The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-20
A DISTINGUISHED WOMAN.

A DISTINGUISHED WOMAN.
The death Of Mrs. Zerelda Wallace re-
moves one of the most remarkable women
Indiana has produced. Though born early
in the nineteenth century she was a new
woman in the highest sense OF that much
abused but significant term. She might at
any time in her career have sat for the
portrait of Solomon's virtuous woman. who
lOoke so well TO the ways Of her house
hold that her price was far above rubies,
but Mrs. Wallace excelled that wise mans
ideal. She fulfilled literally and TO the ut
! termost measure all the conditions imposed
by tradition, by custom and by feminine
instinct upon the wife and mother. She de-
voted herself hand and brain, without re-
serve. to her children and to her chlldren's
children. Left a widow early in life. with
Strengthened means. this meant for
her toll and self-deniaI for many
years. Throughout this period she
was known to a wide circle OF
friends as a woman of indomitable energy
and much strength of character. and was
greatly respected, but her course was not
so unusual as to arouse especial
1t is the manner of women to labor and
make sacrifices for their own, and it was
not the character of her work but her
forceful personality that impressed itself
upon those around her. But when children
needed her no longer and orphan grand
children reached maturity, then began the
career which made her one of the distin-
guished women of the country. At the time
in her life when she would have been justi-
fled, to all human judgment. in folding her
hands and saying that her work was done,
she entered upon a public labor that lasted
twenty years and ended only when physi-
cal strength failed her. AS in her earlier
days, whatever she found to do she did
with her might. She was impressed with
the need of promoting a temperance senti-
ment in the community. and undertook a
part in that movement. She was not an ag-
gressive. self-confdent woman. but was of
domestic tastes and had no experience in
presiding over or addressing public meet
ings-it was before the days of women's
clubs-and her swift evolution from a quiet
attendant at temperance prayer meetings
to a participant in the visits of ''crusad-
ers" to saloons and later into a temper
ance speaker was probably as much of a
surprise to herself as to her friends.
Doubtless. too, being feminine and retiring,
the evolution was not accomplished with
out much travail of soul. But her force of
character and her strong convictions up
A,1I h.. Cl. -.
her sense of duty overcame the natural
shrinking from publicity. She did what she
could, and that was much. Whatever the
temperance agitation of the last quarter of
the century may have accomplished in the
way of law-making, there is no question as
to it's benefit in Strengthening the senti-
ment against the use of intoxicating drinks,
and in advocating this cause 70 voice was
more influential than that of Mrs. Wallace.
Energetic. active. hopeful. filled with re-
ligious zeal. she was, during the twenty
years of her public service, not only a logi-
cal, persuasive and effective speaker. but
al inspiration TO her associates and CO.
workers as well.
Forced by the disabilities of age to retire
ment during the last few years, she has
kept In touch with reform movements, and,
in fact. with all other public affairs. in a
remarkable way. Her youthful interest in
current events. her breadth of view. her
grasp of great questions and her keen wit
made her conversation. up to her last days,
a source of delight to all who knew her. 1t
was said of her, as is often said of intel
lectual women. that she had a masculine
mind. but in this case, at least, the genu-
inc masculine mind is fattered by compari
son.
Hers was a life we'll rounded. but she will
not be the less deeply mourned that her
work is so fully completed. OF none can it
ever be said with greater truth that her
children rise up and call her blessed. and
that her works praise her in the gates.