The times., 1898-10-23
REBEccA GRATz.
Another Account of the Prototype
of Scott,s He0Oine.
(from the New 20 Herald.l

NFIoHi the New OK hef1ld.l
The recent unyeiling In the Foster Jew
ish Home in Philadelphia OF a portrait
OF Rebecca< Gratz. the founder OF the
Home, copied by Miss WiIhelmine Loos
from the painting by Thomas Sully, re-
calls the fact that its subject was the
original Of Walter Scott's famous hero
inc, Rebeeca, in 'Ivanhoe."
Indeed had Scott not heard OF Rebecca
Gratz and her many physical and intel
leetual charms from her friend Wash
inston Irving, 1t is probable that he would
never have created the beautiful Hebrew
heroine OF his famous romance
The portrait of which Miss Loos has
made copy hangs in the home OF Mrs.
anna Gratz Clay. wife of-Thomas H.
Gay grandson of Henry Clay. at Lex
lnSton. Ky, In the room usually occupIed
by Rebeeca Gratz when she visited her
brotner. benjamin Gratz. who was Mrs.
Clay's grandfather. There is another
portrait of Rebecca, a miniature BY NAL
bone. which is in the possession Of the
| Gratz Nathan family.
There was a romance in Rebecca's life
which appealed strongly TO Scott. and had
much 10 do with his decision to put a He
Drew heroine in the story Rebecca Gratz
was loved by scion of one of the leading
families OF Philadelphia. and she requited
| ms love. But. though many of her inti-
moved freely in the highest social circles
IN Philadelphia. she clung so tenaciousIy
ana with such pride to the religious tenets
OF her race that she sacrificed her love
rather than her religion.
another romance. that of Washington
lrvines life-a love tragedy. whose sor-
row he bore to the day of his death
made more firm the ties of friendship
which united the famous American an
70 -
TO Rebecca. For Matilda Hoffman. the
| love OF Irving's life. who died when she
| was only eighteen years old was Rebac-
| cas- dearest friend.
When Irving visited Scott the latter had
not yet completed Rob Roy" but he was
! already turning over "Ivanhoe' In his
mind In course of conversation Irving.
whose writings Scott greatly admired
ana TO whom he took a strong presonaI
liking, happened to tell of Rehecca Gratz.
| OF her beauty and of her firm adherence
| TO her faith. Scott listened with great
| interest, questioned Irving at length. and
finally told him he would introduce He
brew heroine in his next romance and
I name her Rebecca
When '1vanhoe' was published Scott
I sent irving copy of the book with a
| letter in which he said: How do Won
! like your Rebecca? Does the Rebecca I
| have pictured compare well with the pat
| tern given2' Thus We owe TO Irvine's
| mutual friendship for Scott and for Re
| becca GratZ, and also to the latter's rare
| beauty and hrmnesS of character. one of
the most exquisite creations in the long
| line of heroines of English fiction. and
thus Rebecca GRATIS own romance form
ed the suggestion of the unrequited ten
! derness Of Seott's Rebecca. Thus. too
! Scott drew his inspiration from an Ameri-
| can Hebrew girl whom he had never seen.
Rebecca Gratz was the daughter of
| Michael GratZ, who came from Austria
in 100. settling in Philadelphia. where he
| supplied Indian traders with merchsn-
| disc After the Revolution he acquired
large landed interests in Kentucky In
Guiding the Mammoth Cave. He left
eleven children. His son Simon Gratz
founded the Pennsylvania Academy CT
Fine Arts. and Gratz College is a'so
named after the family
Rebecca Gratz was born in 1881 ard
lived TO be lightweight years o.d. She
possessed singular beauty. Her eyes
Were black and Iustrous. her figure
| graceful, her manners most winning.
| while her education made her the center
of a brilliant circle Henry Clay was
warm friend OF her brother. and paid her
! marked attention She was extremely
! charitable, and founded several institu-
| tions besides the Foster Home. One cf
her aunts married DR.. Nicholas Schuyler
| against her family's wishes. Rebecca's
| grandfather was especially opposed TO
the match, and Mrs. Schuyler became
as one dead TO him Toward the end of
her grandfather's last illness. during
| which Rebecea watched by his bedside,
he asked her II there was any wish he
could grant her Turning her large.
pleading eyes upon him, she said:
Forgive Aunt Shinah'' The old man
| reiented. and. thanks TO Rebeeca's ten
der heart. died in his daughters arms.