I had never considered the source of ?money, marbles and chalk?. It was just one of the common phrases in the idiom that was common where I was reared. I suppose that it must have to do with the relative value of things. To a poor boy growing up in the depression era it was perfectly obvious that if someone was willing to bet his money, marble and chalk he was very secure in his belief of being correct. Money was scarce and precious, marbles were one of the few toys that a poor boy could afford. Chalk was a means of entrainment, communications and expression and was therefore very dear. The poor boy?s discarded cigar box that contained a Bull Durham sack of marbles a piece of chalk and any little bit of money was a treasure trove.
