The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-02
THE USE OF COFFEE.
Writer Who Holds 1t to He . Blessing d
Poor and to Rich.

Writer Who Holds 1t to He Blessing -
Poor and to Rich.
We are persuaded. from our obser-
walton OF many years in Greece and
Turkey. that the moderate use of pure
coffee is-one might almost say
blessing to rich and poor. Excess in
its use, or 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. confine 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 ''cup of coffee" really means.
1t is recognized fact that the mixture
drunk by the majority of people in
Europe and our own country, under
the name of coffee. is vile, or, at the
best, an adulterated compound of in
feriOr berries, beans or other substi-
genuine coffee-berry is the basis of the
hot fluid served at the hotels, railroad
stations, restaurants and even in pri-
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 coff se-d rinkine, 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 a matter
of course, however early or late the
hour may be. But the Greek does not
confine his attentions to the coffee-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 water 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, few swallows at
time, throughout the day, and without
any evil effects. What makes the fact
the more remarkable is that neither
the sedentary habits of the Turk, nor
the quick, energetic temperament of
the Greek seems to be affected by the
perpetual imbibing of this beverage
Spectacles. it may be remarked, are as
little used in Turkey as in Greece; nor
are complaints of the eyes more prev
alent, if we except Ophthalmia, which
is brought from Egypt and exists
chiefly among the unclean and disso-
lutte lower orders. An old Pasha once
told us that he considered coffee to be
one of the greatest blessings vouch-
safed by Allah to the faithful, not only
for its grateful aroma, but from its
health-preserving qualities. He re-
ferred of course, to the "divine berry"
of Mocha, and not the questionable
compound served up in the 'infidel"
countries of the West. North Ameri-
can Review.