BETWEEN US

In a recent report presented by the vice-president of the union of Food Societies, the causes that led to the rise in coffee prices are studied. These causes are multiple. First, there is the exchange rate, since the precious commodity comes to us from abroad. There are the events that have been taking place in Brazil, the main producing country, for several months. Finally, there is the very notable increase in consumption. According to Mr. François' report, in France, in 1913, 1,920,000 bags of coffee were consumed. This represents an increase per capita of 2 kilos 900 grams of coffee; last year, 2,869,000 bags were consumed. 4 kilos 410 grams, or more than 52%.

We will not say that we do not like coffee! And yet this drink, of relatively recent origin, had many detractors in its early days. We remember that coffee, coming from the Orient, passed to Europe in the 17th century and that the fashion began to spread to us around 1660.
Now. Albert de Mandeslab, who had drunk it in Holland and Italy, cites as a curiosity this "blackish water that the Persians call Kahwé, and which is literally detestable". Elizabeth d'Orléans, in a letter written in 1712, declares this drink horrible which "just like tea, tastes of burnt hay and manure!"
As for Mme de Sévigné, she is sometimes attributed this doubly disdainful phrase: "Racine will pass like coffee." To tell the truth, the tireless letter writer never said anything like that. It was Voltaire and La Harpe who gratuitously attributed this insulting remark to her. On the other hand, she really did write: "Coffee stupefies me." She was bragging. Fortunately, we do not notice it in her letters.
All those, on the contrary, who praised coffee and found good in its effects are legion. They are the ones who won. We can see this today, where everyone, more or less, appreciates the fragrant beverage. Should we recall in this regard that its use was especially widespread by the passage of men to the regiment? It was in 1857 that coffee regularly entered the soldier's diet. It has never left it. And no combatant of the Great War can remember without tenderness the joyful cry: "Au jus!" which brought, each morning, a little warmth and heart to the belly!

The statistic applied to subjects of fantasy is always amusing. Here is one that will interest all those who play the piano, including a few others.
An American professor, Mr. Humphreys, of Indianapolis, asked himself how many movements with his fingers an average pianist made in sixty seconds? How many notes or signs did he read during the same time? Finally, what was the pressure exerted on the keys?
He spent ten years, it seems, to solve this triple problem and arrived at this result In sixty seconds, the fingers execute 2,000 movements, the eyes read 2,400 notes or signs and the keys undergo a pressure of 1,500 kilos.
You have been warned, haven't you? Now, we owe a little compensation to those who do not like the piano. Here it is!
No one is unaware that Reyer, the great composer, has always been considered a fierce enemy of the white-toothed instrument. One day, it is said, a young musician brought the author of Sigurd the manuscript of a score.

— But, replied the astonished colleague, I am not a pianist!
— But yes, yes, insisted Reyer, just a few notes. Play a chord!
The young man obeyed and played a chord.
— Thank you, said Mr. Reyer, smiling. That is my way of calling my maid.

THE INDISCREET.

Singing conference around Ernest Reyer and Sigurd, early April 2025 in Marseille, it's free
And the new production of the Marseille Opera, April 11, 2025, from €10 to €80: Sigurd