The leading article in this collection appeared, as first published, in the Atlantic Monthly in October, 1869. After this essay was written I became better acquainted with our plain German sects, and wrote articles describing them, which were published in the first edition of this book. It appeared in 1872.
To the second edition were added “Bethlehem and the Moravians” and “Schwenkfelders,” as well as an Appendix, and the edition was published about the opening of 1874.
The present volume contains articles that have never before appeared in book-form, namely, “The Miners of Scranton,” “Irish Farmers,” and “English.” However, the first was published in Harpers’ Magazine for November, 1877. Another short article appeared earlier in the same periodical; and several other essays were first brought before the public in Philadelphia and New York papers.
From personal observation I have been able to revise a considerable part of this volume, which contains more than double the amount of matter comprised in the first edition.
August, 1882.