of which he began joyously and then abandoned, sometimes against his will, as when he was expelled from Parliament, and again because some other interest of the moment had more attraction.  His poems and plays are now little known; but the reader who searches them out will find one or two suggestive things about Steele himself.  For instance, he loves children; and he is one of the few writers of his time who show a sincere and unswerving respect for womanhood.  Even more than Addison he ridicules vice and makes virtue lovely.  He is the originator of the Tatler, and joins with Addison in creating the Spectator,—­the two periodicals which, in the short space of less than four years, did more to influence subsequent literature than all other magazines of the century combined.  Moreover, he is the original genius of Sir Roger, and of many other characters and essays for which Addison usually receives the whole credit.  It is often impossible in the Tatler essays to separate the work of the two men; but the majority of critics hold that the more original parts, the characters, the thought, the overflowing kindliness, are largely Steele’s creation; while to Addison fell the work of polishing and perfecting the essays, and of adding that touch of humor which made them the most welcome literary visitors that England had ever received.

THE TATLER AND THE SPECTATOR.  On account of his talent in writing political pamphlets, Steele was awarded the position of official gazetteer.  While in this position, and writing for several small newspapers, the idea occurred to Steele to publish a paper which should contain not only the political news, but also the gossip of the clubs and coffeehouses, with some light essays on the life and manners of the age.  The immediate result—­for Steele never let an idea remain idle—­was the famous Tatler, the first number of which appeared April 12, 1709.  It was a small folio sheet, appearing on post days, three times a week, and it sold for a penny a copy.  That it had a serious purpose is evident from this dedication to the first volume of collected Tatler essays: 

The general purpose of this paper is to expose the false arts of life, to pull off the disguises of cunning, vanity, and affectation, and to recommend a general simplicity in our dress, our discourse, and our behavior.

The success of this unheard-of combination of news, gossip, and essay was instantaneous.  Not a club or a coffeehouse in London could afford to be without it, and over it’s pages began the first general interest in contemporary English life as expressed in literature.  Steele at first wrote the entire paper and signed his essays with the name of Isaac Bickerstaff, which had been made famous by Swift a few years before.  Addison is said to have soon recognized one of his own remarks to Steele, and the secret of the Authorship was out.  From that time Addison was a regular contributor, and occasionally other writers added essays on the new social life of England.[192]