The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1895-06-20
MONEY TO BURN.
The Incidents That Led Up to the Coin
age OF The Phrase.

| age OF the HHrase.
The origin of the phrase money
TO burn, or at least one origin of it,
was consultation over a business
transaction held in Rochester some
! years ago Ore of the parties inter
ested was Mr.. F., "a prominent mer.
chant of that city who was as well
known for his interests in various
charities as for his sound Judgment
and business ability, 70 these quail
tics he joined simple, straightfor-
ward nature and hearty dislike of
all ostentation. To Mr.. F. there
came SmithsOn, promoter, with a
scheme in which he had interested
many of the wealthy men of western
New York, and i'll which he very
much desired Mr. F. IS support The
merchant listened to the promoters
rather bumbastic description of the
! future sure to result from the carry
ing out of his project, and offered
him cigar. Smithson twirled the
cigar between his fingers as he out
lined the profits which would accrue
to Mr.. F. if he would invest a GER
! tain sum.
You will need a large sum of
money to start with, observed the
merchant
"Oh, yes, - replied the promoter
in All offhand way. Iexpect to put
in big proportion on my own ac-
count
Then you have enough now to
begin WITH" asked Mr. f., extend
ing lighted match to his visitor to
light his cigar. The visitor declined
the match with gesture, and put
ting his hand in his pocket pulled
out handful of bills, one of which
he twisted up and thrust into the
gas light. Then he lit his cigar,
held the bill until it was burned
down and tossed it on an ash re-
ceiver.
You see how much money counts
with me, said he grandiloquently.
The merchant rose. THAT was a
SO bill, wasn't it?" he asked.
II believe so, replied the pro-
moter.
Been in Rochester long?" asked
Mr.. f.
Not Very" said the promoter.
Why"
This is hard winter, returned
the merchant Many people are
without sufficient food and clothing.
Our hospitals and charitable organi-
cations are crowded and in debt.
And with these things so you con-
slider money no more than to make
foolish and wicked display with
it. You can do no business with me.
l bid you good night.
Thescrestfallen promoters expos
tulations were courteously but firm
ly put aside, and he left the place.
When it became known that Mr.. F.
had refused to invest in his project,
others withdrew, and the plan fell
through. A year later Mr.. F. was
dining at one of the hotels in this
city when Smithson entered with
gentleman whom Mr.. +. and the
others with him knew. This gentle
man brought Smithson over to the
circle and introduced him. When
he came to Mr.. F., the merchant
said:
I'VE need no introduction. |
know Mr.. Smithson. He has money
to burn.
1t so happened that the promoter
had only few days before come
into possession of a large sum, as
number of the men 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 to
Boston, st. Louis, Chicago, Wash
ington and other cities to drift back
eventually, as all slang that has any
thing more than q local meaning
does, to this city, where 1t was heard
in tho streets, read ins the newspa-
pers and spoken from the stage. 1t
was altered to express superabun-
dance of any commodity, such as
bonds to burn, information to
burn or anything else, whether in
flammable or not, Ito burn" and in
some localities it was altered and
came out in such guise as "he has
money to SINCE q wet dog" Butitall
came from the i'll timed brassadocio
of tho promoter with the $40 bill
New York Sun.
Came Honestly by 1t.
isn't it singular. he remarked,