My brother was quick to reply to this Boidem column that I'd missed an obvious link. Of course "obvious" is in the eyes of the beholder, but when you grow up in the same household your associations tend to be very similar, as ours are. So while others may not have made the immediate connection, it was immediately clear to me that he was right.

Tom Lehrer wrote a wonderful song (among many, many other wonderful songs) back in the 1960's entitled The Old Dope Peddler, a song about a modern folk hero. The entire song is linked here, though the relevant lines follow.

He gives the kids free samples,
Because he knows full well
That today's young innocent faces
Will be tomorrow's clientele.

Go to: Free