The San Francisco call., 1910-01-09
Inns and Taverns of
Old London"

BY Henry c. Shelley. Published by L. c.
Page Co., Boston.
"A very interesting part Of Henry C.
sheuey's new book is the opening para
graph Of his preface, which is we'll
worth quoting:
For all races of Teutonic origin the
claim is made that they are essentially
home loving people. Yet the English
man of the sixteenth and seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries. especially OF
the latter. is seen to have exercised
considerable zeal in creating substi-
tutes for that home which, as a Teuton.
he ought TO have loved above all else.
This at any rate; was emphatically the
case with the Londoner. as the following
pages wiz testify When he had per-
1eeted his taverns and inns. perfected
them. that is, according TO the light
of the olden time. he set TO work
evolving "a new species Of public re-
sort iu the coffee house. That type of
establishment appears 10 have been re-
sponsible for the development of the
club. another substitute for the home.
And then came the age Of the pleasure
garden Both the latter survive. the
one in the form Of a more rigid exclu-
slteness .han tho eighteenth century
Louaouar would have deemed possible:
the other iu so changed a guise that
f.eQuerters Of the prototype would
scarcely recognize the relationship.
Bat the coffee house and the inn and
tavern of old London exist but as a
Iie-lres lue memory which these pages
attempt To revive"
Tae arst part of tie book Is de-
voted no tie inns and taverns Of old
London and thc story is dued with
seetcles and anecdotes OF the famous
people who haunted the places and
9.c had much 10 do with the making
g. etr name and fame. The second
: tells of the coffee houses Of old
London. and one IS charmed and de-
lighted with the tales about some OF
these famous old places. The author
tells this Ittle story about the open
-az ot tEe FIRST coffee house
Whether The distinction of opening
the first coffee house in London belongs
TO III. Bowman or 10 a PasQua ROsee
can not be- decided. But all authorities
are as one i'm locating that establish
ment I'm 81 Miclaels alley. Cornhill.
eDd that the date was 1852 The weight
Of evidence seems 10 BE ia favor Of RO-
. see. who was servant 10 Turkey mer-
chant named Edwards. Having ac-
Cuired the coffee drinking habit ia Tur-
KEY. Mr. Edwards was accustomed 10
having mis- servant prepare the beVer-
age for him in his London house and
1le new drink speedily attracted a
Ievee Of curious onIookers and tasters.
Evidently the company grew TOO large
70 be convenient. and al this juncture
AIr Edwards suggested that Rosee
should set up as vender of the drink.
lie did so and a copy Of the prospectus
he Issued on the occasion still exists.
This shop Ia 1852 had no less than
5000 imitators in so years, and more in
the next century. The coffee houses OF
today. OF course have small resem-
blance 10 those Of that romantic pc
ROD. but Mr.. Shelley has by his re-
searches made the incidents OF that day
so interesting that they seem much
nearer and clearer than ever before.
The traditions that cluster around the
old eating and drinking houses are in
Vulnerable and have never before been
50 gracefully assembled
The Illustrations are fine reproduc-
tions OF contemporary prints, showing
the people. the places and the scenes
which have been made famous by the
writers and wits OF a bygone ge. The
book is handsomely and elaborateIy
printed and decorated and artisticslly
hound.