APPENDIX B 

 THE HISTORY OF COFFEE-HOUSES 



Ever since the advent of the coffee-beverage, it has become in- 

 creasingly the favorite drink of restricted districts and then of 

 whole countries. Now its use has spread throughout the entire world. 

 The introduction and expansion of its use has been greatly stimulated 

 through the agencies of the public gathering places known as coffee- 

 houses. Their development has been picturesque and of historical 

 importance. Coffee-houses have been the subject of hostile attacks 

 by the leaders of the Mahometan religion. These establishments 

 have had a noteworthy influence on the literature of France. Ex- 

 cessive taxation and even the prohibition of coffee-houses was at- 

 tempted by the English government during the latter half of the 

 seventeenth century. The early American coifee-houses fostered the 

 spirit of Yankee patriots. Present day coffee-houses are public 

 gathering places where topics of general interest are discussed. 



Arabia : 



In Arabia, coffee-houses were established in the fifteenth century 

 when cofFee, without sugar or milk, became the common beverage of 

 all classes. Travelers have always held in their memories the 

 "kahwahs,'' or "Coffee-Rooms," so intimately associated with Arabian 

 hospitalit}. In these coffee-rooms, spread with mats and oriental 

 luxuries, the Arabs gather to drink coffee and to find entertainment. 



In serving coffee to a guest at the more pretentious coffee-houses, 

 the ancient custom still prevails of washing and perfuming the hands 

 after eating before indulging in coffee. At the present time, some 

 coffee-houses are furnished with rugs, divans, and cushions. Others 

 are devoid of display with the exception of the native costumes of 

 the patrons. In all kahwahs, the coffee is always served black and 

 frequently with the addition of some aromatic seed. 



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