[Mrs. Mary Eliza Ireland.]
Mrs. Mary Eliza Ireland, the daughter of Joseph Haines and Harriet (Kirk) Haines, was born in the village of Brick Meeting House, now called Calvert, January 9, 1834. In early life she married John M. Ireland, son of Colonel Joseph Ireland, of Kent county, Md. They are the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy. They now reside in Baltimore, where Mr. Ireland holds the position of United States storekeeper in the Internal Revenue Department.
Until the past few years Mrs. Ireland has always lived in the old homestead where she was born and married, and from whence her parents were removed by death.
Her first literary effort was a short story written when quite a young girl, entitled “Ellen Linwood,” and published in the Cecil Whig, then edited by the late Palmer C. Ricketts, under the nom de plume of “Marie Norman.” For several years after the publication of “Ellen Linwood” Mrs. Ireland occasionally contributed to the Cecil Whig and Oxford Press.
Some years ago she wrote a story for Arthur’s Magazine, and being in Philadelphia soon after it was written, she took it to the publishing house, and there met for the first time T.S. Arthur, whom she had known from childhood through his books. He received her kindly, promised to read her story, and to let her know his decision the next day. That decision was, that though entertaining and well written, it was scarcely suited to his magazine. He suggested another periodical where it would likely meet with favor. He also asked for another story, and presented her with a set of the magazines that she might see the style of writing that he desired.
Her next story for Arthur’s was a success, and from that time until his death he remained the candid critic of all she sent him for publication, as well as of some stories published elsewhere, and the kind literary adviser and friend. She retained her first story (which he had declined) for three years, made some changes in it, and he accepted and published it.
Since then she has been an acceptable contributor to Cottage Hearth, Household, and other domestic magazines, besides the Literary World, Ladies’ Cabinet, Woman’s Journal, and several church papers; and has written two prize stories, which took first prizes.
In 1882 her short stories were collected and connected into a continued story, which was accepted and published by J.B. Lippincott & Co., under the title of “Timothy; His Neighbors and His Friends.”
Many letters of appreciation from distant parts of the Union testified to the merit of the book, and she was encouraged to accede to the request of the Presbyterian Observer Company of Baltimore to write a serial for their paper. It was entitled “Ivandale,” and was warmly commended by judges of literary work.
Wishing to read German literature in the original, she undertook the study of German, and as she had no time which she was willing to devote to regular lessons, she obtained a German pronouncing reader, and without instruction from any one she succeeded in learning to read and translate, pronouncing correctly enough to be understood by any German. This knowledge of the language has been a well-spring of pleasure to her, and well repays her for the few moments’ attention she daily bestowed upon it. She has translated several books, two of which were published as serials in the Oxford Press, and the Lutheran Board of Publication have published one of her translations, entitled “Betty’s Decision.” Many beautiful short stories have found their way into our language and periodicals through the medium of her pen.