The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-01-23
Famous Mint Employees.
Philadelphia Times.

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talker ever employed in the Mint OF
late years, said an old employe of that
institution yesterday to areporter. But,
he continued, there was dumb girl
here before the war, who could out-talk
with the fingers any woman's tongue on
the face of the EARTH.
The old employe was in reminiscent
mood. He said: 'The name of the
dumb girl was Rebecca Davis. She was
really beautiful woman and was con-
scious of it, as most pretty women are.
She was employed in the Mint in 1854,
IS and SO. Becky as everybody
spoke of her, was liked by all. Her
sister, Mrs. Tompkins, kept we'll
known confectionery in those days on
Chestnut street, between Eleventh and
Twelfth, where Birch's store is now To-
Gated. Becky while entirely dumb,
was not deaf. You could talk to her
and she talked back with her beautifully
! expressive eyes, her head or her fingers.
She was about twenty-five 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 a
CONSERVATION in the Mint that almost
amounted to panic. While at work
at her seat, engaged in manipulating
the bright gold eagles, she TUNED her
pretty face around to the girl next to
her and exclaimed loudly, ooh, believe
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 pros
trated girls. Becky began to chatter
like magpie and almost tainted her
self. Her speech had come to her so
sudden that she could not realize it any
more than her astounded 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 religion and in 1858
she entered 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
coins way of carrying on the war. She
did not like it. She thought it was not
vigorous enough. Her theme from
morning to night was the poor negro.
Somebody went to Director Pollock
about her denunciation of Mr.. Lincoln
He expostulated with her and finally
dismissed her. Some years afterward,
when she became famous as a lecturer,
she came here and spoke to large au-
dience at the Academy of Music. Her
friend, Judge Kelly, was to introduce
hERFtt1, hRFt t. the arlfdtAaGdl md aGdl5hctt 5hctt M5s growing
impatient. There were several distin-
guished gentlemen on the stage, one of
whom was Elk 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 dag
gers at him and did not stir from her
seat. Judge Kelly came in few min
utes afterward and she was again pre-
sented to the audience. So you see she
got even with Mr.. Pollock for dismiss
ing her by publicly rebuking him. She
was a great girl and as smart as whip.
There goes a person who has been
here longer than have, said the veter-
an, as he pointed toward lady of about
fifty 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 19
years, thirtytwo years ago and is now
the chief adjuster. During the time OF
her employment she was married to a
gentleman a few moments before ne
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.S