The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-29
SCOTS "REBECCA."


Written for the indianapolis journal.
The Magician" of the North has, in writing
Ivanhoe, not only rescued from oblivion the ira
ditions and manners of Old England, when it
was merry England" indeed, but he has drawn
for us picture of one of the most perfect and
one of the worst of female characters We think
he must have been thoroughly imbued with the
idea that when woman was good, she was very
good, indeed and when she was bad she was
horridn
have admired so often the righteousness with
which Scott has created this character. Many
have thought him deficient in acknowledgement
character. But if you will notice, the character
of Rebecca gathers its purity from growing out
of and being associated with the hideousness,
the oppression, the fanaticism and the prejudice
which the age heaped upon the jew Modesty is
the predominant trait in her character when
first introduced to the reader but soon after
ward, when "GurthT calls upon her father to pay
the price of his masters armOr, we are charmed
with her generosity and the delicate way i'll
which she hides the mercenary character of her
father, by saying MY father did but jest with
thee, good fellow"
Rebecca, in her care of Ivanhoe after the
tournament" shows herself to be a true
daughter of Miriam, and, in her unselfsh love
for him, true daughter of Eve. How fertile
must have been the brain that would wander
back to the nomadic life of the Jewish maiden
Miriam, the sister of Moses. to find teacher
for Rebecca; and yet how natural! For, if the
Scriptures and the tables of stone were
handed down from generation to generation in
tact, why not the medical knowledge The no
madic life the Jews led for many centuries
would of itself make them acquainted with plant
properties. The insulated life they were
obliged to lead, because of the persecution from
all other races, caused them to use that knowl-
edge for their protection and preservation.
Our lady physicians of to-day are surely glad to
know that the profession was theirs ages before
it got into the hands of the ''horrid men,"
III WOO her as the lion woos his bride!" We
follow the Jewish maiden as she is taken pris-
oner and carried with the Saxon Chiefs and her
father to the castle of Frond de Bnuf. Here. ex-
posed to the insult of wild, licentious outlaw,
she prefers death to dishonor. Here, we think,
much of her strength of character is obtained by
intimately mingling the lines of her fate with
those of the bold, bad man, who sought to make
her his mistress.
At the stake, her coarse white Dress her
mien, her negro attendants, her innocence are
all we can find to make her the most interesting
of objects A few bold strokes is all Scott gives
to make this his strongest character, and the
climax in the plot. Could anything be more
touching than her conference with Rowena, the
bride of Ivanhoe2 The simple act of going to
Ivanhoes bride TO pay the debt of gratitude which
she owed to Ivanhoe, could i'll no other way have
better shown her barred heart. And yet we ad-
mire the sweet beautiful way in which, woman
like, she hides her heart from view.
Fair flower of Palestine equaing in beauty
and strength of purpose in pride and strong
self-reliance, the proud mother of Israel for
whom she was named.
He leaped amid murderous band
And saved from outrage worse than DEATH
lady of the land.
And how she wept and clasped his knees,
And how she tended him in vain"
Mrs. H. r. YOUNG.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, Terre Haute.