"Brass tacks" (1876) and etymological evidence

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----- Original Message -----
From: "Douglas G. Wilson" <douglas at NB.NET>
Date: Monday, August 8, 2005 6:44 pm
Subject: Re: "Brass tacks" (1876) and etymological evidence

>
> >And just what is the naughty origin of "use it or lose it" ?  I mean
> >demonstrably.
>
> I doubt a naughty origin offhand. This natural rhyme has been used in
> sermons, etc., since pre-1900. The earliest I see in the on-line
> papers at
> a glance refers to a clam-opening contest in 1885.
>
> -- Doug Wilson
>

And tell me THAT'S not naughty?  Ha!

Sam Clements