Drinking Customs.

Of all drinking customs probably "Pledging" is the oldest. By this custom the man pledged arose and stood, with drawn sword, near the one who drank, to protect him from the knives of his enemies. Now a-days he generally takes a social glass himself at the same time. From the idea of pledging, "health" drinking was easily evolved In drinking a health to a Roman lady one cup was taken for each letter in her name, - a performance often attended with disasterous consequences. Giving a toast is synonymous with drinking a health, for the former took its name from the custom of putting toast, nutmeg and sugar into ale. To drink supernaculum was an ancient custom in England of emptying the cup or glass and then pouring the remaining drop or two upon the finger nail; for what purpose, is not known. "To buzza one," was a term used to a person who hesitated to empty a bottle that was nearly out. "Under the Rose," a term now used for anything said confidentially at a social gathering took its rise from a custom of wearing chaplets of roses at conuivial entertainments, where, as there were many things said which would not bear repetition, everything was considered to be forgotten with the close of the entertainment. A half century ago, in some of the German universities, it was looked upon as a mortal offense to refuse to drink drink when asked, no matter how often the invitation came. Refusal was promptly followed by a challenge to fight a duel. The story is told of one pugnacious student, who, being something of a duelist, and being well filled with the balm of German student life, jumped upon a long table one night at drinking bout, and walked the whole length of the table, kicking the mugs and pitchers right and left. As a result he had fourteen duels on his hands, which was considered a very fair record, even for a university student. It may be well to add that he fought successfully his fourteen duels within a month.