. Over the black coffee . cup of u cafe au lait, a biteof bread and a bit of butter, beforehis day is ended he will have con-sumed many cups of his favoritebeverage. He takes it in someform on every occasion where theu inner man is looked after—ma-terially, mentally, and occasions are often—often. 32 OVER THE BLACK COFFEE At his mid-day meal coffee is al-ways in evidence; before dinnerit is taken as an appetizer, afterdinner his little cup of black coffeeis slowly sipped to the accompani-ment of music, conversation, ordreams. During the day it does not takemuch persuasion—or
. Over the black coffee . cup of u cafe au lait, a biteof bread and a bit of butter, beforehis day is ended he will have con-sumed many cups of his favoritebeverage. He takes it in someform on every occasion where theu inner man is looked after—ma-terially, mentally, and occasions are often—often. 32 OVER THE BLACK COFFEE At his mid-day meal coffee is al-ways in evidence; before dinnerit is taken as an appetizer, afterdinner his little cup of black coffeeis slowly sipped to the accompani-ment of music, conversation, ordreams. During the day it does not takemuch persuasion—or a Frenchmancan easily persuade himself—to ad-journ to the cafe. In company witha friend over the coffee he isking for the time, and his little tableis a throne. Conversation of allkinds is indulged in—business, poli-tics, war, the last play, the currentscandal, his latest conquest—overall these the Frenchman can makemerry, for coffee is a happy drink—as the French make it. If he is alone, and is tired of 33. OVER THE BLACK COFFEE himself, the cafe affords him restand recreation. Inside he may poreover the papers; outside, or close tothe curb, he may view the panoramaof pretty women—he is fond of that—fine turnouts, and other featuresof his boulevard lif e—always varied,picturesque, Ml of color, life, gay-ety. No wonder the cafes in Franceprosper. Although coffee is thepiece de resistance of these places,it is not the only attraction, for onecan obtain there at all times thebest of foods and drinks. So, every-body goes to the cafes—politiciansand priests, pretty girls, players,boulevardiers, bankers, and authorsand artists from all countries, andeach in his own little world. Parisis made up of these contrasts. Theydo not clash in the cafes. Good 34 OVER THE BLACK COFFEE nature, good manners, are every-where, and thus are these houses ofentertainment a fertile field for thetraveler to study the cosmopolitanlife, character, manners, and cus-toms of the world.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectcoffee, bookyear1902
