1903 The Bachelor Book

It

THE CUSTOM OF PLEDGING,

of "pledging," from which the expression" I pledge you arose, originated after the "■ruption of the Danes, who would on occasion stab a Briton in the back or other- wise murder him even as he drank. So it became customary for

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the second person to pledge the safety of him who drank, and he that took the cup in return drank good health to the giver. The idea of a Toast arose from an incident that happened at Bath in the reign of King Charles the Second. On a certain public day a celebrated beauty was in the Cross Bath, whichever that may have been, when one of her many admirers called for a glass, and dipping it in the water in which she stood, drank her health to the company. Upon seeing this a gay buck of the period who was present, having already drank his fill of wine, essayed to jump in, remarking; "ThoughIcare not for the liquor,I mean to have the Toast!" Since this occurrence the health of a lady has been designated a Toast. M M ja *Tis ever so.—Di'iuk,and the world drinks with von; Pay, and you pay aloneI