Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-01-27
FAMOUS MINT EMPLOYEES.
"A mute Girl Who Made Persons Faint by
Suddenly Speaking.
From the Philadelphia Times.1

Anna Dickinson was the greatest
taiker ever employed in the mint OF
late years." said an old employee OF
Uhat institution yesterday to areport-
er. But" he continued, t'there was a
dumb girl here before the war, who
could outtalk with the fingers any
Woman's tongue on the face of the
earth"
The old employee was in a reminis-
cent mood. He said: "The name of
the dumb girl was Rebecca Davis.
She was a really beautiful woman and
was conscious of it, as most pretty
women are. She was employed in the
mint IN 1854, '55 and $50. Becky, ,
as everybody spoke of her, w&s liked
oy all. Her sister, Mrs. Tompkins,
kept well-known confectionery in
those days on Chestnut Street, be-
tween Eleventh and Twelfth, where
Birch's store is now located. Becky
while entirely dumb, was not deaf.
You conld talk to her and she talked
back with her beautifully expressive
eyes, her head or her fingers. She
was about 25 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 ad-
Justlng room. One day in the winter
or 1886 she created q CONSERVATION
In the mint that almost amounted to a.
panic. While at work at her seat,
engaged IN manipulating the bright
gold eagles, she turned her pretty face
around to the girl next to her and ex-
claimed loudly, 'Oh, | believe I can
speak! Her companion to whom she
spoke tainted outright, 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 like a magpie, and almost
tainted herself. Her speech had come
to her so sudden that she could not
realize 1T any more than her astound-
ed 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 scientists of that day.
Rebecca was a Roman Catholic in re-
ligion and in 1858 she entered a con-
vent near this city. I 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 can talk on any
subject and gossip with any body.
Her political discussions with the
other employees, male and female were
numerous and led to frequent reports
against her. One day she denounced
President Lincoln's way of carrying on
the war. She did not like it. She
thought it was not vigorous enough.
Her theme from morning till night was
the poor negro. Somebody went to
Director Pollock about her denuncia-
ton of Mr.. Lincoln. He expostulated
with her and finally dismissed her.
Some years afterward, when she be-
came famous as a lecturer, she came
here and spoke to large audience at
the Academy of Music. Her friend,
Judge Kelley, was to introduce her to
the audience, but he mad not arrived,
and the audience was growing i'm
patient. There were several distin-
guished gentlemen on the stage, one OF
whom was ex. Gov. Pollock. He was
finally prevailed upon to introduce his
former employee in the mint, which he
did in an eloquent manner. When he
finished Miss Anna looked daggers at
him and did not stir from her seat.
Judge Kelley came in few minutes
and she was again presented
to the audience. So you see she got
even with Mr.. Pollock for dismissing
her by publicly rebuking him. She was
a great girl and as smart as g. 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 q
young miss of 19 years, thirty-two
years ago, and is now the chief adj
juster. During the time Of her employ
ment she was married to gentleman
q few moments before he died, who
had courted her for some years. She
is really the mint and knows, more
about it's business that all the rest of
us put together"