Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-30
1T LOOKS LIKE COFFEE.
But Proves to be Only = Wicked Inn
itation-Something Else Interesting.

"That is not coffee - said the reporter.
"Who said it was" replied the jolly,
rosy checked grocer Are there any
marks on il to indicate that it is COffeeH'
mo, not particularly; but it certainly
looks like coffee and tastes entirely differ
ent."
"Ah, you have hit the nail on the
head, " continued the grocer with a smile.
1t would not do TO let every one know
II. rs il might shake peoples confidence
in their grocery store. That bag, few
beans from which you have just tasted,
contains an imitation of coffee. 1t Is
nothing more than flour, and poor flour
nj that. which has been shaped like the
coffee bean and baked Brown. If you will
take n genuine coffee bean in your hand
and Put it alongside the imitation, you
can see that there is difference in the
color. The shape is also different, but
this is nothing as the various kinds Of
coffee vary in shape and size. The flavor
4 of course, is not there, but the way the
imitation is sold does not require its pres
enCe. The grocer is not foolish man
He does not sell these -four beans for
coffee. This would give the business
away. But when trade is dull and the
grocer must have something TO occupy his
q mind il is pleasant recreation for hln
/ to mix a quantity Of the flour beans with
/ the genuine coffee. Then it cannot be
| easily detected OnlyR just enough of
! the flavorless bean is used to make little
profit. This is not quite one half
When the honest housewife who buys
whole coffee so as to get 1t pure, grlnds
up this mixture and the OdOr steals out
from the mill. her eyes snap and she
, laughs at the people who are foolish
/ enough to buy the coffee which is ground
at the store, and can be easily adul-
| terated The taste of this compound is
not unpleasant and it will not mJure any
I one. Even the baby can take IL with I'M
nunity. II the coffee were drank plain its
| weakness would be noticeable, but being
! usually taken with milk and sugar the
fraud is not detected. Years ago all the
coffee was ground in the grocery, but
adulteration was carried on so extensively
7 that the practice was established of buy
ing the whole bean. This led some in
| yentive Yankee humanitarian, who be
, lieyed that too much coffee is bad for the
nerves. to bring out the -four bean.
Here is something else interesting.
See these beautiful samples Of cloves and
peppers. Imported? Well, no, not eN
/ actly They are home made to SUIT tht
trade They look good, but there is bui
little flavor TO them. Some one Thought
il was a shame to waste the beautiful and
nourishing cocoanut shell, and conceived
the idea of heating il and then grinding II
TO a fine powder. This when artistically
mixed with various kinds of oils makes
good spice for pies and other good things
1t is a growing industry and well patron
lied. Some of this powdered shell, aftel
being favored and made into stlfi
paste, is passed through mOulds into The
shape of peppers and cloves. These
when mixed with quantity Of the genu
inc article. give about all the flavor that
it is safe for a person to take, and tho
grocer does not lose anything, but goe'
on paving his pew rent and building rows
of houses. the same as if there were lit
tie cream in the cheese, small quantit!
of sugar in the glucose, and a taint O
butter in the oleomargarine. New
York Tribune Interview.