21 
CUP AND GLASS. 
By J. W. KN KESHA W . January 26th, 1909. 
Drinking is necessary, and many will be surprised if they 
calculate for a moment how much of the thought and labour 
of the world is given to considerations connected with drinking. 
The lower animals drink from necessity, but round the practice 
of drinking man has wound the chains of custom, habit, taste 
and social pleasure. Man has a palate to be tickled, a social 
instinct to be fostered, and he has powers of observation and 
adaptation. Drinking is an essential feature of our life-birth, 
social pleasures, death customs, good wishes, sorrow and 
rejoicing. 
Man further differs from the animal in that he brings his 
beverage to the place where he needs it — into his own home, 
while the animal must go to the place where it is. Vessels 
have therefore been invented for the carrying of liquid. 
Various substances and articles have been used for this purpose, 
hollowed wood, shells of fruits or of fish, skins, hollowed 
stones, etc., and in savage nations these are still in use. They 
do not, however, fulfil the conditions needed by more luxurious 
people. From the earliest period clay has been utilised, its 
plastic character and its feature of hardening by fire making 
it admirably adapted. The art of the potter is one of the 
oldest in the world. Very ancient specimens may be seen 
in Towneley, and others have been found on our moors in 
burial mounds. From the earliest days little improvement 
to the earthenware vessel has been achieved save the addition 
of a hard enamel. Glass is said to have been introduced 
into this country about 676, and the Romans were acquainted 
with it, but it was not common for drinking vessels until 
much more modern times. At one time in the eighteenth 
century among roysterers a custom sprang up of eating the 
wineglass. Wealthy people in Saxon and Norman days 
were ostentatious of drinking vessels of great value, gold, 
ivory and gem-studded cups. It was the custom also for 
people to make presents of rich vessels as tokens of affection. 
This was done by the Lady Ethelgina and is mentioned by 
