The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-02-24
REBEccA CRATE


an interesting figure to all women.
First, and most important, was that
she gave almost her entire life over
to charitable work, and, second, that
she was so interesting character and
impressed Washington Irving so for
chilly with that fact that he spoke of
her to sir Walter Scott, and the Scot
fish novelist made her the heroine of
his novel, "Ivanhoe."
Rebecca Gratz was born in Phil
adelphia and lived in Philadelphia all
her life Her father was a prominent
merchant; she received a liberal ed
ucation and soon became conspicuous
among her people for her learning,
beauty, social accomplishments and
her interest in religious, educational
and charitable enterprises. Although
the greater part of her time and ener-
gy was devoted to the welfare of her
lpeople, yet she Iabored with zeal for
the uplift of the poor and afflicted
wherever she found them.
Her first work was as secretary of
the Female Association for the Re-
lief of Women and Children in Reduc-
ed Circumstances, and she held that
position for many years. In 1915 was
founded the Philadelphia Orphan Asy-
lum, principally through her instru-
mentality, and she was secretary of
that institution for forty years. She
also assisted in founding many other
very excellent charities in Philadel-
lphia.
Rebecca Gratz was modest, digni-
fed and devout, and had large and
select circle of friends and admirers
among all classes. She was not only
beautiful, but was charming CONVEX
sationalist. 1t is said that Henry
Clay, the American statesman, paid
her marked attention, but although
loved by worthy man, she put from
her heart all thoughts of marriage,
anu uAOCAnouAy 0CfOICQ ACl l1lAC unu
attention to benevolent purposes.
In 1888 Rebecca founded a mission
Sunday school for Hebrew children in
Philadelphia, where prayers of her
own composition were in daily use
and for which she procured the writ
ing and compilation of text books.
This is said to be the oldest institu-
ton of the kind in America. She died
August q, 1869, at the age of SS.
One of her brothers most intimate
friends was Washington Irving, then
in the early freshness of his literary
fame When in Philadelphia Irving
was welcome guest at the mansion,
and the "big room was assigned to
him to ''roost in as he termed it.
The beauty and character of Rebecca,
together with the fact that she was
a representative of a race whose his
tory is full of romance, deeply i'm
pressed him, and the foundation was
laid of social friendship and admira-
ton which lasted through life.
1t was in the fall of the year 1917
that Scott and Irving met for the first
time. To this friendship we owe the
character of "Rebecca" in "Ivanhoe"
During one of their many converse
tions, when personal and family af-
fairs was the topic, Irving spoke of his
own and that of the Gratz family and
described to Scott the wonderful beau
ty of Rebecca. related the story of her
firm adherence to her religious faith
under the most trying circumstances
and particularly illustrated her love-
illness of character and jealous phil
anthropy.
Scott was deeply interested and i'm
pressed and conceived the plan of en-
bodying the pure, moral sentiment
that like thread of silver ran
through the story. The charm of this
book lies in the sad. devoted and un-
requited tenderness of the Jewish
damsel. Rebecca is the angelic being
in Iyanhoe and to the last engrosses
all the interest. 1t is by far the most
finished and the most romantic crea-
ton of female character that the au-
thor ever conceived, and ranks with
any in the annals of poetry and ro-
nance.
Scott finished the book in Decem-
Der, 1919, and Immediately sent the
first copy to Irving. In the letter ac-
companying it he asked: "How do you
like Rebecca? Does the Rebecca /
have pictured compare we'll with the
pattern given?"