Coffee Houses. 167 



The Coffee House Company which operates in the city 

 and neighborhood has now fourteen houses in success- 

 ful operation, and, much to my astonishment and grati- 

 fication, I learned that seven and a half per cent, divi- 

 dends were declared and about an equal amount of profit 

 reserved for contingencies. In Birmingham there are 

 twenty houses, and cash dividends of ten per cent, per 

 annum have been made. If they can be generally made 

 to pay even half as well, a grand advance has been made 

 in the war against intemperance. I visited one of the 

 houses with ex-Mayor D., who, I rejoice to say, is Chair- 

 man of the Company, and in this great office does more 

 for the cause than a thousand loud-mouthed orators 

 who only denounce the evil about which we are all 

 agreed, but have no plan to suggest for overcoming it. 

 It is so easy to denounce and tear down ; but try to 

 build up once and see what slow, discouraging labor is 

 involved. 



The prices in these coffee-houses are very low : one 

 large cup of good tea, coffeej or cocoa, at the counter, 

 \d. (2 cents) ; one sandwich, \d. (2 cents). If taken up- 

 stairs in a room at a table, one-half more. 



There is a reading-room with newspapers free, baga- 

 telle-table, and comfortable sitting-rooms ; also a ladies' 

 room and a lavatory, and cigars, tobacco, and all non- 

 alcoholic drinks are provided. Men go there at night 

 to read and to play games. The company has been 

 operating for three years, and the business increases 



