The 1940s was the heyday of pledges and oaths.* In Boy Scout halls, homerooms, and Elks lodges, people were accustomed to signing on the dotted line or standing and reciting, one hand raised. Even the Clean Plate Club-dreamed up by a navy commander in 1942-had an oath: "I, ____, being a member in good standing . . . , hereby agree that I will finish all the food on my plate . . . and continue to do so until Uncle Sam has licked the Japs and Hitler"-like, presumably, a plate.
( Mary Roach )
[ Gulp: Adventures on the ]
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