The Literary Black List Act, 1903

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42746, 11 July 1905, Page 3

The Literary Black List Act, 1903

% It was recently suggested that editors ‘ should have a Black List in connection with their papers, in which all the over worked commonplace terms used by journalists should find a place. The following has since been suggested as the suitable wording of an Act:— Be it enacted by the King’s most ■ excellent Majesty, by and with the advicb and consent of the Long, suffering and Sorely-afflicted British Readp* ing Public, and by the authority of the same, as follows : 1. Any journalist, litterateur, novelist, penny-a-liner, or any other inkslinger who, after the passing of this Act, shall write, print, or publish, or cause to be written, printed, or published, any of the following or similar hackneyed or over-used phrases—that is to say, in alluding to the awful mystery of death shall refer to “ that bourn from whence no traveller returns;” or, in mentioning a deceased person, shall write of him or her as having ‘ shuffled off this mortal coil or shall designate the condition of the unmarried as 'a state of single blessedness,’; or speak of a newly-mairied couple as ‘the happy pair,’ or of a •wife as ‘ the better half;’ or shall deny by implication an indisputable scientific fact by asserting the possibility of a person’s being conspicuous by bis. absence;’ or shall write with profane . pen the expressions ‘ a sight for the gods ’or ‘a sight to make angels ■weep;’ or, in reference to physical at“j tributes or peculiarities, shall use any of the following expressions, ‘the human form divine,’ ‘ bated breath,’ ‘ eagle glance,’ ‘magnetic gaze,’ ‘dilating nostrils,’ ‘willowy form,’ ‘daintily gloved hand,’ ‘arch smile,’ golden tresses,’ ‘flowing locks,’ ‘delicatelytinted lips,* ‘ the. inner man ;’ or shall speak of “ the popular president,’ ‘ the courteous general manager,’‘the genial secretary,’ ‘ the charming hostess,’ a few well-chosen words,’ ‘ the succulent bivalve,’ ‘the psychological moment,’ *so near, yet so far,’ ‘last but not least,’ ‘a dull or sickening thud,’ ‘ his own inimitable style,’ • old Sol,' ‘ the gentle light of the moon/ ‘a cool million,’ or shall use any similar hack neyed expression, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and, being thereof convicted by public opinion, shall be compelled to pay away half his salary to the Home for Old Jokes, and the delinquent shall offer an ample apology to the publie and agree to never again infringe the provisions of this Act. 2. This Act may be cited as the Literary Black List Act, 1903.