Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 March 1884 — Scott Dictating “Ivanhoe.” [ARTICLE]

Scott Dictating “Ivanhoe.”

Lockhart says that Sir Walter Scott dictated the greater part of the “Bride of Lammermoor,” the “Legend of Montrose,” and “Ivanhoe” to William Laidlaw and John Ballantyne. “GooC Laidlaw,” he adds, “entered with such zest into the story, as it flowed from the author’s lips, that he could not suppress exclamations of surprise and delight: ‘ Gude keep us a’!—the like o’ that—eh, sirs! eh, sirs!’ ” Mr. Laidlaw used to shake his head at this passage of Lockhart: “I remember,” he said, “being so much interested in the part df ‘ Ivanhoe’ relating to Rebecca, the Jewess, that I exclaimed: ‘That is fine, Mr. Scott! get dn—get on! ’ He laughed, and replied, “Ay, Willie, but recollect I have to make the story.’ I have more than once heard Mr. Laidlaw relate this anecdote; adding, that Sir Walter was highly pleased with his character of Rebecca, saying, ‘I shall make of my Jewess!’”