HAPPY TALK: With a British election due

Even early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important.

Since there were no telephones, TVs or radios, they sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars.  They were told to 'go sip some ale' and listen to people's conversations and political concerns.  Many assistants were dispatched at different times.  'You go sip here' and 'You go sip there.'  The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term 'gossip.'

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