when he sacrificed to friendship. He then tasted the wine, drank to the health of his friend who was seated beside him, or of his guest who had come to see him, wishing him every kind of prosperity. The friend took the cup, drank, and passed it to his neighbour.

Homer informs us that upon the arrival of a friend, some wine was spilled in honour of the Gods, and presented him to drink with a certain formal congratulation on his fortunate arrival; he was dismissed with the same ceremonies, that the Immortals might take him under their protection during his journey.

The Romans in drinking to a person's health pronounced these words, "I wish health to you and

yours, to me and mine!"

It was

not permitted to drink to the health of all who were at table. Only strangers and guests could drink to the wife of another, and this permission extended only to her relations. If any one rose from a repast without the master of the house having drunk to his health, or having asked him to drink, he considered this neglect as an affront, and thought himself degraded from the honours of friendship.

The first "health" which we read of in ENGLISH HISTORY is ascribed, in the words of the story, to the pertinent and sensible Rowena, a beautiful daughter of Hengistus, General of the Saxons; who having the Isle of Thanet

given to him by Vortigern, for assisting him against the Picts and Scots, obtained as much ground as he could encompass with an ox's hide, to build a castle; which being completed, he invited Vortigern to supper. After the entertainment Hengistus called his daughter Rowena, who entered with great dignity and magnificence, carrying in her hand a golden bowl, full of wine, out of which she drank, and in the Saxon language said "Be of health, Lord King!" To this Vortigern replied, "Drink health!" The story adds, that Vortigern, enamoured of Rowena's beauty, married her in a short time after, and gave her father the whole kingdom of Kent.

DRUNKENNESS was brought into Britain by the Danes, who were immoderate topers.

In the reign of Edgar so much did their bad example prevail over the English, that the King, by the advice of Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, put down many alehouses, suffering only one to be in a village or small town. He farther ordained that pins or nails should be fastened in drinking cups or horns, at stated distances, and whoever should drink beyond these marks at one draught, should be liable to severe punishment. Hence the origin of the saying, "A peg

too low!"

The skulls of enemies killed by a CELT, were to him and his family, titles of nobility; these skulls were reserved for great festivals, and the guests were obliged to drink out of them; but yet only those who had slain enemies were accounted worthy of this honour. Long afterwards, Alboin, King of the Lombards, drank at a feast, and made his wife Rosamond drink likewise, out of the skull of his father in law!

It was usual, among some of the Greeks, to make their slaves drink to excess, and then to expose them to their children; who, by that means, felt an early aversion from