The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-06-16
THE HEROINE OF IVANHOE.
BY ]. MAX HARK.

city of Lancaster. Pa, led me to make
pilgrimage the other day to spot on its
northern outskirts, hard by what was
once the ample estate of George Ross,
the signer Of the Federal Constitution
a spot which / was led to believe had an
interest all its own, quite apart and diff
ferent from that attaching to the old Ross
estate on which it borders. l went to
visit the old Jewish cemetery used by the
Hebrews of Lancaster for over q century
for the burial of their dead, inclosed in a
double fence of simple wooden palings,
and scrupulously watched over and care
fully kept in order by them to the pre-
sent day. In this humble little inclosure,
with its score or two of well-kept graves,
tradition told me lay the remains Of her
whose beauty and nobility Sir Walter
Scott has immortalized in RebeccR, the
daughter Of the rich Jew, Isaac, in his
greatest romance, Ivanhoe. The object
of my pilgrimage was to verify, if posi-
BILE, this tradition. failed. For, though
think found the grave, covered with a
massive moss grown slab of sandstone,
of Michael Grstz, who near the close of
last century had dor ated the ground
wherein his bones repose as a cemetery
for the Jews of Lancaster, and though
the remains of his wife Miriam, Jewish
| lady of Lancaster whom he married dur
ing his long residence there-though
both may rest there, in that consecrated
spot, the grave of their lovely daughter
Rebecca found not-and quite natur-
ally, for she was buried many years after
them in Philadelphia, in August, 1869,
full of years and honor.
If, however, the local interest in Re-
becca Gratz was thus diminished for
me, my general interes in her was in
creased by my further acquaintance with
her history, and it's relation to that Of the
most perfect female character the great
Wizard of the North has given us in all
his voluminous works. Although the lead
ing facts Of it have been narrated in print
before, it is safe to say that but few of
the present generation of readers Of Ivan
hoe are acquainted with the interesting
facts by which America came to furnish
the prototype and inspiration for one Of
the most charming characters in the
whole realm of English fiction.
Rebecca Gratz was born at Lancaster
on March 4, 1871, but removed with her
parents from that city when yet child,
to Philadelphia, where her home soon
became and long remained center of
refined culture and social influence, and
later still more of charitable and be-
nevolent activity. In the annals of the
City of Brotherly Love no name occurs
| oftener or stands higher in the history of
benevolent enterprises and institutions
OF all kinds and among all religious de-
nomin atoms, than that of the brilliant
Jewish beauty, the cultured and broad
minded philanthropist, Rebeccs Gratz.
Her circle of acquaintance included
nearly all the most prominent men of her
time, military, social, political and liter
airy; and Gentiles We'd with Jews in court
ing her society and praising her beauty
and attachments. Through it all, how
ever, che remained orthodox and devout-
ly loyal to her people and her faith. This
it was that brought about her hearts
tragedy, and indirectly gave Rebecca the
Jewess to literature.
While living in Philadelphia, Miss
Gratz was wooed, it is said, and her heart
was won by a Christian gentleman of high
character and standing in society, and of
great wealth. She heroically refused his
hand, however, their difference of reli-
gion forming to her mind an insuperable
barrier to their union. She remained
heart-true to him, however, and died
single. The greatness and depth of her
sacrifice for her conscience, sake only a
few of her most intimate friends could
know. And such an one was Mathilda
Hoffman, the beloved of Washington Irv-
ing. Through her Miss Gratz, frequent
visitor at her home in New York, became
intimately acquainted with Irving, a re-
lat1on Which became peculiarly close
through the early death of Miss Hoff
man, her dearest friend, his only love. A
common sorrow drew them to each other.
1t was eight years after this sad event
in 1907 that Irving visited England and
Scotland, and formed the acquaintance
OF Sir Walter Scott, an acquaintance
that had ripened into warm friendship
before the genial American left Abbotts-
ford, where the few days of happiness in
the midst Of its charming scenery and as
sociations had sped all too swiftly for
both. At this time Sir Walter was still
at work on Rob Roy, but he had already
in contemplation story different in
time and locality from his previous Wa
verify novels, and perhaps even had some
of the plot of Ivanhoe worked out in
general outline. 1t was then that Irving.
in conversation with him on the subject,
suggested the character of Rebe cca, the
Jewess, giving him an admiring decriptlon
OF his and the mourned Miss Hoffman's
beautiful Jewish friend, and telling the
tale of her purity, lofty principles, gen
erous benevolence, and yet feIvent 10y
atty to the religion and traditions of her
fathers. Scott at once discerned in her
character, and in the history Of. her great
sacrifice for conscience sake, abundant
material, full of romantic interest. He at