Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-02-01
COFFEE HOUSES.
How n Coffee House IL Kept in the
European liiy VI COhstani1'

How n Coffee House II X eps In the
European Liiy VI Cohstan'i'
nOple.
A New York Tribune reporter has
Obtained from Miss Maria A. West, Tor
mauy years a missionary in CONSTANT
NOBLE, the following account OF coffee
house which has been open in Constan-
tipople for two years, and which IS
patronized by people speaking many
languages. W..
"Cons tautinople," said Miss West,
"is the centre Of the globe, a very
Babel. and over the bridge OF boats
which links the old city of CohstaLtl'
nople to the now, men Of every nation
and language are passln', nearly W,
900 day. There are many dehs OF
vice close to the bridge, and they are
ALWAYS crowded, ana the seeds or death
there sowu are disseminate in every
land. But in this nciShborhood two
vsarsa 0, "A new house was erected,
upon the outer walls of which are the
following words:
'rhe Constantinople Rest, Reading
and Coffee House Welcome The samc
words are also on the windows, written
in Greek, American, French ana
English. The walls inside are adorned
with pictures and Bible texts III various
languages. There are also mnsic, flow
ers, singing. birds, bright lights at
night, and cheerful warmth II. winter
TO attract the pas scrsby Religious ard
secular newspapers, Bibles and tracts
lie upon the cables IN the coffee room as
ell as in tho reading room above.
alt is amusing to watch tbs bright
ened EXPRESSION on mIny faces as they
loox inio book and find it printed
in their own language. Side by side slt
The American, the Jew, Greek, TURK
and other Asiatics and Europeans,
quietly reading or conversing as they
sin their cups of Turkish coffee, or
partake of the simple refreshments
furnished at n reasonable price from a
side counter. One Of the reading 70 ,ms
is tilted up for women, aud many VI
them 20 there with their friends anu
take a cup of coffee. The profits from
the sales in the cuiteerooln cover AL the
current expenses except tie rent l'uC
the house is already too small, and
larger one is SOON to be built.
"Ihe managers family occupies the
upper story OF the Test his vile being
the bible woman. The Bible has
been called for in eighteen Languages,
and many are sold. Thele ID preaching
IN Gre, k and Turkish every Sunday.
SO general is the impression OF purity,
in contrast with other places OF resort
near there, that the Turks call IL me
~, N ! rnp
speak of it as rhe Holy Idea "A Gov
eminent official appointed " examine
ca tes had visi,el the place several times
before making known his object or his
office finally he did both, adding i
like this place it is gool ; aud you
have pGrmissiOu to open others III any
part Of Constantlno,le u"dcr tue pro-
lection OF the Governments.
"The Rest is an independent,
undenoniuational enterprise 1t is
mostly conducted by ladies'. The In
stituti IN has met win great fave, +, and
aside from The gOOu done in les,ening
intenperaHce, we know that much
religious tlutL has been received
by those who frequent these
70 pms. This WORK is not an experiment,
az there has been u similar coffee room
in Smyrna for the last tive years which
has proved to be II success. In the new
building, IN addition to the coffee and
reading-room4, there will be free Cos
pei hail for preaching, lectures, Sunday
and evening schools; and also Il nedi-
cal mission. A young phJ stefan who
has spent tivs years III Cons'antln0ple
will assume charge Of the medical de-