late as 1622. What they lacked in size and material, they made up in the length and sounding of title. The Morning Mercury, or a Farce of Fools (1700); The British Apollo, or Curious Amusements for the Ingenious; to which are added the Most Material Occurrences, Foreign and Domestic, Performed by a Society of Gentlemen (1708), are the titles of two of these small editions. At first they were published at irregular intervals when there was something especial to say; then regularly, increasing as time passed on until the editors ventured on two and three a week; and at last, beginning in 1702, a daily paper, the Daily Courant, was maintained.

Either because editors were lacking in business ability and knowledge of suitable material, or because the public did not recognize the need of such information, many papers were born, breathed for a day, and expired leaving small trace of their existence. But the death of one was certain to be followed by the birth of another, and the number steadily increased. In 1647, a tax was levied which caused many a publisher to vanish with his little sheet. However, the opposition to the taxation grew and in time triumphed, and the tax was removed. When later it was again imposed, such a foothold had been gained that publishers could afford to pay the few cents extra. Another set-back was given when the government at

tempted to control all publications; and it was a long time before Parliament could be induced to see "that it was wiser to leave falsehood and scurrility to be gradually corrected by public opinion, as speaking through an unfettered press, than to attack them by a law which they had proved themselves able to defy." After all the many discouragements, many failures, many trials, the newspaper remained as a proof of its necessity.

The subject-matter was somewhat similar to that of more modern papers except that there was no attempt to influence, to form, public opinion. News from abroad was given, but before the eighteenth century. no Parliamentary proceedings were allowed to be published. All startling adventures were seized upon and embellished to suit the taste of a shallow public. Petty personalities then as now glared from the pages, and advertisements of medicine, "healing by royal touch," match-making, and prize-fighting occupied much space. But it was not until Steele issued the Tatler, in 1709, that the new element was introduced, which began "to hold a mirror" up to society and reflect the social life, with its customs and morals, and its gossip of club and coffee-house. Steele carried out his purpose, "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"; and herein lies the great difference between his material and that of other papers.

Nearly two years afterward, Steele saw fit to discontinue the Tatler and to commence another paper, the Spectator. Addison, who had written many articles for the former, now contributed equally with Steele, and his connection with the paper caused it to become extremely popular. Rapidly it gained resemblance to our modern magazine in material, the critical and ethical essay predominating, while news items were left to ordinary newspapers. The Spectator was issued daily the Friday edition confining itself to literary matter, the Saturday to moral and religious; and it aimed to accomplish even a greater work than its predecessor had done. More and more attention was given to forming and raising the standard of public opinion in "manners, morals, art, and literature." The editors hoped to meet the needs of all people, but especially the needs of women. Addison realized that through them must come the betterment of society and there the reform must begin. He says:

"But there are none to whom this paper will be more useful than to the female world. I have often thought there has not been sufficient pains taken in finding out proper employments and diversions for the

fair ones. Their amusements seem contrived for them rather as they are women, than as they are reasonable creatures; and are more adapted to the sex than to the species. The toilet is their great scene of business, and the right adjusting of their hair the principal employment of their lives. The sorting of a suit of ribbons is reckoned a very good morning's work; and if they make an excursion to a mercer's or a toy shop, so great a fatigue unfits them for anything else all the day after. Their more serious occupations are sewing and embroidery, and their greatest drudgery the preparation of jellies and sweetmeats. This, I say, is the state of ordinary women; though I know there are multitudes of those of a more elevated life and conversation, that move in an exalted sphere of knowledge and virtue, that join all the beauties of the mind to the ornaments of dress, and inspire a kind of awe and respect, as well as love, into their male beholders. I hope to increase the number of these by publishing this daily paper which I shall always endeavor to make an innocent, if not an improving entertainment, and by that means at least divert the minds of my female readers from greater trifles."

It is a well-recognized failing with a would-be-reformer to aim above the comprehension of the class he wishes to help; and instead of moving on their plane of thought, to expect them to come up to his. Addison

made no such mistake. He knew instinctively the people, descended to their level, and in a light, storytelling form, gave them what their minds were able to grasp. As they were not a reading people, as they were not interested in homilies on right living, nor capable of deep, logical thinking, they must be reached by simple discussions on what occupied most of their attention the little everyday affairs of life. They had to be led as one leads a child - by arousing the curiosity which eagerly asks, "What did they do next?" To most intellectual men, and certainly to illiterate ones, nothing appeals so strongly as the loves and hates, the joys and sorrows, the successes and failures, and the thoughts of their fellow mortals. The child wants its story of Cinderella with her triumph, and the wonderful adventures of Jack and his beanstalk; the man is just as absorbed in Orlando's love for Rosalind, and Antonio's anxiety for his commercial ventures. And Addison and Steele based their plan of the Spectator on this knowledge of human. longing. They present an imaginary club, the members of which are typical people, and with a thread of narrative skilfully binding them together, suggest the lessons they wish to impart, through the experiences of Ned Softly, Tom Folio, Sir Andrew Freeport, Sir Roger de Coverley, or through the Spectator himself under which name we find Addison; and the Eng