A wet blanket writes...

In all the hooha about the Ice Bucket Challenge and all that, it doesn't seem to have been much remarked on that demonstrative charity/philanthropy is nothing new.

From the days of mediaeval warlords and robber barons endowing churches and colleges to Victorian industrialists establishing schools and hospitals, posterity has rarely seen lights hidden under bushels, or left hands not waving self-congratulation at what the right hand's been doing (and all for charity): though in the past, the torments of eternal damnation might have been a bit more powerful an influence than today's Twitter-trolling and tabloid shame.

Even the humble flag day works on the same principle, whether it be as decorous as Queen Alexandra's Rose Day or as solemn as remembrance poppies.

Though I doubt if these Alexandra rose-sellers would have been amused by the Ice Bucket idea.

Let alone her:

"It's Bookaaaaaayyy!"