Google Book search-1961-"a sheet nine yards long"

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>...and it's a sheet of paper(s).
>
>A hit on a book "The Beginnings of the English Newspaper;1620-1660"
>by Joseph Frank.  p. 239
>
>[* I used "sheet nine yards long" and date: 1959-1964.]
>
>"...more subdued, still showed a superior range and flexiblity, as
>well as an occasional sparkle of humor.  With a straight face he
>referred to an indictment of a lawyer that filled a sheet nine yards
>long, and in his next-to-last number he commented on himself and his
>colleagues:"

You can't tell much from the despicable 'snippet' of course, but in
this case, the straight-faced reference was likely made in the
1640's. This book is not immediately available to me; maybe I can
check it in a week or two; but probably one of the academicians has a
handier library.

-- Doug Wilson


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