Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-07-30
ras usE OF CoFFeE.
A writer Who Holds a to he hiessing 70
Poor and Ia Rich.

A
Poor and 10 Rich.
We are persuaded, from our obser-
walton OF many years ia Greece and
Turkey, that the moderate use OF pure
coffee is-one might almost say-a
blessing to rich and poor. Excess IN
its use. OF the use OF it At all. except
when the decoction is made from the
genuine coffee-berry and properly
made, is. beyond any question, an evil
One must live in the East for awhile
or. if not there. contine himself to par
taking of the beverage in other coun-
tries. where the character of the cafe,
or the house where it is served, Is "A
guarantee OF its purity-to appreciate
what "a cup of coffee really means.
1t is a recognized fact that the mixture
drunk by the majority OF people IN
Europe and our own country. under
the name of coffee, is a vile. or. ut the
best. an adulterated compound OF IN
ferior berries, beans or other suostl-
tutes. and that when occasionally the
genuine coffee-berry is the basis OF the
hot fluid served at the hotels, railroad
stations, restaurants and even In prl-
vate houses. is not prepared properly.
and more frequently than otherwise
Injuries the digestion and. consequent
ly. the health of the constant drinker,
In Athens. broadly speaking. every
third man INDUCES in cigarette-smok-
ing and coffee-drinking, and this to an
extent that astonishes the stranger.
1t is an everyday sight, when entering
an office or private sitting-room and
not infrequently the family room. to
see the tobacco-boX, cigarette-paper
| and ash-box lying on the table. and
| the visitor is expected, without invita-
| ton. to help himself and light his
! cigarette. as preparation for. and a
companion to, conversation. Little
cups of black coffee follow as matter
of course. however early or late the
hour may be. But the Greek does not
contine his attentions to the coifee-cup
| to these occasions. He often takes his
| first cigarette and his first cup in bed
before rising. and continues the
practice at intervals through the en-
tire day. 1t is something akin to the
habit of ice waller drinking in the
United States, but without the subtitle.
injurious results that follow an habit
ual use OF cold liquids. wi ich chill the
stomach. impair the general health
and produce decayed teeth. So far as
our personal observation goes,
Strengthened by medical testimony. the
Greeks in the condition of their
general health do not support the
theory that the habitual use of coffee
Injuries the system or affects the eye
sight.
The same is the case in Turkey.
There cotfee-drinking is universal and
continuous. The writer passed the
greater part of four years At Constan-
tinople, where he had occasion to call
upon the officials of the Sublime Porte
so frequently that it would be Difficult,
to enumerate these official visits; and
with few exceptions. when the visit
was protracted to any length, black
coffee. pure in quality and prepared
with the grounds, was regularly served
. in small, delicate cups. All Turks
: from the highest to the lowest. indulge
, in the beverage, a few swallows at
> time, throughout the day, and withou
any evil effects What makes the fac
the more remarkable is that neither
the sedentary habits of the Turk. no
+ the quick, energetic temperament o
: the Greek seems to be affected by tn,
4 perpetual imblbing Of this beverage
a Spectacles, it may be remarked, are a
Y little used in Turkey as in Greece; no
g are complaints OF the eyes more prev
/ alent, If we except ophthalmia, whic
. is brought from Egypt and exist
I chiefly among the unclean and dissC
Il lutte lower orders. An old Pasha one
n told us that he considered coffee to b
one of the greatest blessings vouet
\. saf"d by Allah to the faithful, not onl
4 for its grateful aroma. but from ii
a health-preserving qualities. He re
a ferred. of course, to the divine berry
of Mocha, and not the questionable
= compound served up in the ''inildel
a countries of the West.-North Ameri
r. can Review.