Two circumstances contributed principally to
make coffee q general beverage in Germany
firstly, that coffee was excepted by the govern
ment from the taxes laid on beer and wine
and secondly the powers of coffee to produce
an agreeable excitement without producing
intoxication. These qualities made it the
most agreeable to ladies and business men.
The Jews in Germany, known to be the most
active merchants, became exceedingly fond
of this enliveniDg beverage, and also the
poets. 1t is well known story, that Rosseau,
once on visit to Votaire, remarked to the
latter, that coffee poison. Voltaire re-
piled ;-''True, but poison that affects the
health very slowly, as 1 have been drinking it
for sixty years.
The greatest opponents to cofiee-drinking
are the homeopathic doctors, who consider
coffee as most injurious to health. Indeed it
IS to nervous people, particularly strong cof-
fee; also to dyspeptics it may prove not di-
gestible, but in the latter case, its ill-diges-
tion arises from impure milk which is mixed
with it.
The French and Germans drink more black
coffee than white, and take soon aftcrward
glass of pure cold water, and that custom is
one which it would be useful to adopt in this
country as in this manner coffee is not iniu-
rious to plethocic people; if they drink only
a small quantity Of it. 1t serves under this
condition to aid digestion and to enliven the
spirits. To young people, it is not so whole
some as beer soup, which is used for then IN
Germany. There is often added to cohee'
roasted roots, as that of succory or CARROT lor
fIs1H 0nS
ed beans of cocoa, on the other hand, are most |
healthy and palatable if mixed with coffee. |
The Turks add different species, and the,
French pour rum in it, as do the Italians and |
Germans; and they use sometimes the yolk |
of ahas5g instead of cream, which is commen-
dable where there is no good milk to be found
Particular care is everywhere taken, except in
this country. not to roast or grind coffee be-