The morning call., 1891-07-05
A UNIVERSAL BEVERAGE.
The fae-CQD as a Business Thermometer The
World Over.

While coffee (Coffea Arabica) now figures
as one of the most considerable economic
products, its use as an article of food in
civilized countries is of comparatively recent
origin, says Richard Wheatley in Harper's
Weekly. In Abyssnia and Ethiopia, where
the coffee plant is Indigenous, the people
have been accustomed to decOctiUns from
its berries from time immemorial. There
the Arabs first tasted the fragrant draught;
and, highly delighted Herewith, transported
some of the precious beans to their own
country about the beginning of tie fifteenth
century. In Arabia the new exotic -four
ished iuxuriantly, aud, strangely enough,
entered into the occasions OF religious
controversy. Legend reports that de-
vout MOslem, who had heard of the
wakefu effect produced upon browsing
goats by its foliage. resolved to try what
influence a brewing from its berries might
have upon the somnolent dervishes who
nonchalantly fell asleep during protracted
services. The result was magical.
Drowsy laymen followed their example
Coffee became the natural beverage of the
faithful. Mohammedan pilgrims to Nee ca
carried beans to all lands whence they nad
come. Egypt soon rejoced in cotfee-houses,
and in Constantinople "a. ID. 155I they
acquired instant popularity. Mosques
were evershadowed by them. Quickened
wits of drinkers suggested intoxicaton
to the religious. and political insubordina-
ton to the civil, authorities. The former
denounced the dangerous resorts, aud the
latter shut them up. But the beverage
triumphed. Prohibition did not prohibit.
In Cairo 1888 the Governor gravey list
ened to all the erudite arguments against
coffee, served it out to the rancorouS oppO-
nents, and left his seat without saying
word. he was wise. The masterful drink
estopped discussion forever. In 1862 coffee
| entered England from Smyrna, whence IL
was brought by Edwards. an English mer-
| chant doing business with Turkey. He was
| wont to regale his friends with tile delicious
| liquid, prepared by The skill!ul hands of
| PaSqua RosSir, his Greek servant But visi-
! became burdenSome. Peace and pocket
| cried out for relief Edwards established
| his man in coffee-house at New
mans Court Cornhil, London. Twenty
three years after this event coffee-
houses were the favorile haunts of wits and
general wagging Of tongue" Coffee and
criticism we're cronies. Therefore the phns-
phorescent Charles II and his courtiers,
wincng under the "slanderous attacks
upon persons in high stations" would fain
have suppressed cOffee-houses as "hot-be
of seditious talk and public nuisanceS.
| They failed to do SO. The revolution of
1858 followed. The victorious institution
| survived the Stuart dynasty, ana attained
the zenith of activity and splendor in the
| first half of the next century.
Theyeuot, the French traveller. on his
return from the Orient In 165S treated his
| guests to after-dinner coffee. 70 Parisans
| this was merely an eccenIricity that would
not have become fashionable but for SINH
lar example set by Solman Aga. the gallant
| Turkish Embassador, in 1869. He enlisted
the enthusiasm of court ladies in favor of
the black and bitter liquor. Philosophers
and litterateurS gladly gave in their add
hesien. Boileau, La Fontane Moiiere, Vol
tare and the encyclopedias. together with
the chess-players, found inspiration in the
coffee-h houses. which thenceforward assumed
conspicuous position in the social life OF
Gallo cities. Racine and coffee will pass,
is prediction Of Madame de Sevigne as yet
most unlikely of fulfilment
Germans began drinking coffee during the
Seven Years war Q756-63), stolidly scoifed
at opposition TO the practice. and hated Ma
poleoH all the more for restricting it by his
continental blockade" Universal peace
was accompanied by universal indulgence
in the exhierating cup. Americans took
kindly to its contents, and by constantly en-
larging demand impaired powerful impetus
to coffee commerce and culture. Rise il
prices during the great civil war dimin