Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Absurdity, Folly, And Inconsistency Of Various Fashionable Customs And Ceremonies
nor would his good manners suffer him to drink till he had received my bow and thanks . , The orig in of this custom is traced to the time when the natural enemies ofthe British Islanders were often wounded or murdered by their invaders at the very time tire cup was at their mouths—whence the expression of "I pledge you" was introduced ; that is , a second
person pledged himself for the safety of him who was drinking ; and lie that took the cup drank health " to him who p ledged himself for his safety . Now , since religion and education have rather modelled and reformed us , and that while we are drinking there is no great danger of having one ' s throat cut , —there is no pressing occasion to drink every body ' s health , as we do not look for any protection at their hands ; and therefore I would recommend all my readers to abolish this troublesome and ridiculous custom , in which there is such a repeated
sameness . The French , who have more vivacity , used to carry off these trifles with more grace , and cry with sparkling eyes , while they rattled their glasses , Vive la bagatelle . John Bull cannot do this ; but John Bull will solemnly and dully sit down to his pipe and bowl with a fellow ofthe same serious liver , and get abominably drunk without any conversationbut the dull repetition of " Here ' s to you !"
, As long , therefore , as there is not any thing to recommend this stale and insipid custom , 1 recommend that it be cried down by all parties . - Our good friends in Ireland , 1 believe , may be more grieved than the . rest ofthe community in parting with this ceremony , as it helps to make out their festivities ; for no English gentleman ought to sit
at air Irish table without a chronological dictionary . I confess I have been puzzled to know the meaning of their toasts ; for they rarely give you more for a guide than the day and the year of the event , believing , " according to their own warm souls , that every body should know those days which proved an universal benefit to dear little Ireland . When I first dined in IrelandI was charmed with the ease
, and condescension ofthe ladies ; and the brilliancy of their eyes , and the poignancy of their-wit , inspired me with universal admiration . Their convivial sentiments were new , lively , and applicable , aud gave a new zest to good claret ; but when they withdrew , I stared at the master of the house , who coolly rose from his seat , and locked the door with the most solemn aud deliberate countenance I ever beheld .
'Phis manoeuvre confounded me , till he resumed his . chair , when I soon found the purport of fastening the door ; for in a vessel , or moving cellar , some dozens of wine were left within his reach . Now , to the pleasing , innocent sentiments of tlie ladies succeeded the most profligate and abandoned toasts , when all the company appeared to be emulous in excelling in the most meretricious and debauched sentiments . Obscenity was succeeded by politics and relig ion—disputes upon these topics produced quarrels—and a duel or two concluded this barbarous and most savage bacchanalian debauch .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Absurdity, Folly, And Inconsistency Of Various Fashionable Customs And Ceremonies
nor would his good manners suffer him to drink till he had received my bow and thanks . , The orig in of this custom is traced to the time when the natural enemies ofthe British Islanders were often wounded or murdered by their invaders at the very time tire cup was at their mouths—whence the expression of "I pledge you" was introduced ; that is , a second
person pledged himself for the safety of him who was drinking ; and lie that took the cup drank health " to him who p ledged himself for his safety . Now , since religion and education have rather modelled and reformed us , and that while we are drinking there is no great danger of having one ' s throat cut , —there is no pressing occasion to drink every body ' s health , as we do not look for any protection at their hands ; and therefore I would recommend all my readers to abolish this troublesome and ridiculous custom , in which there is such a repeated
sameness . The French , who have more vivacity , used to carry off these trifles with more grace , and cry with sparkling eyes , while they rattled their glasses , Vive la bagatelle . John Bull cannot do this ; but John Bull will solemnly and dully sit down to his pipe and bowl with a fellow ofthe same serious liver , and get abominably drunk without any conversationbut the dull repetition of " Here ' s to you !"
, As long , therefore , as there is not any thing to recommend this stale and insipid custom , 1 recommend that it be cried down by all parties . - Our good friends in Ireland , 1 believe , may be more grieved than the . rest ofthe community in parting with this ceremony , as it helps to make out their festivities ; for no English gentleman ought to sit
at air Irish table without a chronological dictionary . I confess I have been puzzled to know the meaning of their toasts ; for they rarely give you more for a guide than the day and the year of the event , believing , " according to their own warm souls , that every body should know those days which proved an universal benefit to dear little Ireland . When I first dined in IrelandI was charmed with the ease
, and condescension ofthe ladies ; and the brilliancy of their eyes , and the poignancy of their-wit , inspired me with universal admiration . Their convivial sentiments were new , lively , and applicable , aud gave a new zest to good claret ; but when they withdrew , I stared at the master of the house , who coolly rose from his seat , and locked the door with the most solemn aud deliberate countenance I ever beheld .
'Phis manoeuvre confounded me , till he resumed his . chair , when I soon found the purport of fastening the door ; for in a vessel , or moving cellar , some dozens of wine were left within his reach . Now , to the pleasing , innocent sentiments of tlie ladies succeeded the most profligate and abandoned toasts , when all the company appeared to be emulous in excelling in the most meretricious and debauched sentiments . Obscenity was succeeded by politics and relig ion—disputes upon these topics produced quarrels—and a duel or two concluded this barbarous and most savage bacchanalian debauch .