‘What do you wear a mask too?’ enquired Sir William. ‘Oh yes, by gad, it’s the most useful thing upon earth—don’t you know the mask of necessity is so elastic, it pulls into every shape?’ replied Sponge. ‘True! flexible as a spunge,’ returned Sir William.
1810, [anonymous] […], chapter XXVII, in Splendid Follies. A Novel, […]. Founded on Facts., volume III, London: […] J[ames] F[letcher] Hughes, […], page 106