After the Revolution, the Cafe de Procope lost its literary prestige and sank to the level of an ordinary restaurant. During the last half of the nineteenth century, Paul Verlaine, bohemian, poet, and leader of the symbolists, made the Cafe de Procope his haunt; and for a time it regained some of its lost popularity. The Restaurant Procope still survives at 13 rue de l'Ancienne Comedie. History records that, with the opening of the Cafe de Procope, coffee became firmly established in Paris. In the reign of Louis XV there were 600 cafes in Paris. At the close of the eighteenth century there were more than 800. By 1843 the number had increased to more than 3000. _The Development of the Cafes_ Coffee's vogue spread rapidly, and many cabarets and famous eating houses began to add it to their menus. Among these was the Tour d'Argent (silver tower), which had been opened on the Quai de la Tournelle in 1582, and speedily became Paris's most fashionable restaurant. It still is one of the chief attractions for the epicure, retaining the reputation for its cooking that drew a host of world leaders, from Napoleon to Edward VII, to its quaint interior. [Illustration: THE CAFE DE PROCOPE IN 1743 From an engraving by Bosredon] Another tavern that took up coffee after Procope, was the Royal Drummer, which Jean Ramponaux established at the Courtille des Porcherons and which followed Magny's. His hostelry rightly belongs to the tavern class, although coffee had a prominent place on its menu. It became notorious for excesses and low-class vices during the reign of Louis XV, who was a frequent visitor. Low and high were to be found in Ramponaux's cellar, particularly when some especially wild revelry was in prospect. Marie Antoinette once declared she had her most enjoyable time at a wild _farandole_ in the Royal Drummer. Ramponaux was taken to its heart by fashionable Paris; and his name was used as a trade mark on furniture, clothes, and foods. [Illustration: THE CASHIER'S COUNTER IN A PARIS COFFEE HOUSE OF 1782 From a drawing by Retif de la Bretonne] The popularity of Ramponaux's Royal Drummer is attested by an inscription on an early print showing the interior of the cafe. Translated, it reads: The pleasures of ease untroubled to taste, The leisure of home to enjoy without haste, Perhaps a few hours at Magny's to waste, Ah, that was the old-fashioned way! Today all our laborers, everyone knows, Go running away ere the working hours close, And why? They must be at Monsieur Ramponaux'! Behold, the new style of cafe!