Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-31
HER PORTRAIT IN SILVER.
Facts About the Original Goddess of
Liberty.

Facts About the OrtElhui uouutNH "
Liberty.
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 on the American continent. Every
man, woman or child who has a silver dollar
carries the handsome profile of the Phila-
delphia school teacher, Miss Anna w. Will
liams. 1t is twenty years since the pretty
blonde girl became world famous, says the
Times-Herald. 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 disliked
Bland silver dollar. The friends or the
Young woman placed every obstacle IN the
way of possible identification but failed in
their object. The story OF how Miss VII
liams came to be the Goddess OF Liberty
may be retold. now that it is said she is
soon to become a bride.
In the early part of 1876 the Treasury
department secured. through communication
with the royal mint of England, the services
of a clever young designer and engraver
named George Morgan. Upon his arrival
in this county Mr.. Morgan was installed
in the Philadelphia mint ana was assigned
the task of making a design for a new silver
dollar. After many months of labor the
young engraver completed the design LOT
the reverse side of the coin, upon which he
represented the American eagle. His at
tention was then turned 10 the other side
and his original inclination was to place on
it a fanciful head representing the Goddess
of Liberty. But the ambitious designer was
too much of a realist TO be satisfied with a
mere product of fancy. Finally he deter
mined the head should be The representation
of some American girl, and forthwith dlli-
gently searched for his maid.
II was a long search. although pleasant
He told his friends of his desire, and one Ct
them spoke of the classic beauty of Miss
Anna Williams. The English designer was
introduced to the girl. Mr.. Morgan was al
once impressed by her beautiful face an
studied it carefully. Then he told her what
he desired and she promptly refused to per
init herself to be the subject Of the design
Her friends. however, induced her TO pose
before an artist. After five sittings the de
sign was completed. Mr.. Morgan was so en-
tn lsiastic that he declared Miss Wiliiams
profile was the most nearly perfect he had
ever seen. His design for the Bland dollar
was accepted by congress-, and SO the silver
coins have been pouring from the minis al
these years adorned with a stately face OF a
Quaker Cit maiden. Miss Williams Is a
decidedly modest young woman. She resides
on Spring Garden street, not FAR from the
school in which for years she has been EN-
plcyed as an instructor in philosophy and
methods in the kindergarten department
she carries her figure with a stateliness
rarely seen and the pose Of her mead is ex'
actly as seen on the silver dollar. The fea'
lures OF Miss Williams are reproduced a!
faithfully as in a good photograph.
She is slightly below the average height
10 rather plump and fair, with blue eyes
Her nose is Grecian, and her hair, which IL
almost her browning glory, is golden in color
abundant in quantity and Of wonderful light
ness of texture. the soft coil in which it Il
worn being especially becoming.