New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-27

snd went hrnscfto the whipping block be was i1le'
ian IN deb, 10 the iucksters. and early inibioed
astaa tate for sack have authority for these
statements but the boy be Ge father Of The man then
Dick Steele Of the lovee-t h,tle ESQ! i1T-
nothing rogues that ever lived Mr.. I. gave sketch
OF the head boy AZ school the whale anon. min
Lows peculiar to English institutions. He Suiseli had
IN bis day met many great but Of them ever
ultned bis childish ideas OF the head boy. lie never
doubted but that remarkable geniu. would become 3
prime Minister and was much disappointed on n Get
ng hun in after years to ind that not more than
six feet high such head bog hal Steele in Joseph
Addison. and lively and lasting friendship grew be-
tween them. He was proud 10 be in Aid.sons com
psry. would run Of lis ersnds bsck his shoes, and
20 anything Tor h.s svor Steele now imbibed pas
sion oT nhtsry distinction and joined Ormond horse
guards but he could hsve any active service.
or he would hsye mentioned it in his writings. lie
led an irregular life. but daily repented and vowed TO
reform ind finally his convictions found tongue in bis
frst work The Christian Hero" This book was writ
ten while he was in liquor in debt AM in repentance.
But bis life always 20 he ever interrupted in
his repen;lni moods by the tapster, and finished his
moral reflections over the bottle AZ this periodh lie
marked in King Williams last tabe-book for pro-
motion swift having been written in the
JUN - tAc rsAilt III Af'- ollltdAAh ulr
raj or Grief s-ls-mode :" in 1903 The Tender Hus-
band the Accomplished Fools :; in 1904, The Lynn;
Lovers OF the Ladies Friendships" and in l70o he
began The Tstlcr which was published from the
18th April to the I'd OF January following During
this period he made a Commissioner of the Stamp
Office In March, no steele snd Addison com.
mmenced The Spectator in 1913, The Gaariian and
in the sane year, Steele began a paper called II,
EHglisimGn steele was twice married, but outved
be;hhs wires his son, his property, all but his heart
He died Sent l. 1929 and privately buried at Caer
marian Postority has been kinder 20 Steele. No-
men have heen especially grateful for he was the first
writer Of that day TO recognize them worthy OF re-
spect Concreve excuses Shakspere for inatten-
ton to the Sex because OF the manners OF the age
Swift's opinion Of was gross and LACKING IN
every form Of respect, as Is evidenced IN MS al
vice 10 some Of hi acquaintances Addison was less
loor with no more real re gard for he considered
them only playthings. But Steele recognized their
worth adm red them for their virtues and edored their
purity and beauty and to him woman Will ever DC
grateful TO one woman he paid compliment perhaps
never excelod for decacy and respect ITO have
loved her" said he, would have been liberal educa-
ton. Hi aectonate dedication of book to his wife.
whom he considered not inferort angels l. another re
markabetrat Indeed he always salutedwomanwithh bis
VIII n III uhl lie was also anu dhlSltvh
ate to children, 10 such deg1ce that he even apolo
gzed for his softncss. This estimate of Steeles char
acter the lecturer drew not from his larger works but
from his private letters mainly to his wife, Of hi:h
four hundred, written under every variety of circum-
stances, are in existence. Mr. Thackcray showed in
minute detail the habits and tastes OF Steele in social
intcrcoure-his omusing and often distressing strug
giles for money, &c His careless and easy style of
writing il Steeles notable peculiarly lie is not
of those lonely Of earth whose greatness dooms
them to isolation and solitude Steele had true relish
for goodues and beauty he was in the world, and WIS
Of it: he was not savage, like swift, gloomy, like
Addison. Mr. Thackeray quoted-rom swift some
lines on DEATH from Addison his reflections in West
minister Abby, and from Steele his account Of his
fathers death while yet child-to show the contrast
of manner between them. Steele was by means the
most witty Or the most talented but he s friend,
aid therefore we instnctyely love him. The lecturer
reverted again TO the manners OF the age. What
now would be thought Of the young lady VINO
would in the ballroom teke from her IJ-h1t
box and from that box pinch OF snuff and use 1t on
the moment: what of her who would thfus. her knife
into her mouth az tablet Steele was not worse but
indeed much better than his neighbors IN this aspect
Mr. Thackcray gave an account OF DINNER IN those
days. On one occasion there was provided for seven
slrlOln oil DeCl Nsu
clarct almond pudding friers passed around 10y one
persop dpling his hand into the dish and handing
them to the others) black pudding venison pasty.
hare rabbit pig, goose han. beer, wine, and
10 close great tankarl Of brown October,
which was passed from hand to hand and mouth
TO mouth then cheese and Burgundy then the Ia.
dies retired. and tie spent another hour VITA
wine after which they joined the ladies' and pleyed
quadrlles usl 3 o'clock in the morning, twelve hours
after assembling when tho Charmon and linz boys
took them home such was the dirner-sross NJ
aggregate, gross in detail gross in manner. and
free in coavcrsa.ion-whch was spread hundred
nrl forty year. ago for seven Christians eni
that too in place celebrated Or the center Of
polite entertainment. In such an se, lived steele
He undertook ali the enterprises OF life without ede
ouate means he promised Virtue and Duty but when
Virtue and Duty presented their bills, lie Was never
reedv 10 paw. Whet a situation. when man dared 10,
face the rel ion which Ire adorei and violated when
be crep. through dark lanes 20 avoid the friend who
loved and trusted him; when the house that sheltered
lie wife was in the keeping Of the beH and the door
surrounded 10y crowd ofcredtors 70 oer andhou him
IS he came forth Peace be 10 poor Steele Let ne
sneak kindly OF the memory Of wao-c heart ~.
liberated with human kindne-s.
Refcrtna lion and NIoderu Politics.