The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-08-25
VERMONT WOMAN
HAS GAINED REN0WN
Helen L. Mclean, Aged 90, still at Her
Desk in Treasury Department in
National Capital.

was .ls03, and that was the time when
Mrs. Helen L. Mclean .Kimball became
the first woman clerk in the service o.
the United States government. Here i
1910 and o'clock Of every working
day finds Mrs. Kimball at her desk
in the big gray treasury department
building, ready for work.
The condition OF many clerks, weaker
in spirit and body and superannuated
under the weight Of 70 or 50 years
serves to emphasize the high qualities
and extraordinary career Of Mrs. kim
ball. Dignified and cheerful she is an
inspiration 10 her associates. In accord
ance with rule made early in life,
she refrains from uttering words Of
complaint or criticism and looks for q
bright spot in every problem. She
found early in her experience, she says,
that there was more tnan enough gloom
and sadness in the world, and that her
part should be to help in relieving those
burdened with trouble. II is to her
consistent optimism and her ability to
keep her mind free from worry that
Mrs. Kimball to a large extent attrib-
utes the length Of her life and the hap.
piness Of her later years.
Her duties always have been and are
performed with efficiency that evokes
nothing but eommendation from the Off
GERS Of the department. She is active,
enjoys the best Of health and performs
without favor the duties that 90 to
make up The days work Of the average
clerk. She has an active, well-stored
mind and is gifted and entertaining in
conversation.
Mrs. Kimball naturally has the APP
pearanee Of an elderly woman, but time
has dealt gently with her and 05 years
would be the average age estimate by
persons not aware Of her remarkable
history.
In her time the map Of the nation
has undergone many chances. Kings
have been born, ruled and passed away;
wars have been fought in every land,
and many Of the scientific discoveries
and the inventions that count as the
biggest factors in the worlds progress
have been made, She has seen trans
portation developed from the slow stage
coacn to the modern railroad, to automo-
biles and flying machines, and as
means Of communication the courier
supplanted BY the telegraph, the tele
phone and the marvel OF wireless teleg
rapby.
There has been something Of trans
formation ID tile treasury building since
Mrs. KimbaIl entered It's doors. She
began service there while the Civil war
was at its height, and the treasure
house known only in its gloomy dignity
to the present generation was an ar
senai. Rifles and munitions Of war
filed al the available space and sol
diers filed the corridors. Mrs. kimball
lived in New York, and her appoint
ment was brought about without her
knowledge 81 John ]. Cisco, the United
States subtreasurer in Mex York. A
few women were employed in trimming
notes in the Office Of Treasurer Spinner,
whose name is revered BY all feminine
federal employees as that Of the first
man TO place women on the government
payroll. Scarcity Of labor on account
OF the war led Spinner to the adoption
Of this plan.
There We're no women clerks, however,
when Mrs Kimball came over from New
York and broke the monopoly that had
been held by the men. Through the in
auence Of Senators Morrill, and Edmunds
Of Vermont, her native state, she was
soon appointed treasury librarian. The
treasury library at that time was quite |
an important factor in the organization,
and Mrs. kimball greatly extended its
field of usefulness.
When John Carlisle became secretary
Of the treasury under Cleveland, tho
treasury library was practically abol
ished, the books being sent to the con
gressional librSry, and Mrs. Kimball I
was transferred to the office Of the
Of the currency. There she
has labored in good health and good
spirits, winning a host Of friends in the
army Of treasury employees.
These friends introduced the wonder
fill old lady to fame recently BY arrang
ing celebration Of the ninetieth ami
tersary Of her birthday An Office was
adorned with flowers, table was
spread, with a big birthday cake in the
,cnter, and Mrs Kimball was escorted
nto the improvised reception hall to re-
,eive bouquets and congratulations AS
/ result Of it, all Of Washington began
.alking Of this young woman Of 30 who
lad the strength and independence to
make her own way and to look only
IN the bright side Of things Of the
world.
Near the close Of work few days
go, Mrs. Kimball was found at her
iesk busy with an assortment Of i'm
,osino looking official 4oct4ments She