The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-09-20


through tho quarters Of tho Lepers. Apart
from the interest attached to this unfortunate
class ofboings; arising from the frequent al
lusion made to them in the Scripture, there Is
much 10 their appearance and mode Of life to
attract attention. and enlist the sympathy of
tho stranger. Dirt and disease 60 revoltingly
together here, gaunt famine stalks through the
streets; constant cry Of suffering swells up
on the dead air, and sin broods darkly over
the ruin it has wrought in that gloomy and ILL
fated spot. Wasted forms sit in the door
waysa faces covered with white scales, and
slghtless eyes are turned upwards; skeleton
arms, distorted and fettered with the ravages
of leprosy, are outsreched from the foul, NOV
ing mass, and low howl is heard, the how of
the stricken for aims. Aims, oh, stranger,
for the love Of Godl aims to feed the inexora-
ole destroyer; aims 10 prolong this dreary and
hopeless misery! Look upon it stranger, you
will walk forth in all your pride and strength,
and breathe tho fresh air of heaven; you who
have nevcr known what il is to be Stunned by
your fellow mon thing unclean ond ac-
cursed, you who deem Yourself unblessed with
all the blessings that God has given you upon
earth; look upon it, and learn that there is
misery beyond all that you have conceived in
your gloomy hour-d misery that can be en-
dured. Learn that even the leper, with death
gnawing at his vitais, and uuceasing tortures
in his blood, cast out from the society of his
feow-men forbidden to touch, in friendship
or affection, the hand Of the untainted, still
struggles for life, and deems each hour prec-
ious that keeps him from the grave.
The quarter of the Lepers is a sad and i'm
pressivc place. BY the laws of the land, which
have existed from Scriptural times they are
Isolated from all contact with their fellow-men;
yet there seems to be no prohibition to their
going out beyond the walls of Jerusalem d
begging bv tho road side. Near the gate of
Zion, on the way to Betheham, l saw many
of them sitting on the rocks, the hideous faces
uncovered, thurstng forth their scaly hands,
for aims. Their huts are rudely constructed,
of earth and stones, seldom with more than
apartment; and this so filthy and loathsome
that it seemed unfit to be occupied by swine
Here they live and propagate, whole families
together, without distinction to sex; their
malady is perpetuatei from generation to gen
eration; the groans Of the aged and dying be-
ing mingled with the wall of tho young that
are brought forth branded for life of misery.
Strange and mournful thoughts arise in tho
contemplation of the sad condition and proba-
bic destiny of these ill-fated beings. Among
so many there must be some in whose breast
the power of true love is implanted love for
woman in its purest sense, for offspring, for
al the endcarments OF domestic life which the
untainted are capable of feeling. Yet they
are doomed never to exercise the affections
without perpetuating the curse. There must
be some, too, i'm whom there are hidden pow
ers of mind, unknown save to themselves; am
btion that corrodes nth nnavailing aspira-
tions; thirst for action that burns within un-
ceasingly, yet never can be assuaged; all the
ruling passions that can be implanted in man
for great and noble purposes-never, never to
Si~o-ou Ir.ors~nSe Piossurv, uurIIiAod with
the perpetual gloom of that curse which dwells
in their blood.
As l plodded my way for the last timo thro'h
this den of sickening sight, vision of human
misery was impressed upon my mind that
time cannot eface. l paused when the rays
of the sun were cold and the light was dim;
and there came out from the reeking novels
leprous men, gaunt with famine, and they bar
ed their hideous bodies, and howled like beasts,
women held out their loathsome and accursed
babies, and tore away the rags that covered
them, and pointing to the shapeless mass,
shreked for aims All was disease, and sin.
and sorrow, wherever went. As passed on.
unable to relieve thousandth part of the mis-
cry, means of despair, and howling curses fol
lowed me, and the lepers crawled back into
their novels to rot in their filth, and die whom
God willed.