The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-12-23
POLAND'S LANGUAGE REBELLION.
A Poles Accou OF he Troubles and
Trial at wreschen.

In February OF the current year the teach
ers Of the elementary school at Wreschen
I'm Polish Wrzesnia) had decided to submit
to school authorities a project for teaching
Polish children religion in German IL hav-
Ing been ascertained that the pupils are
familiar with the German tongue. the pro-
jet was accepted. with this proviso. how
ever. that teachers should. in the first three
weeks, only read the Holy Scriptures. with
out asking the children TO recite lessons.
In order not 20 ~irrltate the Polish population.
who had protested against the innovation.
Invoking the text of educational rules In
general and those concerning the teaching OF
religion in particular. When, at the end OF
three weeks, teachers began TO question the
pupils In German. the children refused TO
answer. Wholesale punishments followed.
but the school authorities informed OF the
occurrence ordered another respite OF three
weeks to be devoted to lectures alone. The
children still remained obdurate at the ex-
piration OF this term. and some went even
the length Of telling the teachers they had
no right 20 teach Poles their religion in Ger
man.
This time the Government interfered.
ordering severe ppnishments- incarceration
and fogging without avail. however. The
most painful and degrading punishments
were suffered In silence and with a resist
ance worthy OF a better cause, A typi-
cal case Is that OF a thirteen-year-old girl.
Smitowicz by name, a bakers daughter.
who. after having been caned. refused even
TO handle o book OF catechism in German.
The child was then logged severely. Her
father protested against the cruelty and
the shame OF the punishment, appealing In
turn TO all authorities and the German En-
peror himself. oil in vain. other parents
whose children suffered likewise. fared siini-
larry Thing went from bad TO worse, and
noon reached "A Crisis ID lHt Ntu OF
May the whole school was kept for an hour
unGer arrest. and when aft,rward the pupils
still refused to do their religious tosks in
German. the masters held Al consultation,
and the head inspector sought 10 adlnonish
the children TO oense their resistance. With
one voice the little ones and the youngsters
said they would never learn their religion ma
foreign language. They were then divided
into patches and logged without mercy.
one OF the girls. lomaszewska. tainted under
the rod and was carried home unconscious.
bleeding and sobbins the others were dis
the prolonged absence OF their children.
Ing heard OF the execution. in a paroxysm OF
resentment smashed all the windows IN the
themsriyNs on the teachers. Auxiliary force
came to the rescue and the people were driven
away liut they returned on the morrow.
were made and tsen,y-.it. persons indicted
for rebellion" and breach OF The public peace
I nly ono 0i thesr wa, discharged the rest were
' NNA III NN'A ~ HH' - AAAAlf
iny beteeeu tour weeks and two yeers.
while an exceptionally hard sentence has
been passed on "a poor woman, pthseCkH,
a mother OF FIVE childfru. left now IN the care
o! Seveuty-vear-old grandmother On
appeal 10 the tribunal Of Gnes-n. the I'M
uuitOus -entenCe has been confirmed
A said above. no commentary l. needed.
hut II would he A. well 60 point out that all
sufferers IN this very sad CAse belong 10 ~.
humble aud tue simple. who have never heard
OF KultuTkaupf md FOR whom any tainper-
Ing with traditions Of religious education
amounts 10 sACrllege How sluple, indeed,
Ner. those poor souls. charged Nith heavy
chains ~ the dock. may b" Gathtted from
the fouoWine answer In decentralization
10y the prosecution
y What aLsuase did Jesus christ sTssk'
4 OF course. Polish
And that other retort Everybody ought
g. lray ~ tAe Language that God gave him.
The lnrdlr,l evidence az tHr tral was mat
the puul-hurHt- Iui I,trd exceeded the Init
I-rrIitt-d by Law Indeed some OF tho
'hiIdr,u are manned for NE one boy has
lost the ~. 81 he hsud-. another ecAine a
t'amu.rfsf ana another one an imt~cle
Add that b. low PRUSSIA deals In this ven
tlstn usu1LIy AIth children AID thuss NhoHs
nAtuTal dufy % - tp protect thei. against
a MUHaN al IYI I'D 90 H0g'IN