RAT=FRESHMAN; MONEY TALKS



The Virginia Military Institute (Lexington, VA, founded 1839) has

"rats." But the College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA, founded 1693!!)

also had "rats." I'm inclined to believe that VMI gave "rats" to W&M in the

19th century, but I've done no research at W&M.

Burton Stevenson's book of collected proverbs (the title varies) has the

1666 "Man prates, but gold speaks--Torriano, PIAZZA UNIVERSALE." He also has

"Against the talking power of money eloquence is of no avail (Auro loquente

nihil pallet quaevis oratio)--Erasmus, ADAGIA, iii, iii, (1523)."



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