Paul Rogers wrote in a message to Roy J. Tellason:

 RJT> "Economists like to say that `there ain't no such thing as
 RJT> a free lunch'.  The expression,  popularized by University
 RJT> of Chicago economist Milton Friedman but dating back to at
 RJT> least 1949, is shorthand for saying tha tnothing comes
 RJT> without a price."

 PR> I'd be willing to bet it came out of the Depression, or maybe the
 PR> 1920's.  Some bars back then advertized a free lunch.

Sounds right to me.  My knowledge of those times in a historical sense is a
lot less than I'd like it to be,  something I'm working on now and then.

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