Liberal free for all coming to an end

[smc]

Someone questioned my post about the origins of "paint the town red," so I thought I'd offer another answer. This comes from one of my favorite books: Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, by William and Mary Morris, published in 1962:

"This colorful term for a wild spree, especially one involving much drinking, probably originated in the frontier. In the nineteenth century the section of town where brothels and saloons were located was known as the 'red light district.' So a group of lusty cowhands out for a 'night on the town' might very well take it into their heads to make the whole town red."

Personally, I think Mr. and Mrs. Morris are wrong, since the earliest known appearance of the term "red light district" dates from 1894.