The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-21
PAINTED COFFEE.
"A Novel, But Infamous Method o1
Improving the Appearance of
Traa, rofIco

"A Novel, But Infamous Method o1
Improving the Appearance of
Green Coffee.
The following letter, addressed to the editor
of the Mobile Register, and published In that
journal. Is from one Of the most extensive
firms Of coffee dealers In the United States
It speaks for itself, as tho phrase is, and we
direct the attention Of all persons, dealers and
consumers alike to the same:
New York, July %, 1879.
To tho Editor OF the Mobile Register:
Sir-Coffee has become an article OF almost
universal consumption, and Is no longer re-
Rarded as luxury. but a necessity, and e
esteemed by al who use It as being as whole
some rs 1t Is delicious. when properly made
ity has surely suffered quite enough already In
the use OF the deleterons compounds sold as
ground coffee, but resembling the genuine
article In appearance only; and yet 1t APP
pears that neither tho excessive and iniqui-
tous gains arising from the sale Of q com
modify, the chief ingredients of which are
quality Of peas more leshy than fresh and
an article OF damaged coffee 50 utterly
worthless that nought save the disguise put
upon 1t by the ground coffee manufacturer
could give 1t value nor the unsavory flavor
and misunderstanding effects Of these cheap
but vile compounds, have satisfied the GU
pidty Of some or served to remove the
stupidity Of others. Nevertheless, we have
learned with grief and establishment that
some have been found SO devoid of conscience
as to place In market painted coffee; and
painted, too, by ingredients the most poison
Gus. Language is inadequate to express the
enOrmty Of the wrong. That respectable
merchants should lend their aid In the perpe-
tration OF 1t Is a painful reflection On the
rectitude of d class hitherto noted for their 10
tai fnfarrti ~ and htnh nf honor
However this may be, II Is nevertheless a
lamentable fact that the nefarious work Of
painting coffee with chrome green goes on;
and with the merchant there must rest q fear
full responsibility, for 1t Is q salt-evident prop
osition that when the merchant ceases TO sell
an article that will surely injure and perhaps
destroy. the lives OF his fellows, the occupa-
ton of the coffee painter will be gone.
But our faith In the honor and integrity Of
the merchants tells lis that they, like our
selves, have been profoundly ignorant Of the
true character of the compound which has
been used for the purpose of enhancing the
value Ut an inferior article OF green coffee
They have simply failed to satisfy themselves
Of the true character OF the preparation
which makes q very inferior article to assume
The appearance, but not the quality, OF very
superior one. For the past six months every
person conversant with the coffee trade has
oeen aware Of the fact that the importation of
he lowest grades u Rio coffee was unprece-
lentedly large. This WAS a matter of no little
SURPRISE in view OF the fact that the price Of
! good article was prOportiouately lower
han at any time during ihe past eighteen
years. But this surprise was very much |
when 1t was definitely aseertained
hat there was q correspondingly large in |
'rease in the demand by the retail trade for |
ng arbu1iu' ny, 'r;ades af Rio coffee. In look
discovering that strange lullilpuaUivu In
inc article was going On, and further investi |
CATION reveals the fact that the demand for |
5Ho nHljnlntPI ARTICLE Ia tnrr, f},of no
wheels Of one establishment never cease. day |
u night, to run.
Not curiosity alone, but suspicion that
ne ingredients used In painting green colTees |
We're not SO harmless as represented led lis to |
send a party engaged In the business ten
pounds OF coffee. In order that he might show
IS prpofof what he could do in the way of pre-
,aring coffee 50 as to deceive the unsuapect-
ng public. His skill Ia this direction at once |
convinced us that IL was our bounden duty to |
,lace the ten pounds SO prepared in the
lands Of an able chemist for analysis, which |
We did.
10 his report we invite the earnest and
thoughtful attention, not only Of every one
vho drinks coffee, but Of all who feel that III |
he better sense they are their brothers
cepers:
New York. July1. 1879.
iessrs. Arbuc1le Brothers.:
Gemtemen.I have made an analysis OF n
ample nf coffee, received from you, June 10.
''S, WI tue lotloMilk EfAuitH: HnQ present,
ead. chromium Of iron. ia the form Of chro-
late of lead aud Prnssian buethes two
omponnds forming, when mixed. the o-called
chrome green | report therefore, that this
ample vf coffee is colored with chrome graan.
CHAs. NJ. STILLWELL. A. NJ
LIZ 1t not high time that we had law. not
lone to prevent the adulteration OF what we
at, but still more TO prevent the poisoning Of
nat which We drink !? Respectfully submit
ng this to the consideration of the public.
e are, truly yours, ARBUCKLE Bios.