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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 6

[miscellaneous paragraphs]

It is strange how some of the most familiar English colloquial forms are sometimes taken for Americanisms. The N.Z. Schoolmaster fixes upon « sweeping up » as American. Not so. To clear-up, sweep-up, tidy-up, side-up (North of England), wipe-up, smash-up, burst-up, and scores of similar expressions, are in such constant English usage that they cannot be said to be incorrect.

A journalist, writing in the Speaker, gives personal reminiscences of « the first provincial daily newspaper in England, » the Northern Daily Express. It was started in 1855 at Darlington by a gentleman named Watson, who afterwards transferred it to Newcastle. The editor and one reporter supplied all the original matter, and the articles were marked by « trenchant criticism, sharp animadversion, and brilliant rhetoric. » The editor subsequently moved to Edinburgh, and one day he was found seated at his desk dead, his pen in his hand, and an unfinished leading article on the table before him. Later still, evil days fell upon the paper, and its place was taken by others.—Mr Justin McCarthy, M.P., in Black and White, follows this up by the statement that the first provincial daily in England was the Northern Daily Times, of Liverpool, started in 1853. His first settlement in England was in connexion with this paper, with which he was associated during the whole seven years of its existence. He says: « I fulfilled many functions in connexion with that paper. I was in turn reporter, art critic, dramatic critic, leader writer; I described races and regattas, ocean steamers and cattle shows; I translated from French and German newspapers; I wrote letters signed by various names to stir up public discussion on what we conceived to be a taking subject. I am amazed to-day at the audacity with which I appear then to have written on subjects concerning which I knew absolutely nothing. I gave lengthy descriptions of agricultural shows while perfectly unable, as I am still, to explain the difference—if there be any difference—between Swedish turnips and mangold-wurzel. I even ventured on elaborate musical criticism, and wrote articles on points of law. »