THE CHAPLAIN'S TOAST.
Once upon a time the officers of an English brigade, in India, were assembled in convivial conclave, and fun and humor ruled the hour. One of the number, early in the evening, had started a discussion upon the subject of their pay,—it being the prevailing opinion that, considering the labor and exposure incident to their location, their pay from government was miserably small. However, after a time the general ruled the subject out, as entirely inappropriate, and introduced a toast.
And then all must follow, in turn, with a toast, a speech, a song, or a story. At length it came to the turn of a regimental chaplain. " Alas ! and alack a day !" he cried, " I cannot do it—l—"
" Good ! Grood!" exclaimed the general, interrupting him, and filling his glass. " I declare, —it is the best of the evening; and although the subject was forbidden, yet we must admit it. Come, my friends, fill up and drink the chaplain's toast—' A lass and a lac a day /' "
It took on the instant, and was drank with uproarious applause.
The simple expression, " a lac," is always taken to mean a lac (a hundred thousand) of rupees,
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Bibliographic details
Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3095, 30 May 1881, Page 4
Word Count
198THE CHAPLAIN'S TOAST. Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3095, 30 May 1881, Page 4
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