The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-12-17

OUB frequent appeals for proper place
for leper children have not fallen upon
stony cround. The question has been
spoEen about and discussed by some of
our prominent citizens and we hope to see
It taken IN hand practically.
The first difficulty Is location 1t should
not be too far ont Of the city to get sup
plies. the house should stand IN sufficient
ground to enable the children to have
plenty of exercise. Still location Of such
. kind could be found. and the expense
ought not 10 be very great. The house
would need durmitories. not detached bed
rooms: children being more under super
vision IN that way.
After the first expense of building and
fitting the Home, would come the question
OF means Of keeping it up. This we think
there need be no fear about Many brave
people. both In the old and new world.
have found that charitable Institutions
once started upon a sound basis and econ
omically managed find ready support from
a community. and there Is no community
in the world more ready to help than ours
We have read Of orphan ssylums. and hos
pitals supported on the voluntary system.
living positively from hand to mouth In
their earlier days, not knowing where to
turn for the next days expenses, but always
active and always trusting IN Providence
when action was unavailing Such insti-
tutions have fourished. have uiumphed
over difficulties and have done some of the
noblest work that the world has seen.
What we want then first, Is fund 10
establish proper house for these unfor-
tunate children Remember there are no
less than Airy-oae under fifteen years of
age at Kakaako. How many there may be
in Molokai we know not. For the estab
lishment Of this house an appeal must be
made to our Weather citizens: Get Z pTC-
lgis- pc gHi o9sts, the first step Is the cost
lest: but once started. we honestly believe
that the running expenses would be readily
found. There Is no one In this country,
however poor. who would not give his mite
towards the maintenance of the poor leper
children In a way more suitable than the
present method Moreover. the Govern
ment which has to support them in haka
ako and In Molokai, ought to pay some
equivalent for having the unfortunates
properly cared for. Should such an institu-
ton be started. it seems as If government
funds might be used in assisting il.
How needful such an institution Is, only
those who have visited the leper hospital
can know. Out OF sight out of mind. The
leper child. condemned TO a living tomb,
often Just after it recognizes the beauty of
child life. separated from parents and
friends. an object Of loathing to all who
come near: what more pitiable object Is
there In the whole social life Of the islands
Such a child we saw not long ago. Alloy
who had been pupil under Mr.. Atkinson
when at Fort Street School. He was called
to see his old teacher; he was asked after
his comfort, his general health, his happi-
nees The wave of memory came over
that poor little fellow; he must have seen
once more the familiar schoolroOm. the
Jolly games with his companions, and that
must have taken his mind to home; home!
think what il must be to lose Losisi Think
that at night there is no loving hand to
smooth his hair and no lips to kiss his brow
what it must be to be deprived of mothers
love. and yet know that that mother is not
far from youi Think what your heart tells
you to think you who have your healthy
children clustering around your knees;
you who kiss the lips of sturdy boys every
night: you who have had to soothe the
childish sorrows of your offspring and
yeu VIII realize how, when the wave Of
memory came over the poor boy, when he
caught sight of what reminded him of the
past, his poor little arm went up and he
wept bitterly.
1t IS customary to say here that there is
little distress Look under the surface
and you viii find there is a very great
deal. We think there IS none which is
more deserving of pity than these poor
leper children We would have them
placed in better environment. We would
have their lives made more happy than
they are and we trust that the appeal
which we have made viii be answered
molly by our community. Remember the
poor leper child!