The Romance of Words.
SALARY If tliis word still bore its original meaning, the purpose of your monthly cheque or weekly pay envelope would be simply to provide you with —salt For many ages salt has been one of the most important necessities of man. and also of some animals. Hence the significance of the words of Jesus: “You are the salt of the earth.” So important was it that in olden days* men received salt in return for work done.
The. Romans, though they received other rations besides, called the whole of their receipts by the name of ‘‘salt rations.”
Salariiim, the Latin'word for this, persisted long after money was paid instead of salt and other goods. It is odd that the word “salary." so humble in origin, should now be used to denote the pay of higher-grade workers, as distinct from the day-labourer’s "wages.”
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Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 90, 10 January 1935, Page 7
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146The Romance of Words. Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 90, 10 January 1935, Page 7
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