The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-17
MRS. MARY E. NEALY.
A Woman i'm Whose Life Were Com
bined Many Gracious Qualities.

Mrs. Mary E. Nealy, whose death oc-
Cured on the Sth of February, at her home
in Washington, d. c., was an old and
valued contributor to the Journal. A per-
sonal friend, writing of her. says that EN-
doWed with q warm heart and keen per-
ceptions. her powers were developed by
an active life as wife, mother and home
maker, and by an unfiagging interest in
the progress of art and literature. She
was a representative of the best type of
American womanhood, an illustration of
the possibility of combining the intellect
ual with the domestic life. Her gracious
serenity and courtesy realized the best
ideals of queenly bearing. Her personal
appearance, of which the most remark
able features were a complexion clear as
ivory, deep blue eyes and abundant dark
hair, remained attractive to the last"
She was born in Louisville, KY, Dec. u,
1926. and was educated in that city. She
was married at the age of seventeen, in
Harrison county, Indiana, and lived in
Indianapolis until the call for volunteers
in 1861. Later she removed to Washington
in order to be near her two sons, who
were with the Army of the Potomac. Her
boys, mere lads, served throughout the
war. and subsequently died from the eff
fects of wounds, exposure and imprison-
ment. She was an ardent patriot. John
G.. Whittier spoke of her as the faithful
among the faithless to union liberty Mrs.
Nealy wrote over three hundred poems,
many relating to the civil war. Among
those appearing in the Journal are by
ing in the Hospital" THE Captains Good
bye to His Wife" He has Won the
$50 T. IAlAI IT-IAA
and Slavery Who is ResponsibIe?' Let
us Have Peace" My Veteran of Seven
teen" How Long, Lord, How Long,
Dec. Is, 1861, THE Baptism of a Ma
ton "In Memory of Lieutenant Pratt
(son of Senator Pratt, of Indiana The
last contribution from her pen appear
ing in these columns was also a civil war
poem, entitled Fairy Rings" published
in 1900. During the palmy days of Godey,s
Ladies Book" the name of Mary +.
Nealy was frequently met with on it's
pages. She was also a regular contributor
TO the Louisville Journal, published then
by George ID. Prentice who placed her
verse with that of Alice and Phoebe Cary.
For over thirty years Mrs. Nealy was
identified with the best society of the cap
ital. She was an active member, until
i'll health restricted her movements, of
the literary society," of which President
Garfield was president, and which is still
fiourishing under the guidance of DR.. David
Jayne Hill, the scholarly assistant secre-
tary of state. At ex-Postmaster General
Horatio Kings hundredth literary reunion,
in a review of their many brilliant con-
tributors, he gave Mrs. Nealy the title OF
poet laureate"
She was an enthusiastic collector of cera-
mics, and wrote a number of valuable
papers on pottery and porcelain for the
Aldine, the Art Amateur and Appleton's
Art Journal. She has left unpublished a
tographs. the results of her studies of a
rare collection of ceramics In the United
States.
Her husband. Hugh Nealy. died three
years ago. Two children survive her, Sid
II. Nealy and Mrs. Ada Nealy Murray.
The following poem was expressly writ
ten by Mrs. Nealy to be read at her
funeral:
Lay it away. this form of clay,
When the Spirit of Life shall have passed
away;
Lay it away from the sight of all,
While the sun may shine and the rain may
Bury it tenderly in the earth
Whose bountiful nature gave it birth
Close, close by the side of the loved ones
And there let it rest while the years roll on.
Rest from sorrow and care and pain,
From tears that fall like the autumn rain;
From toll and struggle, from year TO year,
From disappointment and ceaseless fear:
No sickness no parting, no storm. no
blight,
Can reach us ever, by day or night;
But quiet forever, and rest and peace,
Shall bring to our bosoms a sweet release.
And enough Of us shall be left behind
Enough of the spirit and heart and mind
OF kindly actions and loving words
To float, like the morning songs OF birds
Around the hearts we have loved Away,
Till their eyes are dim and their heads
are gray;
To Irvine in beauty. like vines unseen,
And TO keep our memories ever green.
Al - e. ~ .cs.~ --
Which has always reached for a loftieI
goal
Than the earth could give it-at last, al
last,
With never a shadow or cloud o'eroast-
II will stretch its wings for its heavenly
flight,
Till il reaches the regions of living light
Where Gods fruition fills sea and shore
And the Spirits longing shall be no more