The buildings in this street have, as I have said,
the charm of diversity, and that, I suppose, is something
to the good. Regent Street, London, is a fine
thoroughfare, but it will probably be admitted that
it is anything but unmonotonous in appearance or lovely
to look upon from an architectural point of view.
The buildings in our grand new street may not be beyond
criticism, but there are no long lines of buildings
of the same heavy dull pattern from end to end.
This arises from the fact that the land has not been
let in big patches to capitalists or builders who
might have erected a series of shops of one uniform
pattern, but has been leased to tradesmen and others
who have taken a few yards of land, on which they
have built premises suited to their requirements,
and in accordance with their aim, tastes, or the bent
and ability of their architects. Hence the variety,
charming or otherwise according to the taste and eye
of the spectator. Anyway, we have in Birmingham
a fine broad street which will, perhaps, compare favourably
with any thoroughfare in any other British city, with
the exception of Princes Street, Edinburgh. In
the way of splendid streets the Scotch capital must
be allowed to take the plum.
XI.
Thefourthestate.
I cannot say how it may have been in other large cities
and towns, but certainly the newspaper mortality in
Birmingham during the past half century has been quite
distressing. I think that without difficulty I
could reckon up from twenty-five to thirty papers and
journals that have been first published and last published
in the period named. I do not propose to say
much or to give a list of the dear departed. They
were born, they struggled for existence, and they
died in the effort. That is all that need be
said of most of them.
There is, however, one defunct paper to which I must
make a short reference, partly because I remember
something about its birth and death. I refer
to the Birmingham Daily Press, which first appeared
in May, 1855. If my memory serves me, the Act
of Parliament repealing the newspaper duty had not
passed and become law when the Birmingham Daily
Press appeared. Its first issues were, I believe,
marked “specimen” copies, which would
seem to show that the new penny paper was really published
in anticipation of the passing of the Act.
Anyway, the Birmingham Daily Press appeared
in the year mentioned, and considering that it was
altogether a new venture, and that much had to be
learned by experience, it was a highly creditable production.
It soon made its mark, too, and became popular and
largely read. And no wonder. It supplied
a real want. Its contents were readable and useful,
and its pages contained smart and attractive articles
and papers that excited notice and were much appreciated.
Mr. George Dawson was connected with the paper.
Mr. William Harris was editor, or co-editor, of it,
and on its staff and among its contributors were some
sharp and able writers.
