FASHIONABLE GALLANTRY.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3145, 18 March 1879, Page 4

FASHIONABLE GALLANTRY.

*>In-that age of gallantry, the reign of Charles.ll., it was customary when a gentleman drank a lady's health to throw some part of his dress into the flames, in order to do her still greater honor. This was w"ell enougWfor a lover; but the folly did' not stop; here, for his companions were obliged to follow him in this proof of his veneration by consuming a similar article, whatever it might be. Sir Charles Sedley, dining at a tavern, one of his friend*, .perceiTing that'he had a very rich lace'cravat on, named the lady to whom honor was to'be done, and he made a ■acrifiee fif; his own cravat; Sir Charles and the rest of the company were obliged bis example. Sir Charles bore hi* loss with great composure, observing it was a good joke, but that he wKVSd/have' as good a frolic at some other time. On •*'subsequent day, dining with the same party,-Sir Charles drank a bumper HM the health of some beauty of thje day, then, bidding the waiter call in a dentist^ whom he had previously placed in an adjoining room, made him extract a carious tooth! which had long plagued him. The' jules of good fellowship clearly 1 rVo^iiifed 'that every one of the company should lose a tooth. They remonstrated, but in vain ; and each gentleman: present successfully put himself into the hands of the operator; but protecting against the cruel test to which their friendship and gallantry had been put. -'-;!''' "'"•' ■ ' ' ' '" ' ■' '■'