The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-24
N TO BURN.
One Version of the Origin of n Slang
Phrase Now Very Popular.

New York Sun.
Slang words or phrases, many of them
proper, are more difficult to trace to their
origin than the world-old words which
have come to us through the changes Of a
chance expression of a happy thought;
some are resurrections 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
slang, such as the word kidnap, which is
merely an abbreviation of the phrase TO
nab Gay hold of a kid (child,)
Other slang Is the outcome of a de-
termined effort to force a new word into
quiz. which, on a wager in Edinburgh, was
put in the mouths of all men simply by
making It up and causing. 1t to be posted
on all the bill boards of the city. Still
others of these foundlings of languages are
the outcome of an originally legitimate de-
scription of some peculiar event coming
in time to acquire a meaning greatly broad
ened. OF this class is the phrase money
to burn" now so common.
The origin of this phrase, or at least one
origin of it. was a consultation over a
business transaction held in Rochester
ested was Mr.. f., a prominent merchant of
tnat city, VINO was as we'll known for his
Interests satsnS i;,d in various Gus charities as s;,, for his
these qualities he Joined a simple, straight
forward nature and a hearty dislike of all
son, a promoter, with a scheme in which
he had interested many of the wealthy men
very much desired Mr.. F.'s supp oa,cn The he
merchant listened to the promoters rather
bombastic descriptions Of the future sure to
result from the carrying out of his
project and offered him a cigar. Smithson
twirled the cigar between his fingers as he
outlined the profits which would accrue to
Mr.. F. if he would invest a certain sum.
"You will need a large sum of money to
S' aoh. YVES Yes, o replied the fne p mepenant- in an
of-hand way; L expect to put in a big
proportion on my own account"
Then you have enough now to begin
WITH" asked Mr.. E., extending a lighted
match to his visitor to light his cigar.
ture, and, putting his hand in his pocket,
pulled out a 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
receiver.
US said he grandiloquently.
The merchant rose. THAT was a $40 bill,
wasn't it?' he asked.
II believe so,' replied the promoter.
Been in Rochester longg' asked Mr.. f.
Not very" said the promoter. "Why.?'
merchant. Many people are without SUI
ficient food and clothing. Our hospitals
and charitable organizations are crowded
and in debt. And with these things so,
you consider money no more than to make
a foolish and wicked display with it.. You
can do no business with me. / bid you
good night"
The crestfallen promoters expostulations
were COuIlcOuSly u III ttly put Sld diiti
he left the place. When 1t became known
that Mr.. f. had refused TO invest in his
project others withdrew and the plan fell
through. 4 year later Mr.. F. was dining
at one of the hotels in this city when
Slnithson entered with a gentleman whom
Mr.. F. and the others With him knew.
This gentleman brought Smithson over to
the circle and introduced him. When he
came to Mr.. F. the merchant said:
1--WE need no introduction. / know Mr..
Smithson. He has money to burn"
1t so happened that the romoter had only
a few days before come into possession
of a large sum, as a 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, Washington, and other
cities, to drift back evidentually, as all
slang that has anything more than a local
meaning does, to this city, where it was
heard in the streets, read in the news
papers, and spoken from the stage. 1t was
altered to express a superabundance of
any commodity, such as bonds to burn"
information to burn" or anything else,
whether infamnable or not, ito burn" and
in some localities it was altered and came
out in such guise as "he has money TO
SINCE a wet dog But it all came from
the ill-timed ~braggadocio of the promoter
with the SO bill.