Original Of Rebecca In Ivanhoe

We believe it is not generally known that the honor of having been the prototype and inspiration of the character of Rebecca the Jewesss, in "Ivanhoe," belongs to an American lady, whose beauty and noble qualities were described to Scott by a friend. The friend was Washington Irving, and the lady Rebecca Gratz, of an honorable Jewish family of Philadelphia. Rebecca was bom on the 4th of March, 1781, and in her younger days, and even beyond middle life, sbe possessed singular beauty. Her eyes were of exquisito shape, large, black, and lustrous; her figure was graceful, and her carriage was marked by quiet dignity - attractions which were heightened by elegant and winning inanners It is said that, when a young lady, Rebecca won th regard of a gentleman of character, position, and wealth, whose passion was devotedly returned. The difference in their religious faith, however - the one a conscientious Christian, the other devoted to the ancient creed of Israel - provedan insuperable banier to their union. She wa3 never married. One of her brother's most intímate friends was Washington Irving, then in the early freshness of his literary fame. When in Philadelphia he was a welcome guest at the mansion, and the "big room" was assigned him to "roost in," as he termed it. The beauty and character of Rebecca, together with the fact that she was a representativo of a race whose history is f uil of romance, deeply impressfd him, and the foundation was laid of a cordial friendship and admiration which lasted through life. Miss Gratz passed many of her younger days with the Hoffmans and other old families in New York, with whom she was on intímate terms. Among her friends at this time were the literary wits of Salmagundi. Matilda Hoffman, the object of Irving's flrst, last, and only love, was her dearest friend. Miss Hoffman, who is described as lovely in person and mind, with engaging manners, delicate sensibilities, and playful humor, faded early and died in April, 1809, at the age of eighteen. Rebecca was her constant companion during her illness, sharing with the family the cares of her sickbed, and holding her in her arms when she died. Irving was then twenty-six years old, and for the half-century of lis later life he cherished faithfully the memory of his early love. He slept with her Bible and Prayer-book under his pillow, and they were ever his inseparable companions. Af ter his death, a package was found containing some private memoranda, a miniature of great beauty, a braid of fair hair, and a slip of paper containing her name in his own hand-writing. In hi3 srivate uote-bookhe wrote; "She died n the beauty of her youth, and in my memory she wlll ever be young and beautiful." Foi many years, during which he studied law and was admitted to the Dar, Irving's natura] ly gay temperament was overshadowed by this grief, and his frequent intervals of 'Jepression unlitted him for literary labor. Éndaging in business with his brother at Liverpool, he passed much of his time ibroad. His mercantile career, however, proved a failure, and he thence forth devoted hiinself to literatura. It was in the fall of the year 1817 that Scott and Irving met for the first time. With a letter of introduction from the poet Campbell, who was aware of Scotfs high estímate of Irving's genius, the latter visited Abbotsford. He was most cordially receiyed and welcomed Dy Seott himself, who carae limpiag down to the gute, attended by his favorïte stag-hound, and grasped his hand in a way that made Irving feel as if they were already old friends. To this friendship we owe the character of Rebecca in "Ivanhoe." During one of their many conversations, when personal and family aftairs were the ;opics, Irving spoke of his own, and Miss Hoffman's cherished friend, Reoecca Gratz, of Philadelphia, described her woiiderful beauty, related the story of her firm adherence to her religious faith under the most trying circumstances, and particularly illustrated her loveliness of character, and zealous ohilanthropy. Scott was deeply interísted and impressed, and conceived the plan of embodying the pure, moral sentiment, that iike a thread of silver ran through the story. Although "Rob Roy" was then unfinished, he was already revolving in his mind the plot and characters of "Ivanhoe." He immediately determined to introduce a Jewish female character, and, on the strength of Irving's vivid description, ie named his heroine Rebecca.