The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-03-01

The Thibetans, says the veracious n. Hue
might live in freedom and Independence In the
midst Of their mountains, and care nothing
for the Chinese, ii they could only make ~
their minds to 70 without black tea and scarf:
Of felicity But this, adds n. Hue, they viii
probably not do, for Fictitious wants are those
| which weigh most heavily upon ns, and from
which We have most difficulty in freeing our
selves. We are all very much in the condition
of the Thibetans, and might care nothing about
the Chinese, we're we not SO dependent on them
for an article which adds so much to our en-
| joyment, and which, maugre n. Hue, il . real,
and not facttious want.
We have great respect for the consenting
opinions and usages OF great masses Of men -
The individual ia apt 10 err, but the species Is
i wise. When therefore, We find mankind in ev-
cry country and every age, seeking and craving
s,imulants of some kind or other, we ally
inter that the human organization absolutely re-
qures their aid But, happily, science cor
| firms inference, and leaves us, in this particular,
in no manner of doubt. Recent investigations
have demonstrated that tea and coffee, instead
of being destructive to the animal economy, are
essential to its healthy development and pres
ervaton. cit was reserved says the January
number Of the Atlantic Monthly. ''for the all
searching German mind to discover their better
qualities, and it is only within the last five years
that the self sacrificing experiments of Dr.
Booker, OF Bonn, and Of DR.. Julius Lehman,
haye raised them to their proper place in dete-
ties, as accessory foods" We have not space
to state in detail the nature of these expert
ments, and, besides, it is sufficient for our prr
pose to state their results. They RAISE coffee
and tea from the rank of stimnlants to that OF
food from ide luxures TO real agents OF sup
port and frightening of life Hencciorth the
economist can hear of their increasing consump-
ton without regret. The poor may indulge
in them, not as extrayagant enjoyments, bnt
practical goods. The cup Of tea, which is the
sole OF luxury of their scanty meal, lessons the
need for more solid food; it satisfies the stom-
ach, while it gladdens the heart. 1t saves them,
too, the wastes by those nitrogenized articles OF
food which require SO mnch labor and fore
thought to procure. The flesh meats and the
cereals, which contain the largest amounts Of
this requisite OF organic lie, are always the
scareest articles of consumption. Certainly it
is not as positive nutriment that we recommend
the use OF coffee and tea: for although they con
tain relatively large amount OF nitrogen, that
supply can be better taken in solid food. Their
lenebt is two fold. While they save more than
enough OF the waste OF tissue to justify their
use as economical beverages, they supply need
OF the nervous system OF no small importance.
Iney cheer, refresh and console. They thus
fill place in the wants OF humanity, which CON-
mon articles of food cannot, inasmuch as they
satisfy the cravings OF the spirit as well as OF
the flesh"
Wehave quoted enough from the article in
the Atlantic Mon bly, to show the results that
have been attained to science in its experiments
as to the nature and effects of tea an coffee
The whole article will repay an attentive peru
sal. These results being such as we have ndi-
Gated, the question will naturally suggest itself
to the statesman and political economist, wheh-
er the notion Of taxing these imports as luxu-
ries is any longer tenable. If they are proved
to be articles of necessity, and of even greater
necessity to the poor than to the rich, is it Just
to the former to draw from them, in the shape
OF duties, so large portion of their national
revenuesy We pay annually twenty two millions
Of dollars for tea and coffee. What amount OF
duties enters into and forms pert of this large
sum we are nnatle, al the moment to say. But
surely, justice and common sense would declare
that, whatever it is, it would be better to appor-
ton 1t in duties upon other imports which COM
pete with our own manufactures
We were shown an ORIGINAL pikafs paaE Iat