St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-20
FAMOUS QUAKER CITY WOMEN.

Benedict Arnotd's Beautiful Brfde; Rebsc-
On GratS the Heroine Of Scott's IvanhOe.
The Philadelphia correspondent Of the Chi
cago Tribune relates that one night last sum-
mer an English nobleman. chatting on the
piazza Of the Grand Union Hotel at Saratoga
said: II have seen more charming women
in Philadelphia than in any other city OF the
United States. They are not only beautiful
OF form and face, but their style also is per-
feet.snd they indicate the highest breeding"
Very. laudatorv was all this. complete
study Of the subject. however, however, would
show that 1t was not unwarranted. Philadel-
phia women are decidedly beautiful The
best families Of this city-and by that Is
meant families Of hereditary culture, with
means sufficient to keep up refined or ele-
CANT course Of iiving-are from two sources
One class was originally OF the best English
blood, devoted to the Anglican church and
friendly to all the Anglican fashions and fol-
lies. The other was made up Of the demure
but essentially refined followers Of William
Penn. With the whirling years very many
OF the disciples OF Fox have abandoned their
old tenets and gone over into the hosts Of
what they must have regarded as the world
ings. A mere change Of faith, so to speak,
could not, however, destroy the effects Of
/ perhaps generations OF the discipline Of the
Society OF Friends; and so We find strains Of
/ Quaker blood showing out In the demure
faces Of madens whose toilets would never
suggest that a shad-bellied coat or poke
bonnet ever hung in the Railways Of their
houses. the air Of the Philadelphia girl is
] Fv1, q. a
feel respectable. At any great gathering
at Long Branch, Saratoga, or Newport--the
New York girl snuTs Der out in poln, Of dress
without half trying. But there Is about her
an air Of hghered elegance, OF com plete re-
repose, Of that indescribable, insldious quail
ity known as the best style-ln a VOID, for
the want OF which no splendor OF attire can
compensate. The Philadelphia girl is indeed
the true American We're de We're with heart
BENEDICT ARSoLD's BRIDE.
The Quaker City has not been famed FOR
beauty Of its women in this day only. The
pages Of all its sedate history are bright wi IA
the faces Of prettg maidens and stately ma
irons.
Among the beauties Of the Revolutionary
days none was more charming than gay, III
starred Margaret Shipper. Her family was
at that time one OF the most influential in the
provinces, aud it has continued % give 10
/ Philadelphia succession OF sturdy, high
minded men and women, though her own
life was elouded by suspicious ofsdisloyslty.
4 She married Benedict Arnold when she was
/ Is. She first met him la Philadelphia on his
/ return from Canada loaded with honors, and
her girish fancy was captivated by his DASH
ing manners and the splendor Of his career.
Her family opposed the union, but she in
| sisted on 1t, aud would have become his wife
in spite OF all opposition, but the barriers
were at last removed. Sac had been married
about year and had just become a mother,
when her husband committed the traitorous
deed that will make his name despised
through all time, She was at West Point
with her baby. She was nj once taken into
custody and given into charge Of Gen. HAM
iltOn AM Aaron Burr to be conveyed 10
Philadelphia. She was not permitted to re
main in peace, however, even at the house
OF her father. The indignation OF the popu-
lace was at fever heat, and the traitors
young bride was ordered by the Provincial
Council, theu the governing body, to leave
the colonies. In vain her father, afterwards
Chief Justice, pleaded for mercy. He offered
tue largest security for her conduct; prom
ised that she should receive no eommunica-
/
but the public channels and under the
closest scrutiny. 1t was in vain. The .oun-
Gil would not modify its decree. The young
wife left for England. met her husband
there, and lived with him to a good old age.
Some OF their descendants have done distin-
guished service in the army and navy and
in the English church.
On the way 10 Philadelphia the beautiful
young mother and her custodians rested at
farmhouse near Trenton kept by Mrs. Pro-
vost. After Mrs. Arnold had died Aaron
Burr, himself q traitor in embryo, publicly
stated that Mrs. Arnold had there declared
that her husbands sentiments were her SEN
timents, and that she was true royalist and
an opponent OF rebellion. "What be omitted
to say" remarked relative OF Mrs. Aruold's
the other day in conversation about this mat
ter, Twas that he had on that occasion en-
deavored 10 betray her. and that she had in
dignanily repealed his advances.
REBECoA OF IvANHoE
Although Plililelphil has had its beautiful
and gifted women at al periods, none per-
haps ever achieved more lasting and deserved
fame than Rebecca Graft, the beautiful jew
ess OF Washington Irving's time. Miss
Gratz came of wealthy aud cultured family,
aud went into the best Of even this city's
tANlustNc boStclA. among uer most Intimate
friends was Mrs. Susan Gibson near rela-
tive, by the way, Of Benedict Arnod's bride
| who was also one OF Washington Irying's
most cordial admirers. Sir Walter Scott had
about that time given deep pain To many of
bis sincerest aud most judicious friends by
tue prejudice which he had shown in his
works against the Jews. Mrs. Gibson, TO
whom Rrbecca Gratz was living illustration
OF one OF the sweetest qualities in woman,
wrote 10 Washington Irving and suggested
that be take the beautiful Jewess as a model
for character TO be written in q new novel.
Irving never undertook the work himself;
but shortly afterward he met Scott at AbbOts-
ford and recounted TO him the shining quail
ties OF this beautiful member OF the house Of
Israel. Scott promised TO make amends for
the past and when his "Ivanhoe'' appeared,
the character of the noble Rebecca there
showed that be had kept bis word.
A niece Of Rebecca the beautiful Is now
the wife Of A. X. Mcclure, the editor OF the
Tunes OF this city. Contemporary with Miss
Gratz as Philadelphia beauties were Zenaide
and Charlotte, the daughters OF Joseph Bona
| parte, cx- king of Spain and Naples ana