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Show i Early Coffee Houses The first coffee hoase In London was established In 1002. Sir Henry Blunt Is sometimes called the father f the English coffee fiom-es. They were political institutions during the reign of the Stuarts. In lGTo Charles Issued a proclamation for the suppression suppres-sion of them, hut If was recalled ten days later. They became the meeting pi acv 11 of statesmen, wits, merchant?, ami faslilouuhlc Idlers. They did much to quicken and enlarge the mental life of the town. In 170S there were nearly 3,000 of them In London alone. The coffee house resembled the modern mod-ern club, but was less expensive, less exclusive, and not so luxurious-. Some of the popular coffee houses were, "The Cheshire Cheese," a favorite of Samuel Johnson ; "St. James," the center cen-ter of political news and discussion; "Button's," where Addison dined and spent five or six hours a day. Every coffee house had Its circle of wits and great men. |