20 THE HISTORY OF COFFEE. 



its most constant patrons. He was there on one occasion when 

 some repairs were going on, and in his impatience he flung a 

 wet coloring-brush from him which struck the ceiling and left a 

 spot. He immediately ascended the ladder, and with a touch 

 of his finger converted the stain into a swallow ; and his handi- 

 work was to be seen until the recent siege of Paris. It was 







before this cafe that Desmoulins harangued the rnob, in July, 

 1789, with such effect that they took up arms, destroyed the 

 Bastille, and inaugurated the fearful scenes of the Revolution. 

 The Germans were initiated into the practice of coffee-drinking 

 by their neighbors the French, and also by the Dutch. The 

 beverage did not, however, become popular with them until the 

 Elector of Brandenburg caused its virtues and praises to be 

 celebrated in a book, which he disseminated among the people. 

 We have already spoken of the devotion of the Turk to this 

 drink, now almost the universal beverage of the East. It is 

 difficult to transfer ourselves in thought and feeling to the 

 glowing scenes of the Orient. Imagine yourself peering into 

 one of the brilliant divans of the " City of the Sultan," with its 

 tessellated court-yard, and its towering pinnacle or minaret, 

 nestled among mulberry trees and pomegranates. In the cen- 

 tre of the richly decorated saloon is the cooling fountain, which 

 scatters its silvery spray and fantastic foam over groups of bril- 

 liant flowers, while on every side the eye is regaled with varie- 

 gated marbles, magnificent arabesques, and gaudy hangings, 

 relieved with gilded devices of matchless beauty. In some such 

 circumstances of luxurious splendor may be seen the indolent 

 Osmanli regaling himself with his favorite weed, and a cup of 

 his unmixed Mocha silently brought to him by his Nubian slave, 

 in brilliant costume. Among the surrounding groups are some 

 Arabs at chess, while others may be listening to one of the 

 famous Oriental story-tellers, or gazing at the tricks of some 

 juggler, or witnessing the exploits of a dancing dervish. But 



