Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-28
Prudence CrandaIrs Revenge.

Fifty-three years ago last week the little
town of Canterbury, Conn, was thrown into
q great CON motion The cause of this agita-
ton was the appearance in the newspapers OF
an advertisement announcing that Prudence
Crandall would open school fo- young
ladies' and little misses of color" Miss
Crandall was member of the Society of
Friends. Rhode Islander bv birth. and had
previously taught a successful white school
in Canterbury. In her new undertaking she
was encouraged by William Lloyd Garrison
and other friends of the colored race.
The prejudice against the black man in
Connecticut half century ago can be COM
pared only with the feeling displayed towards
the same race in the South to-day, and Miss
CrandalPs venture received as little sympathy
in Canterbury as the recent attempt to estab-
lish a colored school in Qutman, GA. The
school was opposed BY strong element in the
town, at the head of which was Andrew 7.
Judson, whom the democratic party after
wards rewarded by sending him to Congress.
As this did not brighten the earnest Young
Quskeress from her purpose, the aid of the
Legislature was called in, and law passed
prohibiting such schools But still the school
went on. Then Prudence was arrested and
tried twice, the jury disagreeipg on the first
trial and convicting on the second trial but
finally the Supreme Court quashed the whole
proceeding on technicalty.
defeated in the courts. the people of Can
terbury took more effectual means to rid
themselves of the obnoxious school. The
teacher and her pupils were ostraclsed. They
were not allowed to ride in public convey
ance; no physician would attend them; their
own well was defiled and water from every
other source denied them; they were refused
the privilege of attending church and of pur-
chasing at the shops, and an attempt was
made to burn the house by setting it on fire
As all these efforts to break up the school
failed, the last resort was to assault the house
with mob, smash the doors and windows
and make it unfit for habitation. This ac-
complished the end desired, and, in response
to the advice of friends, the courageous young
teacher gave up the school and. marrying
soon afterwards, moved to the West
These events are recalled by the fact that
last week petition numerously signed by the
people of Canterbury was presented in the
Connecticut legislature asking that 'repara-
ton be granted to Prudence Philleo, former
ly Prudence Crandall, for injuries inflicted
upon her in 1893 by citizens of Canterbury
because of her persistence in teaching a free
school for negro girls She is now living IN
Elk Falls, Kan, and, although in her S3i
year, retains to a remarkable degree her
vigor of mind and interest in the colOred
race Flfty-three years is long time to
wait for retribution, but the long waiting
will not make the atonement to the brave
Quakeress, now in her old age any the less
acceptable. The circumstance suggests the
inquiry whether fifty hears hence the de-
scendants of the present people of Quitman
will be pettioning the Georgia legislature to
repair the injury that was done few months
ago in breaking up colored school by ex-
actly the same methods which were used in
1888 to get rid of Prudence Crandall.