The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-30
A VILLAGE
VS.. TEACHER.
This VIII Be Crucial Gay in
the RoWayioa School Row.
MISS ERWIN IS PREPARED;
VIII Report for Duty, and II Ordered Away
She VIII Appeal 10 The
Courts.
MISS ERWIN IS PREPARED.

Rowayton. Conn. Dec 30.-It Is no cx-
aggeration TO say that this entire village
Is awaiting with extraordinary interest
the outcome of todaYs developments in
Miss Elizabeth Ervins fight against
School Principal John Mcclellan and his
following.
u has been years since this usually
quiet and peaceful village has been so ex-
cited by any event or, rather, series of
events as by the 'anonymous-letter epi-
sode," as II is styled.
Miss Erwin has been accused OF send
ing the letters. which have been OF a
threatening and otherwise Objectionable
character 20 the principal and his wife,
and 10 her sister teachers, Miss Emma
Cushman and Miss Jessie Benedict. and
to- other young women In the village.
Miss Erwin was told that she could
have unul last Monday 10 resign, with
the intimatiOn that she had then better
leave the village When Miss Erwin em-
phaucaily refused to accede to this re-
quest. the time was extended until to-
morrow, bur the plueky young school
teacher promptly sent back defiance and
declared that she never would resign;
that she would appeal 10 the highest
courts i'm the United States I'm order 40
obtain viudicatiop, that she would in
woke the aid of the postmaster general
IN clearing her name from the stigma
cast upon 1t by the accusations against
her.
SOME STRANGE FEATURES.
This whole letter writing episode has
strange features. Fourteen threatening
letters have been received by various
persons but chiefly by those mentioned
above. All OF them are written on pa
per which has the mark OF the Rowayton
public school on g. In them the ability
of the principal of the school, Mr.. Nc
Clellan, is questioned, and his methods
are held up 10 ridicue
The ability of his predecessor George
o. Lanpheare. is assailed. Reflections are
also made upon the personal character OF
Mr.. Mcclellan and the two young wom-
en- teachers other than Miss Erwin. Miss
Erwin. on the contrary. Is eXtolled so the
skies, and her ability praised as OF a
remarkable order.
Miss Erwin is athletic. She came from
Girard college, Philadelphia. I'm Septem-
ber 1900. TO take the assistant principal
ship OF the Rowayton public school. She
had excellent testimonials. She also had
an opinion as a graduate OF the Normal
school in Philadelphia. she knew how to
teach. and she did not approve OF the
methods she found In vogue at the school
in RowaNton.
Her assertive nature led her TO express
her views freely. and she incurred the
bers Of the visiting committee and OF the
school board From that time she has
been in hot water.
Her efficiency as a teacher was never
questioned. but she won "A reputation as
headstrong young woman and as one
WHO insisted upon having her own way.
Miss Erwin stands above the medium
height She shows the benefits of ath-
Ictic training and has continued the ath-
letics OF her school days TO some extent.
and is conspicuous in Rowayton for her
ability ss pedestrian. She thinks Moth
ing OF tcn-mile walk,
OTHER OBJECTIONABLE LETTERS.
Early last August several young wom-
on in Rowayton, one of them married,
received Objectionable letters. These let
ters had nothing at all to do with Miss
Ervins fight against the school authori-
ties They were mailed in Norwalk and
South Norwalk.
II should not be surprised If these re-
cent letters which have caused SO much
trouble were the work OF the same hand
that wrote those screeds last August -
Miss Erwin said TO "A reporter for The
World - deny mat dropped an an
onymous letter for Mrs. Mcclellan 60 pick
up What silly charge 20 make
Acting under advice OF counsel, Miss
Erwin will report for duty at the school
tomorrow, ard. If she finds herself
ousted. will not resign, but Will con-
tinue TO claim her salary. and will hold
herself In readiness 10 attend TO her
duties
Prosecuting Attorney Tammany. of
Fairfield county. has been requested 10
Insist upon Miss Ervms resignation and
today will prove a crucial point in this
strange Tight OF village against girl.