, 1879-08-17
THE GODDESS UNVEILED.

There probably never has been a coin Issued
by the Government which has created so mucf
talk and discussion as the Bl md dollar. It has
! been subjected to rid icule from the awkward
position Of the bird Of freedom, which holds {
place on the reverse side. It has been praised
for the beautiful profile OF the Young 1ady's face
| which is shown on the front. The interest in the
/ coin was heightened when it was whispered
| that the features we're intended to represent the
| true tyne OF American beauty, as distinguished
| from that Of any other nationality. Further than
this, it was quietly asserted that the young lady
was reality, and that the face WAS no ideal
sketch OF an artists fancy. Those who were in
| the secret kent their mouths sealed as to who
| the lady might be, and for months the face was
credited to various noted beauties, who we're
dattered as they read the glowing descriptions
OF themselves and, beng birds Of society, rather
liked the prominence than otherwise.
In the early part Of 1876 the Treasury Depart
ment opened communication with the Royal
Mint Of England for the purpose OF procuring
the services Of an expert designer and engraver:
whom 1t was desired should come to this couu-
try and take a position in the Philadelphia
Mint As result OF these negotiations clever
Young man named Morgan was sent over here.
He engaged accommodations With q Eery estt-
mablc lady, Mrs. Eckfelt, on Mount
Vernon street, above Sixteenth. he an
nouuced his business as being en-
ploycd By the Treasury Department, and
stated that he was engaged to make design
for new dollar, and immediately proceeded to
same time Mr.. Morgan vas eugaged in his
labors to produce something which wonld
startle the COUNTRY. Mr.. Barber, the Chief De
signer at the Mint here, was hard at work upon
the same sahjcct. For weeks and mouths Mr..
Morgan toled on, failing to produce design
which was satisfactory to himself. His atteu-
ton at first was given to the reverse side,
and eagles in various attitudes appeared,
but at Last be d dssnsd b;ca es;ysss Of n the
This was not the one which appears on the
coin now, but was larger, and its wings were
longer. An 2tter-thousht occurred, when the
wings we're Clipped, the bird reduced In SIZE.
verse side OF the dollar OF the daddfes was
ado,tcd as the proper design.
While engaged in his labors, Mr.. Morgan Wis
tied he Academy Of Fine Arts lnr the purpose
OF BRIGHTEN ng mp his ideas studying American
art. He was acquainted with the English and
the Continental schools. but, as his work was to
be Amcricanzed, he desired to make
it thoroughly SO. H. made the acquaint-
ance OF Mr. Thomas Eakins, an artist
Of no little reputation, and this soon rtpened
into warm friendship. Their interests oe'ng
identical, to Mr.. Eakius was communicated
many of the thoughts Of the foreign artist re-
garding the work he had on hand. Mr.. Morgan
desired to present Us the principal figure on the
coin representative head OF the American fe-
male beauty. His first inclination was to make
a fancifu1 head Of a Goddess OF Li5eTtY or
someth ng OF the sort, which would be pleasing
in its appearance, and vet hare no. real stg-
niticauce. A couple of designs Of this sort
wera made. but did not come u to the
expectations OF the artist. Then It was deter
mined that the head should be the representa-
fs-s-. .*w5 ~-f~-
sit while the artist slesched her features. Ru:
where to procure such lady was question
which bothered Mr. Morgan. He examined the
countenances OF the young women who make it
their business to pose as models for the artists
at the Academy, and among the large number
be could hnd none who suited his PURPOSES. He
went to the Woman's School OF Designs, but
in all the sketches and casts there exam
incd he could hna nothing WHICH accorded
with bis views. Then rhe services OF his
new-fouud friend, b1r. Eakins. were called in,
and that gentleman Induced Young Indy friend
OF tue family to sit as the model for Mr.. Nor
gan. Tnis iady is the one whose face is now
stamped on the coin OF the country. and whose
Identity, the more, becomes matter of historical
record.
The posings took place at the residence Of
Mr.. Eakius. on Mount Vernon street, below
Eighteenth. where the 1a1y was initiated into
question for long time as to just what form
the head and its ornam enta.ion should con-
sisr OF. Large ca2s were rn)de to represent me
Goddess OF Liberty And all sorts OF things. The |
who had never sat before. The designer is rep
resented to have said thtEt the profile OF tile |
miss was 'thc most perfect he had ever seen in |
Eugl md or in this country" After four or five
sttngs, tracings sufficient to proceed with the |
work had been secured, and Mr.. Morgan dis I
missed bis model. After this the designer took |
bis various sketches and from them wrought |
out the head which is the prominent figure on |
the front of the dollar Of the la idics.
Tie person who Is the subject OF this sketch, |
and whose fcatures form the groundwork for
the design on the coin. is a very estimabte and |
modest young lady. Her name is Miss Annie
". Williams, and she resides with her mother
md aunt at No. 1923 Spring Garden street, in
this city, u here the family have lived for mum
ber Of years. II did not OCCUR to her at the I
time Of the sitting that she would become his
torically famous, and had such Thought ever
crossed her mind the designer OF the dollar
would have been compelled to seek elsewhere for
3 subject. Miss Williams i5 blonde, and OF
vcrs fair com ole1lon. Bv mans she is regarded rs
pretty. She is slightly below the average
height and OF good figure. It would be i'm
appears on the dollar, because there are
numerous artistic changes made to suit the eye
of the DESIGNER. This is particularly the case
Tho know to resemble that Ut the wife of AR
Morgan. The Grccian nose and the delicate tios /
those OF Miss Williams and this characteristic
5 strongly marked in other members of the Will.
a:2s family OF course the bousv hair, the fold
ID Liberty cap and the Q her ornamcntationz
ire the addenda OF the artist, and made to set
II the figure so that it would appear to better
advantage.
Miss Williams is employed as teacher In the
,ir1s' school, No. 2, at the House Of Refuge,
shere she had been for the past TWO wears, She
$ regarded with high favor At the institution.
md is considered one Of the most "a ,able i'm
'arters OF knowledge 10 the large staff. She Is
modest and retiring IN manner, and with true
uto which her face anu nrme are brought,
Mrs. Chisholm's Determination.
Warrington Dtspufch IN Baltimore G4xafe .
The trial Of the murderers Of Judge Chisholm !
expected to begin ut Jackson or Merilian, l.
fss., on the Isl pro1. Mrs. Chisholm, who |
olds position in the TIeasurY Denartman. |