Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-09-08
REBECOA GRATz.
The Philadelphia Lady Who Was the
Prototype of SCOTS Heroine
In "Ivanhoe.'

"A writer in the Century magazine saws:
The honor of having been the protetype and
Inspiration of the character of hRebeccan The
Jewess, In Ironhoe belongs to an American
lady, whose beauty and noble qualities were
described 10 Scott by friend The friend
was washington Irving, and the lady Re-
becca Gratz, OF an honorable Jewish family
| OF Philadelphia, Rebecca was born on
| the 4th of March, 1871, and in
her younger days, and even beyopd mid
die life, she possessed Singular beauty.
Her eyes were of exquisite shape, large,
black and lustrous; her figure was graceful.
and her carriage was marked by quiet dig
nlty-attractions which were heightened by
elegant and winning manners 1t Is said
that, when lady, Rebecca won the regard of
a gentleman of character, position, and
wealth, Whose passion was devotedly return
ed. The difference in. their religious faith,
however-the one conscientious christian,
the other devoted TO the creed OF Israel
proved an inseparable barrier to their
union. Shewas never married. One
OF her brothers most intimate friends was
Washington Irving, then in the freshness
OF his literary fame. When in Philadelphia
ne was welcome guest at the mansion, and
the big room" was assigned him TO "roost
In" as he termed it. The beauty and char
acter OF Rebecca, together with the fact that
she was representative of race whose his |
tory Is full of romance, deeply impressed |
him, and the foundation was laid of cor
dial friendship and admiration which lasted |
through life. Miss Gratz passed many OF |
her younger days with the Hoffmans, |
and other old families in New York,
with whom she was on intimate
terms. Among her friends at this time were
the literary wits of Salmaetnrdi. Matilda
Holman, the object of Irving's first, last and
only love, was her dearest friend. Miss
Holman, who is described as lovely in per-
son and mind, with engaging manners, deli
cate sensibilities and playful humor, faded
early and died in April, 1909, at the age OF
eighteen. Rebecca was her constant com
panioH during her illness, sharing with the
family the cares of ber sick-bed, and holding
her In her arms when she died. Irving
was then twenty-six years old, and for
the half century of his later life be cher
lshed faithfully the memory of his early
love. He slept with her Bible and PRAYER
book under his pillow, and they were ever
his lnseparable companions. After his death
a package was found containing some pri-
Vate memoranda, miniature of great beauty, |
4 braid OF fair hair, and slip of paper CEN
aiming her name in his own handwriting.
In his private notebook he wrote: "She
lied in the beauty of her youth, and in NV
memory she will ever be young and ,
beautiful. For many years, during which
le studied law and was admitted TO the bar,
rvlng's naturally gay temperament was
shadowed by this grief, and his frequent |
intervals OF depression untitled him for lit
rary labor. Engaging in business with his
,rother at Liverpool, he passed much of his
lme abroad. His mercantile career, how.
yer, proved failure, and he thence
orth devoted himself to literature. II
vas in the fall of the year 1877
hat Scott and Irving met for the I
rst time. With a letter of introduction l
rom the poet Campbell, who was aware of
cott's high estimate of Irving's genius, tie 3
after visited Abbotsford. He was most cor
tally received and welcomed by Scott him. o
ELF, who came limping down TO the gate at
ended by his favorite staghouud, and grasped
Is hand In way that made Irving feel
$ II they were already old friends. To y
his friendship we owe the character of b
Rebecca" in IUanhoe. During one of their d
,sny conversations, when personal and
amily affairs were the topics, Irving spoke n
his own and Miss Hoffman's cherished b
riend, Rsbecca Gratz, of Philadelphia, 81
escribed her wonderful beauty, related the
Tory OF her firm adherence 10 her religious Z
nth under the most trying circumstances, 4
nd particularly illustrated her lowell a
ess OF character and Jealous philan-
,ropy. Scott was deeply interested and II
impressed, and conceived the plan of en- u
odying the pure moral sentiment that like a
thread of silver ran through the story. |
Though Rob Roy was then unfinished, he
as already revolving in his mind the plot
nd characters of Iudnlh0e. He Immediately
etermiued to introduce a Jewish female
laracter, and on the strength of Irving's
Ivid description, he named his heroine =;
Rebecca"