The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-01-20

| How Coffee is Made and Drank in the
| Far East" A Pleasant Land vi
| Drowsy-head 1T wa

Drcwsy-head ii wa
From Harpers Magazine for December.
Nor is the manner of enjoying the
sup of coffee less varied in different
parts of the world The son of the
Orient, drinking his coffee unmixed,
swallows the black but nutritious sedi
ment with the infusion, and consumes
at times not less than eighty cups
daily. Far out on the burning desert,
he sits under his black hair tent, silent
and motionless, till III the other half
of his airy dwelling the Nubian slave
has prepared his refreshment. When
his pipe and his cup are handed him
he leans luxuriously back on his cush
ions or his bales of goods, casting an
indolent glance at the dropping horse,
tied to post before his tent, or the
weary camel crouching on the
sand and chewing the cud; but soon
his eyes become animated, his fancy
revives, and he thinks of the fate of
his beloved ones at home, or he
weaves fantastic fairy tales into bright
/ stories and graceful verses. The mo-
notonous noise of the mortar in which,
all day long, the small beans of dark
yellow color are crushed, SO as to fur
nish an unbroken supply, alone ac-
companies his thoughts, and fills up
the vacant moments by its uniform
rhythm. Or he is in STEAMBOAT, the
Happy City the marble paved court
yard, oyershadowed by mulberry trees
and pomegranates, and freshened aud
cooled by merry fountain In the cen
ter, which casts its spray IN titfui show
ers On roses and jasmine; an open
stair case leads no to a well lighted
room, with bright coiored hangings on
the walls, and richly dyed rugs scatter
ed over the inlaid floor; gold lists,
arabasques and mother of pearl III
profusion adorn the ceiling and III
| pretty inches, behind skillfully carved
doors, stand delicate cups and boxes
for tobacco. The windows look down
upon the cool yard, and long divan
with soft cushions runs along the wall.
There is no chair, no mirror here no
table and no picture, as in European
coffee houses; but black servants III
brilliant costumes walk slowly about,
offering chibolk and coffee cup to
every guest. Silently he enters, in ST
lence he smokes his pipe and drinks
his cup of coffee, and silently he leaves
the house again. A few guests, per-
haps, are busy ct chess others may
listen to the story-teller on the little
platform there with the Persian rug on
which he sits, or they gaze with stolid
eye at the juggler, WHO produces from
under his thin strip of carpet whatever
is asked for by his audience. But no
one opens his lips; no one reads jour
nal there is no interchange here of
! thoughts, no making of acquaintance
or forming of friendship. The dreamy,
still life of the Orient knows no other
enjoyment but listening in silence
while smoking and slipping the cup of
coffee
Far more lively is the coffee house in
the noisy cities OF Persia. The muez
Zln has no sooner announced the hour
o. morning prayer from the balcony Of
| his mlnaTet, than fearful sounds are
! heard floating down the narrow, tortu-
Gus streets, They proceed from the
! keepers OF the public baths, who blow
! their cow-horns to announce that the
water for the womens bath is ready.
| The dogs raise a terrible howl to ex-
press their disgust at the hideous
sound, donkeys bray III deep gutterals,
cocks are Growing III every yard and
every garden, and sleep is soon out Of
the question. In al instant the
whole city is alive, and tall
men III loose trousers and ample cloaks
are sefI hurrying from all sides to
their favorite cofIec-houses. Through
a rounded door they enter Il court, with
fountain, and ascend by q wide, easy
staircase to the vaulted hall above,
where there is a large number of win
| dows adorned with diminutive pieces
! OF colored glass, and the dazzling white
ness of the walls IS relieved by a null
! titudC Of leaves and flowers engraved
with chisel, and flied out with blue
and gold. Here, also, fountain plays
merrlly in the center; one whole side
/ Is taken up with inches, and along the
! other sides crowd the smokers and
drinkers, listening to the songs of Hal
! liz, the wise sayings of Sadi, III the
heroic poems OF TiTdousi.
! How different from the cafe of France
or Italy, where al Is eplendor and
ma9nihcence, while busy, noisy crowds
gather there from morn till night How
! different from the more silent, almost
| lugnbriou6 coffee house of England.
where already III the days of the
Stuarts, affairs of such Importance
we're transacted that Macauley could
! compare the regular visitors at these
places to the Fourth estate of the
realm!" 1t may weh be regretted that
cottee-houses are, except in New Or
leans. unknown to this country. where
the bar, with its fiery drinks, and Its
mixed assemblies, has furnished but
sorry substitute.