The sun., 1895-04-14
MONEY TO BURN.
Ono Version or the Origin OF Slang Phrase
Now Very Popular.


Now Very Popular.
Slang words or phrases, many of them des-
tined TO become parts OF language proper. are
more difficult to trace to their origin than the
world old words which have come to us through
the changes of a score of languages. Some of
them are tho chance expression of Il happy
thought: some are resurrectons in strange
form Of obsolete speech; some are mistakes or
slips of the tongue made in public places which
have sprung into sudden popularity by virtue of
the amusement which they created; others lre
combinations Of other slang. such AS the word
kidnap. which Is merely an abbreviation of the
phrase 20 nab 0ay hold Of n kid (chid)
Other slang is the outcome Of q determined Of
fort to force a new word into the language, as In
the OF the word quiz. which. on II wager in
Edinburgh, was put in the mouths of all men
simply making 1t up and causing 1t to be
posted on all the bill boards Of the city. Still
others OF these foundlinEs of language are the
outcome of an originally legitimate description
OF some peculiar event coming In time TO acquire
a meaning greatly broadened. or this class is
the phrase money to burn" now SO common.
The origin Of this phrase. or at least one origin
of 1t, was n consultation over business trans
action held in Rochester some yearsaGo. One OF
the parties interested was Mr.. F., prominent
merchant of that city. who was as well known
for his interests in various charities as for his
sound judgment ana business ability. To these
qualities he Joined a simple, straightforward
nature and n hearty dislike OF AL ostsntation.
To Mr. F. there came Smithson, a promoter.
with scheme in which he had interested many
OF the wealthy men OF western New York. and
IN which he very much desir red Mr. F.'A support
The merchant listened to the promoters rather
bombastic descriptions OF the future sure to re-
suit from the carrying out OF his project and
offered him cigar. smithson twirled the cigar
which VOL i'd accrue To Mr. F. IL he won Id Invest
n certain sum.
with" observed the merchant.
oh, yes replied the promoter In an off-hsnd
way. 81 e1pec,to put in big proportion on my
,ya M have snensh now lSss sssp Ta n
visitor declined tho match with q gesture,
and, la putting his Lsna d., in hi: pocket:
twisted up and thrust into the gas light. Then
he lit his cigar held tho bill until II was burned
dcMn. and tossed & II on an ash receiver.
said he Grnndiloquent!y.
The merchant rose. THAT was q $40 bill,
kssn II &. asked
chant. Many people, are without suf,,oient
19Sa o .ns and IN daS Hn
w,h t.e things So You s6 spnsdsr side nonsy no
me: bid you good night"
Tho crestfallen promoters expostulations
Were courteousy but firmly put aside and he
lert the place. When 1t became known that
Mr.. II. had refused To invest In his project others
Withdrew snd ths plan fell through: A year
this city when Smithson entered with y gentle
man whom Mr.. +. and the others with him
knew. This gentleman brought Smithson over
to the circle and introduced him. When he came
to Mr.. +. the merchant said:
We nsed no introduction. / know Mr..
SmthsoD. He has money 10 burn"
1t so happened that tho promoter had only a
few days before come into possession of a large
sum, as u mum her of the mon present knew, and
the phrase he has money to burn" struck
them at once. They were from all parts OF the
country: and the saying went with them 10 Bos-
Ton St. Louis. Chicago, Washington, and other
cities, to drift back eventually, IS all slang that
hasanything more than o local meaning does,
to this city, where il was heard in the streets.
read in the newspapers. and spoken from tho
stage. 1t was altered TO express a superabund-
nnce Of any commodity, SUCH as bonds TO
burn" information to burn" or anything else.
whether inhammable not, ITO hnrn. and In
soma localities IL was altered and came out In
such Gpis. as he has money t to sinEe wet
gAdocio OF the promoter with the $40 bill