WAS THE LACEDÆMONIAN BLACK BROTH BLACK?

With reference, rather than in reply to, your correspondent "R. O.'s" speculations upon coffee, permit me to put a Query, which may, perhaps, surprise both him and you—whether the Lacedæmonian black broth was black? because, if this can be shown to be questionable, the notion of its being mixed with coffee falls to the ground of course. The phrase is ζωμὸς μέλας; ζωμὸς being the liquid produced from any meat or edible substance cut in pieces, and boiled or stewed with water over the fire, so that it may signify gravy, as well as broth. We find also that called white, ζωμὸς λενκὸς, supposed to…