"House of Negotiable Affection"

[Jonathan Lighter]

Up in Skagway, they claim that the shoppe called The Brass Pic used to be something known as the "House of Negotiable Affection" during the Gold Rush of '98.
  A few dozen exx. of the euphemistic phrase show up on the Web, at least once as the title of a recent pop song. Of whether it originated in Alaska ("Land of the Midnight...Fun!!") or was in use in 1898, one may remain appropriately dubious.

  JL


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