The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-10-06
MISCELLANY
a TURKISH CAFE.

Imagine a saloon a dozen feet square,
arched and whitcwashed, encircled by a
wainscot about six feet high, and species of
divan covered with straw mating. In the
midde-and this is the most elegant point of
detail--a fountain OF white marble throws up
a stream of water which falls again in various
streams and clouds of spray. In corner
burns furnace, over which the coffee is
made, cup by cup, as required, in little brass
coffee-p pots capable of holding but a single cup
each. To the walls are attached shelves Ia
den with razors, near which hang several ele-
giant mirrors, in which the customers can see
whether their boards are arranged to their
taste, for in Turkey every cafe is also bar
ber's shop, and, while You smoke your chi
bouque and sip your coffee, in comes fat
Turk with parrots nose, and Persian with
an eagles bealr to have their boards dressed !;
while young Greek in front is pomading his
moustache and painting his eyebrows, which
he has equalized by means of a small pair of
pincers.
The idea is prevalent that according to the
rule of the Koran the Turks absolutely pro-
scribe all g images" and regard the products
of the plastic arts as works of idolatry but
although this is true in principle it is not
vigorously sustained, and the cafes are decora-
ted with all sorts of prints of the Oldest choice
ize the orthodox Mussulman. Turkish taste
takes French prints, and forms grotesque
combinations. Sirens swim at the side of
stamboats and the heroes of Schah-Nameh
brandish their battle-axes above the old SOL
diers of the Empire. 1t is delightful to take
in these cafes, after fatiguing walk through
the streets, tiny cup Of their dark and tur-
bid coffee, brought to you by black-eyed
youngster on the tips Of his fingers, in a
salver of silver filigree and it proves moro
truly refreshing than any iced drink which
you could obtain. To the cup of coffee is
usually added glass of pure water, which
the Turks drink before and the Franks after
this very subject.
A European who spoke the Eastern Ian
guage perfectly, wore the Mussulman cos
tune like a native, and had acquired the
bronze complexion Of the climate, was, never
theless, recognized as a Frank in a little OBJ
scure Syrian cafe by ragged Bedcain, inca
pable certainly of discovering fault in the
pure Arabic dialect of the detected foreigner.
''By what have you discovered me to be a
Frank ?" said the European, as much annoy
ed as Theophrastus, when called stranger
by green grocer in the market at Athens,
because he had misplaced an accent.
g Yor drink your water after your Coffee
replied the Bcdouin.
Every one carries his own tobacco box, the
cafe supplying only the chibouque, the amber
moutlpiece o. which is capable of retaining
any impurity from use, and narghile, CON-
plicated apparatus, which il would be rather
difficult to lug about with you. The price of
the cup Of coffee is twenty paras, or ons penny
farthing and if you give piastre or two
pence half-penny you are quite magnificent
person The money is dropped into box
pierced with hole "a regular child's money
box, which is placed near the door.
Although in Turkey the first beggar in rags
who comes in seats himself on the divan be-
side the most sumptuously dressed Turk with
out eliciting any sign of aversion or dis
pleasure from the latter, certain classes have,
nevertheless, their habitual places of resort,
and the g Cafe of the Marble Fountain"
situated between the Serial Bonrnou and the
Mosque of Yeni-Djami, is one of the most
frequented in all the town.