The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-10-20


The Original of Rebecca in IFanhOe.
We believe it is not generally known
that the honor of having been the pro-
totype and inspiration of the character
of Rebecca the Jewess, in "Ivanhoe,"
belongs to an American lady, whose
beauty and noble qualities were de-
scribed to Scott by a friend. The
friend was Washington Irving, and the
lady Rebecca Gratz, of an honorable
Jewish family of Philadelphia.
Rehecca was born on the 4th of
March, 1871, and in her younger DAYS,
and even beyond middle life. she pos
sessed singular beauty. Her ewes were
of exquisite shape, large, black. and
lustrous; her figure was graceful, and
her carriage was marked by quiet dig
attractions which were heightened
by elegant and winning manners.
1t is said that, when young lady,
Rebecea won the regard of a gentleman
of character, position and wealth, whose
passion was devOtedly returned The
difference in their religious faith, how
ever,-the one a conscientious Chris
tan, the other devoted to the ancient
creed of Israel,-proved an insuperable
barrier to their union. She was never
married.
One of her brothers most intimate
friends was Washington Irving, then in
the early freshness of his literary fame.
When in Philadelphia he was welcome
guest at the mansion, and the big
al -,
he termed it. The beauty and charae-
ter of Rebecca, together with the fact
that she was a representative of race
whose history is full of romance, deeply
impressed him, and the foundation was
laid OF cordial friendship and admira-
ton which lasted through life.
Miss Gratz passed many other young
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 Salmagundi Matilda Hoffman,
the object of Irving's first, last, and only
love, was her dearest friend Miss Hotf-
man, who is described as lovely in per-
son and mind, with engaging manners,
delicate sensibilities, and playful humor,
faded early and died in 1909, at the age
of eighteen. Rebeeca was her constant
companion during her illness, sharing
with the family the cares of her sick
bed and holding her in her arms when
she died. Irving was then 26
years old, and for the half-century of
his later life he cherished faithfully the
memory Of his early love- He slept
with her Bible and prayer-book under
his pillow, and they were ever his in
separable companions. After his death,
a package was found containing some
private memoranda, a miniature Of great
beauty, braid of fair hair, and a slip
of paper containing her name in his
own handwriting. In his private note
book he wrote; "She died in the beauty
of her youth and in my memory she
will ever be young and beautiful"
For many years, during which he
studied law and was admitted to the
bar, Irving's naturally gay temperament
was overshadowed by this grief, and his
frequent intervals of depression I'M
fitted him for literary labor Engaging
in business with his brother at Liver
pool, he passed much of his time
abroad. His mercantile career, how
ever, proved failure, and he hence
forth devoted himself to literature. It.
1as in the fall of the year 1917 that
Scott and Irving met for the first time.
With letter of introduction from the
poet Campbell, who was aware that
SCOTS high estimate Of Irving's genius,
the latter visited Abbotsford He was
most cordially received and welcomed
by Scott himself, who came limping
down to the gate, attended by his favor
tie stag-hound, and grasped his hand in
a way that made irving feel as if they
were already old friends.
TO this friendship we owe the charac-
ter of Rebecca in "Ivanhoe." During
one of their many conversations, when
personal and family affairs were the
topics, Irving spoke of his own, and
Miss Hoffman's cherished friend, Re
becca Gratz, of Philadelphia, described
her wonderful beauty, relating the
story of her firm adherence to her re-
ligious faith under the most trying cir
cumstances, and particularly illustrated
her 1OVeun6SS OF character, ana HeAtOuS
philanthropy. Scott was deeply inter
ested and impressed, and conceived the
plan OF embodying the pure, moral
sentiment, that like thread Of silver
ran through the story Although "Rob
Roy" was then unfinished, he was al
ready revolving in his mind the plot
and characters of "Ivanhoe." He i'm
mediately determined to introduce
Jewish female character, and, on the
strength Of Irving's vivid description,
he named his heroine Rebecca.-Tbe
Century.