XXIII. THE MISCHIEFS OF PARTY SPIRIT XXIV. THE MISCHIEFS OF PARTY SPIRIT XXVII. THE SPECTATOR'S JOURNEY TO LONDON XXVIII. SIR ROGER AND SIR ANDREW FREEPORT. XXX. SIR ROGER IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY INTRODUCTION. THE SPECTATOR AND ITS AUTHORS. ONE may read the "Sir Roger de Coverley Papers" or the "Spectator," and enjoy them, without much knowledge of their author. It is true that Addison himself says that particulars as to complexion and disposition and station in life conduce very much to the right understanding of an author." But that was a bit of his humor: the real thing of value is what the author says. Franklin got as much good out of the "Spectator" as most people have he learned from it how to write and how to argue, and learned to do both things better than any other American of his day. Yet he had, at first, only a stray volume which he picked up at the bookstall, with little or no information as to the author. And the people for whom the "Spectator" was originally written, had generally very slight knowledge of the authors of the speculations that amused and interested them, in spite of the careful information given them at the outset. But although it is not a necessity, we can certainly gain an additional enjoyment by knowing something of the authors of this remarkable periodical, and, we may add, of the time in which it was written and of its place in literature. Addison is a famous name in English literature, and Steele is a name only less famous. The Age of Queen Anne is a famous period, even if not quite so absolutely perfect as it seemed to itself. And the "Spectator" has been a remarkable force in literature; indeed, much of what we read is what it is by its influence. Addison and Steele. Of the two authors' of the Sir Roger de Coverley papers the greater was Joseph Addison. His life was a typical case 1 Nos. 116 and 331 were written by Eustace Budgell, 1686-1737. of a fortunate literary career. He was born of educated people and received the best education of the day. He won notice and distinction in youth by his intellectual ability and received early in life recognition and reward. When he had completed his early studies and had seen something of the world, the way to honorable exertion in literature and politics was open to him, and he availed himself of each opportunity. In public affairs he became a distinguished figure and in literature he became one of the great men of letters of his day. He was loved and honored by his own time and has retained the regard of posterity. So far as constant success and sufficient reward is concerned it is hard to see where Addison's career could have been improved. The only other figure in later English letters equally successful and equally rewarded is that of Macaulay, who, like Addison, was an important figure both in literature and in public life, who, like Addison, was successful in everything to which he turned his hand, and, like Addison, was honored and loved from the moment that his great talents began to make themselves known. Other great men, Milton and Wordsworth, Johnson and Carlyle, have had their measure of bitterness or struggle, of scorn or neglect, but Addison and Macaulay had good reason to feel that the world was on their side. Hence their work has a good humored and optimistic quality: hence, also, it lacks something that we find in the others. Addison was born at Milston May 1st, 1672, the son of Rev. Lancelot Addison, a clergyman of some note. He was educated at the Charterhouse School, London, where he made the acquaintance of Richard Steele, with whom he had much to do later in life, and at the University of Oxford. He was entered at Queen's College, but after a time was elected to a scholarship and subsequently a fellowship at Magdalen College, with which his name is associated, and where they still show you the place where he used to walk up and down in the beautiful college garden. He remained at Oxford for ten years, reading the classics and occasionally writing verses in English or Latin which were greatly admired. He might naturally have followed his father and become a clergyman, but he had attracted the attention of men in public life who understood how valuable his genius might be to their cause. Through their efforts he received a pension, and traveled abroad to fit himself especially for some diplomatic position. With the death of William III in 1703, and the accession of Anne, Addison's friends went out of power, and Addison lost his pension. He returned to England, and for a time was uncertain as to his prospects. But a poem upon the battle of Blenheim, entitled "The Campaign," gave him prominence, and he received as a mark of appreciation an office. From this time on he held generally some public appointment, and finally attained the position of Secretary of State. This success he owed largely to his power as a writer, for he was neither an orator nor a statesman. He was, however, a great man of letters, the greatest of his political party. In 1708 Addison became Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. While he was in Dublin, a friend of his asked his help in a plan which, as it turned out, offered to Addison the true opportunity that his genius needed. He would never have been remembered as a statesman, nor even as a man of letters would the poems and travels he had so far published have given him a permanent reputation. If it had not been for the "Tatler" and the "Spectator," Addison would have obtained no greater reputation than a hundred others of his day. The person who offered this opportunity to Addison was an old friend. Richard Steele was born in Dublin in the same year as Addison, and had been a schoolfellow with him. He had gone to Oxford, but instead of finding there the easy path to success which had opened to Addison, he had remained but a short time, and then entered the army. It is probable that he never saw active service, but in the course of ten years he became a captain, and also a man somewhat known for literary ability. Indeed, as Addison began to make his way in politics by his literature, so, more strangely, did Steele in the army. As time went on he came into political life, and in 1706 became editor of the official Gazette. It was not long after this that he conceived the idea of the "Tatler." Although a close friend of Addison's, Steele was in character and career very unlike him. Addison had an almost unbroken path of success: Steele was constantly up or down; if he had a good position for two or three years he was sure to lose it by some political circumstance, and equally sure to get another in a year or so. So it was with personal character. Addison was a man of sound principle and correct life ; Steele had excellent principles, but in practice he would seem often to have done one day things he had condemned the day before and that he repented of the day after. It may be that his biographers have rather exaggerated the contrast. He was certainly a man of most affectionate and lovable character. The circumstances of the time and especially of his life were such as to lead readily to extravagance both in meats and drinks, and in money matters: that Steele erred in these directions more than many men cannot be shown; but it cannot be denied that he had a more kindly heart than most. Addison and Steele joined in the production of the "Tatler," and when that periodical came to an end, in the "Spectator." Steele was the chief writer for the first, and Addison for the second; the different names are characteristic of the men. When the "Spectator" came to an end, they carried on at one time or another, together, or singly, other periodicals of something the same kind though usually with more of a political turn, but each had by that time done the work in life which has rendered him famous. The remainder of Addison's life is without especial inter |