Salt

I know a little bit about salt.  Some of it I learned from the CBC, my favorite source of information, the rest I have researched.  Up until over a hundred years ago salt was used as a currency in many parts of the world.  If you ever wondered where the saying came from "He is not worth his salt." now you know.  Many words came from the practise of using salt as a currency, among them are "salary" and "soldier".  Apparently for a long time men who fought for their country were paid in salt.  Many think that salts ability to preserve food played a great part in the civilization of our world.

I believe the last salt tax was removed in 1947.  It has been documented that whatever controlled the salt supply almost always won the war, as the salt tax was usually used for weapons and of course to pay soldiers.  Apparently the words "A pinch of salt" had great meaning time when salt was a currency.

I am feeling some better, at least enough to write about something besides my own woes.  Sometimes I still feel that "I am not worth my salt".

Afternoon Thoughts

October 9th, 2001............5:01 p.m.