Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-22
Employees Of the Mint.
THE GREATEST TALKER THAT EVER
WORKED THERE.

Gamma Dickinson was the greatest talk
err ever employed in the mint OF late
years. said an old employe of that insti-
tuition to reporter But" he contin-
ued ..there was dumb girl here before
the war. who could out-talk with the fin
gers any womans tongue on the face of
the earth"
The old emplove was in a reminiscent
mood. He said: 1.-The name OF the dumb
girl was Rebec.a Davis. She was real
" beautiful woman, and was conscious OF
it, as most pretty women are. She was
employed in the mint in 1854, '55, and '56.
Becky as everybody spoke of her, was
liked bv all. Her sister. a Mrs. Thomp-
kins. kept well-known confectionery in
these days on Chestnut street. Becky
while entirely dumb, was not deaf. You
could talk to her, and she talked back
with her beautiful expressive eyes, her
head or her fingers"
"She was about % years of age when
she was first employed of fine figure.
graceful in every movement, full OF life
and always good natured. She was at
work in the adjusting-room. One day in
the winter of 1856 she created consterna-
ton in the mint that almost amounted to a
panic. While at work at her seat, en-
gagged in manipulating the bright gold
eagles, she turned her pretty face around
to the girl next to her and exclaimed loud
ly. oh, believe can speak, Her COM
panion to whom she spoke tainted out
right, and so did the young lady to her
left. The other women in the room left
their places and ran to the assistance of
the two Frustrated girls. Becky began
to chatter ike a magpie and almost faint
ed herself. Her speech had come to her
so suddenly that she could not realize it any
more than her asotunded room-mates, to
whom she had been making signs for
years. She remained in the mint some
years after that. and her case attracted
the attention of the greatest medical scen-
fists of that day. Rebecca was a Roman
Catholic in religion, and in 1858 she en-
tered convent near this city. do not
know whether she is living yet or not. but
she certainly scared the girls on that day.
anna Dickinson was employed here
during the war. She could talk on any
subject and gossip with anybody. Her
political discussions with the other en-
ployes, male and female, were numerous,
and led to frequent reports against her.
One day she denounced President Lin
coln's way of carrying on the war. She
did not like 1t. She thought it was not
vigorous enough. Her theme from morn
ing to night was the poor negro. Some.
body went to Director Pollock about her
denunciation of MIR. Lincoln. He expos
tulated with her and finally dismissed her.
"Some years afterwards. when she be-
came famous as lecturer, she came here
and spoke to large audience at the Acad-
envy of Music. Her friend, Judge Kelley,
was to introduce her to the audience, but
he had not arrived, and the audience was
growing impatient. There were several
distinguished gentlemen on the stage one
of whom was Ex-Governor Pollock. He
was finally prevailed upon to introduce
his former employe in the mint, which he
did in an eloquent manner. When he had
finished Miss Anna looked daggers at him
and did not stir from her seat. Judge
Kelley came in few minutes afterward
and she was again presented to the audi
ence. So you see she got even with Mr.
Pollock for dismissing her by publicly
rebuking him. She was great girl and
as smart as whip.
There goes a person who has been
here longer than have,' said the veteran.
as he pointed toward lady of about so
years OF age, around whose face fingered
traces Of former beauty. and whose figure
was still shapely and erect. "She came
here young miss of 10 years, 80 years
ago, and is now the chief adjuster Dur
ing the time of her employment she was
married to a gentleman few moments
before he died. who had courted her for
some years. She is really the mint and
knows more about its business than all
the rest of us put together "-Philadel-
phid Times