BECAUSE the Earl of Sandwich (1718—1792) on one occasion, not wishing to leave his place at the gaming-table, called a waiter and ordered some slices of bread with ham between them to be brought to him, so that he could go on playing without interruption. To this combination his friends gave his name.
WHY is a certain kind of paper called “foolscap”?
BECAUSE Oliver Cromwell substituted a fool’s cap and bells in water-mark for the royal arms granted by Charles I with certain privileges in manufacturing paper. When the “Rump” Parliament was prorogued this water-mark was removed, but the paper of the size of the Parliamentary Journal, seventeen by fourteen inches, still bears the name.
WHY are elephants afraid of mice?
BECAUSE mice strongly resemble a little animal known as the chacana, which feeds on a small berry especially liked by the elephant. Chacanas live in the ground after the manner of prairie-dogs, under the bushes, and are often trampled upon by elephants. In their fright the little animals run up the tubes of the elephants’ trunks, their long, sharp claws catch in the flesh, and they cannot be ejected. An agonizing death is almost invariably the consequence to the elephant.
WHY is noon the traditional and fashionable hour for wedding ceremonies?
BECAUSE the hour became the customary one in England many years since, for the reason that the bridegroom could not be relied upon to be sober any later in the day than twelve o’clock. It was naturally desirable that he should be responsible for his promises, and unless he was in a state of perfect sobriety this could not be. Hence the precaution of a noonday wedding.