The Daily Texarkanian., 1894-05-29
SCOTS REBECCA AN AMERICAN,
A Prototype of the Famous Character
in IvanhOe' Born in
Philadelphia,

the idiosyncrasies of noted authors,
writing from San Francisco on the
interesting subject of the identity,
in real life, of Scott's Rebecca, Of
romance, makes the following sem
sational and rather startling asser-
tions on that subject:
"That young woman born in
Pennsylvania, who, during her life
time, was never beyond the confines
of her native land, and who was 50
shrinking and modest in her dispo-
sition as to be personally unknown,
even to those who gratefully ac-
cepted her bounty, should be the
prototype Of the heroine of the
greatest romance ever written, the
author of which was neverin Amer
lea, seems at first glance the height
of improbability. There is abund-
ant evidence to prove, however,
that Rebecca Gratz, a Philadelphia
woman of Hebrew descent, was the
original of Rebecca, the Jewess, in
Sir Walter SCOTS 'Tvanhoe.
"The Gratz family possessed blood
as blue as can be found even in the
aristocratic Quaker city, and Re
becca was born and reared a gen
tlewoman in every sense of the
word. The Hebrew birth did not
prevent the family from number
ing among their friends the most
distinguished personages in what
was then the leading city in the
country and in the brilliant society
of which George Washington, as
President of the United States, was
the center, the name of Gratz was
always prominent.
"The rare beauty of Rebecca, al
lied with her accomplishments and
attractive manners, brought many
admirers to her feet, but the only
one whose passion she reciprocated
was Christian, Although she
loved this youth as only a high
strung, delicate being can love, her
conscience would not permit an al
lance with one outside her own
faith, and so she resolutely tram
pied upon her feelings. The final
between the lovers was too
sad to be dwelt upon, but it is said
she told her gentle sweetheart that
she could not marry him
she would never wed another, a vow
which was sacredly kept.
'It was shortly after this episode
that Washington Irving passed a
considerable period in Philadelphia
as the guest of her brother in the
fine old country house Of the Gratz
family which stood on a large Farm
then several miles distant from the
city, but which has long since been
built over. The house was stand
ing until recently near the corner
of Eighteenth and Diamond streets,
being razed to make room for a
church edifce. Here Irving learned
the story of Rebecca's abnegation,
tale which so impressed itself up
on his mind that when he went
abroad some time later the remem-
brance of the'young woman's won
derful self-denial for the sake OF
her religion recurred 50 constantly
it was but natural he should men
ton the incident to Walter Scott
when stopping with the master
"The novelist saw at once how
strongly such a character could be
brought out in romance, and Rebec'
ca of York, the leading feminine
parsonage in "Ivanhoe" was the re-
suit. The fact that Miss Grat,
was the prototype of the character
was very well known to her friends,
but as far as can be learned nc
communication ever took place be-
tween the author and the heroine.
"After the separation from hei
lover Miss Gratz devoted her life tc
charity, and, among other actions
founded the first Jewish Sabbath
school in the world an institution
which is yet in active existence
with membership Of over 1900
She died at the advanced age Of IS
IN 1869 and is buried in a little He
brew graveyard on Spruce street.
Philadelphia, directly opposite the
old Pennsylvania hospital Through
the rusty and ancient iron gateway
one may catch a glimpse Of hei
tomb, bearing simply the inscrip
ton: Rebecca Gratz, born March
4, 1881 Died August u, 1869. ."