IX
The first Pittsburgh book that I can find in my hurried review of the field is "Modern Chivalry," by Hugh Henry Brackenridge. The third volume of this book was printed in Pittsburgh in 1796, the first two having been published in Philadelphia. This writer's son, Henry M. Brackenridge, was also an author, having written "History of the Late War between the United States and Great Britain," "History of the Western Insurrection called the Whisky Insurrection, 1794," "Journal of a Voyage up the River Missouri, Performed in 1811," "Recollections of Persons and Places in the West," and several other books. Neville B. Craig wrote a "History of Pittsburgh," published in 1851, which is still a work of standard reference. Another "History of Pittsburgh" was brought out some ten years ago under the editorship of Erasmus Wilson, who has also published a volume of "Quiet Observations," selected from his newspaper essays. But the most important, painstaking, and accurate "History of Pittsburgh" which has yet been published is the one by Miss Sarah H. Killikelly, published in 1906. Another book of hers, "Curious Questions," is an entertaining collection of many queer things that have occurred in the world's history. Robert P. Nevin wrote "Black Robes" and "Three Kings." Professor Samuel P. Langley was for many years in charge of the Allegheny Observatory and won fame while here as a writer on scientific subjects. Also the first models of his flying machine were made while he was a resident in Pittsburgh. W. M. Darlington wrote "Fort Pitt" and edited the journals of Christopher Gist, who was Washington's scout when the Father of his Country first came to Pittsburgh. "Two Men in the West" is the title of a little book on travel by W. R. Halpin. Arthur G. Burgoyne, a newspaper writer, has published "All Sorts of Pittsburghers." George Seibel has written three beautiful plays which have not yet been produced because the modern stage managers seem to prefer to produce unbeautiful plays. One of these is "Omar Khayyam," which was accepted and paid for by Richard Mansfield, who died before he could arrange for its production. Another is "Christopher Columbus," and he has just finished an important tragedy entitled "Œdipus," dealing artistically with a horrifying story, which has been accepted for early production by Mr. Robert Mantel. Mr. Seibel has published a monograph on "The Mormon Problem." Charles P. Shiras wrote the "Redemption of Labor," and a drama, "The Invisible Prince," which was played in the old Pittsburgh Theater. Bartley Campbell was the most prolific writer of plays that Pittsburgh has yet produced, and his melodramas have been played in nearly every theater in America. H. G. Donnelly, well known as a playwright, was also a Pittsburgher. Mrs. Mary Roberts Rinehart is a young author who is coming to the front as a writer of successful dramas, stories, and books. Her plays, "The Double Life" and "By Order of the Court" have been produced, and a novel, "The Circular Staircase," has just appeared from the press. My own little play, "The Brayton Episode," was played by Miss Sarah Truax at the Alvin Theater, Pittsburgh, June 24, 1903, and by Miss Eleanor Moretti at the Fifth Avenue Theater, New York, January 15, 1905.
Margaret Morrison Carnegie School for Women
Rev. W. G. Mackay wrote tales of history under the title of "The Skein of Life." Father Morgan M. Sheedy and Rev. Dr. George Hodges, who used to strive together in Pittsburgh to surpass each other in tearing down the walls of religious prejudice that keep people out of the Kingdom of Heaven, have each given us several books on social and religious topics composed on the broad and generous lines of thought which only such sensible teachers know how to employ. Among Dr. Hodges' books are "Christianity between Sundays," the "Heresy of Cain," and "Faith and Social Service"; while Father Sheedy has published "Social Topics."
That devoted student of nature, Dr. Benjamin Cutler Jillson, wrote a book called "Home Geology," and another, "River Terraces In and Near Pittsburgh," which carry the fancy into far-off antiquity. Professor Daniel Carhart, of the University of Pittsburgh, has given us "Field Work for Civil Engineers" and "Treatise on Plane Surveying." From J. Heron Foster we have "A Full Account of the Great Fire at Pittsburgh in 1845." Adelaide M. Nevin published "Social Mirror," and Robert P. Nevin "Poems," a book with mood and feeling. Dr. Stephen A. Hunter, a clergyman, is the author of an erudite work entitled "Manual of Therapeutics and Pharmacy in the Chinese Language."
Walter Scott, who, after taking a course at the University of Edinburgh, came to Pittsburgh in 1826, was a very distinguished preacher and author. His greatest reputation was gained in his work in association with Alexander Campbell in establishing the principles of the now mighty congregation known as the Christian, or Disciples, Church. His books are: "The Gospel Restored," "The Great Demonstration," and "The Union of Christians."
A memoir of Professor John L. Lincoln, by his son, W. L. Lincoln, gives a record of a life so spent that many men were truly made better thereby. Father Andrew A. Lambing, President of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, has written useful monographs on the early history of this region, and he is one of the first authorities in that field. He has also composed books on religious subjects. E. W. Duckwell wrote "Bacteriology Applied to the Canning and Preserving of Food Products."
Richard Realf was a poet "whose songs gushed from his heart," and some of them hold a place in literature. His "Monarch of the Forges" breathes the deep spirit of industrial life as he found it in Pittsburgh.
Mr. Lee S. Smith, now (1908) president of the Chamber of Commerce, has published an interesting book entitled "Through Egypt to Palestine," describing his travels in the Orient.
Our men who have written most knowingly on industrial topics are James M. Swank and Joseph D. Weeks. A young writer, Francis Hill, has published a very readable boys' story, "Outlaws of Horseshoe Hole," and Arthur Sanwood Pier has published "The Pedagogues," a novel satirizing the Harvard Summer School.
Rev. Henry C. McCook's very successful novel, "The Latimers," is an engaging study of the whisky insurrection of early Pittsburgh days. Thomas B. Plimpton is remembered by some as a writer of verse. Judge J. E. Parke and Judge Joseph Mellon have written historical essays. Josiah Copley wrote "Gathering Beulah." Logan Conway is the author of "Money and Banking." He has also written a series of essays on "Evolution." Miss Cara Reese has published a little story entitled "And She Got All That." Miss Willa Sibert Cather has just published her "Poems." Charles McKnight's "Old Fort Duquesne; or Captain Jack the Scout" is a stirring book that has fired the hearts of many boys who love a good tale. William Harvey Brown's story, "On the South African Frontier," was written and published while he was a curator in the Carnegie Museum.
Pittsburgh has produced a group of standard schoolbooks—always of the very first importance in the literature of any country. Among these are the books by Andrew Burt and Milton B. Goff, and a series of readers by Lucius Osgood.
Design of University of Pittsburgh
Henry J. Ford's "Rise and Growth of American Politics" is a well-studied work. Henry A. Miller's "Money and Bimetallism" is a conscientious statement of his investigations of that question. Judge Marshall Brown has written two books, "Bulls and Blunders" and "Wit and Humor of Famous Sayings." Frank M. Bennett's "Steam Navy of the United States" is a useful technical work.
L. C. Van Noppen, after pursuing his studies of Dutch literature in Holland, came to Pittsburgh and wrote a translation of Vondel's great Dutch classical poem "Lucifer." Vondel published the original of this work some ten or fifteen years before Milton's "Paradise Lost" appeared, and critics have tried to show by the deadly parallel column that Milton drew the inspiration for some of his highest poetical flights from Vondel. It is probable, however, that Milton was unconscious of the existence of Vondel's work.
S. L. Fleishman has translated the poems of Heine with tenderness and feeling. Ella Boyce Kirk has written several educational pamphlets. Morgan Neville published a poem, "Comparisons." From that Prince Rupert of the astronomers, Professor James E. Keeler, who has made more than one fiery dash across the borderland of known science, we have "Spectroscopic Observations of Nebulæ." That truly gifted woman, Margaretta Wade Deland, was born in Pittsburgh in 1857 and resided here until her marriage in 1880. Among her books are "John Ward, Preacher," "The Story of a Child," "Philip and His Wife," and "Old Chester Tales." Jane Grey Swisshelm wrote the recollections of an eventful experience under the title "Half a Century of Life." Nicholas Biddle composed a studious "Life of Sebastian Cabot," and another book, "Modern Chivalry." Mrs. Annie Wade has written poems and stories. The city has fathered many able writers against slavery and intemperance, among whom was William H. Burleigh, who wrote "Our Country." William B. Conway wrote "Cottage on the Cliff." From Rev. John Black we have "The Everlasting Kingdom," and Rev. John Tassey published a "Life of Christ." William G. Johnston's interesting book, "Experiences of a Forty-niner," was published in 1892. John Reed Scott has published two successful novels, "The Colonel of the Red Hussars" and "Beatrix of Clare." Martha Fry Boggs wrote "A Romance of New Virginia." Then there are "Polly and I," by Cora Thurmston; "Free at Last" and "Emma's Triumph," by Mrs. Jane S. Collins; "Her Brother Donnard," by Emily E. Verder; "Essays," by Anna Pierpont Siviter; "Human Progress," by Thomas S. Blair; "Steel: A Manual for Steel Users," a useful monograph by William Metcalf; and "Memoir of John B. Gibson," by Colonel Thomas P. Roberts. Then there are some poor things from my own pen, if, in order to make the record complete, I may add them at the end—"Oliver Cromwell: A History" (1894); "John Marmaduke: A Romance of the English Invasion of Ireland in 1649" (1897); "Beowulf: A Poem" (1901); "Penruddock of the White Lambs," a novel (1903); "The Brayton Episode," a play (1903); "The Sword of the Parliament," a play (1907); and this, "A Short History of Pittsburgh" (1908).
And such is the list. Imperfect though it may be, it is the best that I have been able to compose. But how large and full the measure of it all is! History, biography, philosophy, religion, nature, science, criticism, government, coinage and finance, art, poetry, the drama, travel, adventure, fiction, society, education, all avenues of human activity, all themes of human speculation, have been covered in books written with more or less interest and power by men and women of Pittsburgh. Much of this volume of production is ephemeral, but some of it on the other hand is undoubtedly a permanent addition to the world's literature.