Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-09
TO MARRY GODDESS.
Her Profile Appears on Every One of Un.
Gle snm's big silver Dullnrs

The announcement that the Goddess of
Liberty is about to be married has aroused
new interest in the woman whose face is
known to more people than that OF any
other woman of the American continent
says the Now York Mail and Express
Every man, woman or child who has sill
yer dollar carries the handsome profile of
the Philadelphia school teacher, Miss Anna
w. Williams. Her classic features have
been stamped upon millions of the silver
disks.
1t is 20 years since the pretty blonde
girl became world-famous. 1t was then
stated that Miss Williams profile was the
original of the Goddess of Liberty on that
much abused, much admired and equally
much dsiked Bland silver dollar The
friends of the young woman placed every
obstacle in the way of possible identihca-
ton, but failed in their object. The story
of how Miss Williams came to be tho God
dess of Liberty may be retold now that IL
Is said she is soon to become "A bride
In the early part of 1876 the treasury de-
partment secured, through communication
with the royal mint of England, tho SER
vices of clever young designer and en-
graver named George Morgan. Upon his
arrival in this country Mr.. Morgan was in
stalled in the Philadelphia mint and was
| assigned the task of making a design for a
new silver dollar. After many months of
design for the reverse side of the coin. up
on which he represented the American
eagle. His attention was then turned to
the other side. and his fanciful head rep
| resenting the Goddess of Liberty. But the
ambitious designer was too much of a
realst to be satisfied with mere product
of fancy. Finally he determined the head
should be tho representation of some Am
erican girl and forthwith diligently
| searched for his beautiful maid.
| 1t was a long search, although pleasant
| He told his friends of his desires, and one
| of them spoke of the really classic beauty
| of Miss Anna Williams. The English de-
| signer was introduced to the girl. Mr..
| Morgan was at once impressed by her
| beautiful face and studied 1t carefully.
Then he told her what he desired. and she
promptly refused to permit herself to be
| the subject of the design. Her friends
however, induced her to pose before an
artist. After five sittings the design was
| completed.
| Mr.. Morgan was so enthusiastic that he
declared Miss Williams profile was the
most neatly perfect he had seen in Eng.
land or America. His design for the Blanc
dollar was accepted by Congress, and sc
the silver coins have been pouring from
the minis all these years adorned with the
stately face of a Quaker City maiden.
Miss Williams is a decidedly modest
young woman. She resides on Spring Gar
den street, not far from the school II
which for years she has been employed a'
an instructor in philosophy and methods
in the kindergarten department. She II
slightly below the average height. is rathe
plump, and Is fair She carries her figure
with stateliness rarely seen and the pos,
of the head Is exactly as seen on the silvcl
dollar. The features of Miss Williams or,
reproduced as faithfully as in a good pho
tograph