Advice from a lady of quality, to her children; in the last stage of a lingering illness, in a series of evening-conferences on the most interesting subjects
Bibliographical references included in "Acknowledgements" (p. 219-222)
Summary
"Captain Frederick Way, Jr. began his career as a mud clerk (an all around worker on a steamboat) , then became a mate, a master, and finally in 1923, received his pilot's license. In 1925, Captain Way bought his first packet (a ship traveling at regular intervals between two ports)..." [wikipedia]
This book "[s]tarts with an outboard motor trip down the Allegheny from Olean, New York, to Pittsburgh, giving nice detail of the nature of the river and its individuality. Then follows the history and the personalities and the feel of succeeding periods. There is a good deal about Pittsburgh and the oil boom of that section ... There is flood control, keel and steamboating, rivermen and river yarns, interspersed with anecdotes and reminiscences of the author and his family." [Kirkusreviews.com]