borderland of known science, we have
"Spectroscopic Observations of Nebulae." 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 eph