[Aurelius]

Put it on Washington's Tab

Parsimony may be ill-placed.
-George Washington

It was June 16, 1775, and American statesman George Washington was feeling magnanimous. Or, at least, that's what he wanted everyone to think. Washington had just been appointed general of the Continental Army over the soaring hopes of John Hancock, and, in order to not look too pleased with himself, America's future first president declined fiscal remuneration for his services. Well, almost. He said:

Sir, I beg leave to assure the Congress that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to have accepted this arduous employment, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. Those I doubt not they will discharge, and that is all I desire.

"Expenses", eh? Latter-day patriots, infused with nationalistic fervor, might assume this meant Washington would only take the barest hint of sustenance for his labors. As Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Washington might expect a comfortable salary. For a little perspective, the very day Washington accepted his commission, Congress drew up the pay for officers and privates. A private made $6 2/3 a month, a captain $20, and a major general $166. Seems to us Washington was giving up a decent sum in exchange for this promise of discharging these expenses. He was well-regarded for stonily taking this economic hit for the tea

[uncbuck]

Put it on Washington's Tab

I happen to be put into a position once at the Philadelphia 1st City Troop, the oldest still active unit in the US army, to look at some of the objects they have in their archives.
Two peices have a small relevance to your discussion.
The first was an invitation from Washington to the members of the troop, all of whom were of Philadelphia's 'Blue Bloods', to dinner at the City Tavern.
The second was a bill for the meal. The exact dollar amount I don't quite recall, but for comparisons sake, lets say it was for $375.00.
$75.00 of that was for food, and the other $300 was for broken crockery!

If any of ya'll are familiar with the book on edicate Washington wrote, this might be even more humorous.