The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-04
Famous Mint EMPLOYEES.

Gamma Dickinson was the greatest
talker ever employed in the mint of late
years. said an old cmployc of that insti-
tuition TO a Il reporter for the Phladrl-
phia Times. '-i;u he continued.
there was Il dumb girl here before the
war who cOuld onl talk with the fingers
any woman : tongue on the face of the
earth.
The old cmpIoye was in a reminiscent
mood. He said: The name of The
dumb girl was Rebrcca Davis. She was
really hramiiul wGmun and was con-
srinns et il. aS mo>I pretty woman are
She was employed ia ih: miut in 1854
%, 36. Becky. a. ..,rTN 1,,dy spoke
OF her. vas lik,ri bN all iI:r sister. q
Mrs. I"mphin>. kept L wrl. known con-
tecIionery in Iios- DAYS on Chestnut
street between Ei.srntiI and Twelfth,
where Birch's >a.lr is now located.
'Becky. while entirely dumb. was not
deaf. You unuld i..Ik TO her and she
talked back with i,''r beautifully express
slTe eyes. hrr head. "r fingers. She was
about 20 years Df age when she was
inst employed. Of fine figure, graceful in
every movement. iull OF life, and ALWAYS
good natured. She was at work in the
adJustng-Toom- One day il the winter
of 1856 she created CONSERVATION in
the mint that almost amounted to
panic While at work at her seat, en-
gagged in manipulating the bright gold
eagles. She turned her pretty face around
10 the girl next to her and exclaimed
loudly: oh, l believe l can speak,
Her companion To whom she spoke
tainted outright, and SO did the Young
lady on her lett The other women in
the room left their places and ran 10 the
assistance OF the two PROSTATE girls.
Becky began to chatter like a magpie
and almost tainted herself Her speech
had come to her 50 suddenly that she
could not realize it any more than her
astonnded room-mates, to whom she
had been making signs for wears. She
remained in the mint some wears after
that. and her case attracted the atten-
ton OF the greatest medical scientists OF
the day. Rebecca was Roman Catho-
lie in religion, and in 1873 she entered
a convent near this CITY | do not know
whether she is living vet or not. bur she
certainly scared the girls on that dav.
anna Dickinson was employed here
during the war. She could talk on any
subject and gossip with any BODY 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 morn
ing to night was the poor negro. Some
body went TO Director Pollock about
her denunciatiOn of Mr.. Lincoln. He
expoStulated with her and finally dis
missed her. Some years afterward. when
she became famous as a lecturer, she
came here and spoke to large au-
dlence at the Academy of Music. Her
friend, Judge Kelley, was TO introduce
her TO the audience, but he had not ar
rived, and the audience was growing
impatient. There We're several diStin-
gulshed gentlemen on the stage, one of
whom was cN-Gov. 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 audience. 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.
''Ihere goes person who has been
here longer than have" said the vetc-
ran, as he pointed toward a lady of
about 80 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 wears thirtS-tNo Years aco ouI is
now the chief adjuster. During the
time OF her employment she was mar
ried to gentleman few moments be-
fore he died. who had courted her for
some years She is really The Mint.
and knows more about the business than
all the rest OF us put together"