MELBOURNE COFFEE HOUSES. 133 



young men, who could not be induced to begin an evil 

 course at a brothel or a mere grog-shop. 



Besides, no matter how well managed these houses 

 may be, some one who has formed the drink habit is 

 sure to get at them that which turns him into a semi- 

 idiot for the time being, and then, between his blas- 

 phemy and his incoherent and half -formed sentences, 

 and his over-friendliness, he becomes a positive nui- 

 sance to decent people. I have seen this over and 

 over again at some of " the very best hotels." 



Even drinkers in a moderate way hate this sort of 

 thing, and very much prefer hotels where they will not 

 be disturbed by such experiences. 



The managers of the coffee palaces in Melbourne 

 tell me that quite one-half, or even more than a half, of 

 their large patronage is from persons who are not tee- 

 totallers. They prefer hotels where liquor is not sold. 



I had the opportunity, in 1886, of looking into the 

 cocoa rooms system in Liverpool. There were at that 

 time sixty-three of these places of entertainment. 

 They had 27,000 patrons daily. 



By means of this system the poor laborer could get 

 a mug of coffee for a ha'penny, a sandwich for a 

 penny, or a very good substantial dinner for sixpence, 

 while at the same time he could have a seat and a 

 table if he desired to bring with him his own luncheon. 



