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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
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