Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-07
A Leper,s Last Parting.

Correspondence I'hjtIdetphid Times.
When a leper is reported to the police
of any district an officer is sent to fetch
him or her to Honolulu, where there is a
detention hospital put on the outskirts of
the city, and on the bank of the beautiful
bay. Then they are examined by the doc
tor, who decides whether it is a case of
leprCsy or not. Once declared a leper the
person is civilly dead, and is incapable
of sueing IN the courts or being sued,
At the hospital there are accOmmo-
dati0ns for about 120. 1t is filed every
two months. In this place the leper must
give up all hope. Before his admission
here he had at least the expectation of dy-
ing among iriends-friends so loyal that
they hide their afflicted relatives in the
mountains and bring them poi and water
in calabasheS. But now comes the harsh
discipline of a government institution.
No wandering in the cool Algeroba for
ests or bathing in the loved surf, but SIM
ply period of suffering and waiting for
death by a necessary, if cruel, law, and
from whose horrible provisions there is no
escape.
The hospital full, a steamer comes to
take to the island of MOlOkai those whose
condition is most advanced, there to
remain until death. 1t was with such a
party that l travelled finally to MolOkai.
1t has been my lot to witness many sad
scenes, but none of them approached In
any way those which attended the sepa-
ration Of families as these handful of lepers
sailed away to their exile. Daughters
stretched out their hands to mothers,
whom they might not embrace; wives
held up their mouths for kisses which
their husbands could not give; babes,
held in arms of strangers, laughed and
cOOed to their mothers, to whose breaking
hearts they might not be held in one last,
L.
''alas. that came from the depths of
hearts wruDg with the misery of hope
less condition." Presently the lines were
cast of, the little steamer turned her head
away and steamed slowly toward the bar.
| went into the little cabin set apart for
the Captain and closed the door,
determined to hear no more and see
no more of such grief. The little port
was open when suddenly it was darkened
and, looking up, saw the dark but beau
tiful face of a woman whose young hus-
band was on his way to MOlOkai. She
had swan out to intercept the steamer
and being-aS, indeed, are all her race
as much at home in water as on land, she
had no difficulty in accomplishing her
purpose. "Ah," she said. s'yOu are not a
doctor nor a constable. Tell my husband
to look over the side to me and God will
bless YOU"
l went on deck. We We're steaming
slowly. waiting for the government in
spector to complete his task before taking
his own boat for the shore. The lepers
had become quiet, or comparatively so.
except for pain. A few women were
rocking and moaning, young half-white
girl had flung herself on the deck in a wild
abandonment of grief, and behind the
smokestack found the husband kneeling
in prayer. His face, serrated by the
leprous sores, was held toward the sun,
the tears were streaming down his cheeks
and disease-cut features, sOftening them
by their agony of supplication.
William 1 said, ''your wife is along
side. Go quietly to the place | shall point
out to you and you shall see her."
The man sprang up, and for moment
was perfectly beautiful, such a JOY as
came in his face. Then he turned and
ran to the place ! indicated. Half an
hour afterward l saw him alone. We
were then under full head of steam pass
ing Diamond Head.
where is shef' 1 asked. He pointed
astern, and there, not an eighth of mile
away, we saw her, swimming toward
some fishing boats, her soft black hair
floating out behind her and her arm every
now and again waving to us a good-by.
Much Used Christmas Card.
Boston Transcript.
81 declared exclaimed Mrs. Thrifty.
''if there isn't that Christmas card again.
1t is getting a little sOiled, but l guess it
will last few more years. Let's see: l
got that from Uncle David in 10 or 80,
and. after keeping it in the house year,
l sent it to Mrs. Brown; then she must
have sent it to Mrs. Smith, for / saw it in
Mrs Smiths parlOr long time. Then it
suddenly disappeared until 1t turned UP
in Mrs. Green's bed chamber. Well, to
make the story short, I've traced that
card from house to house, and l don't
believe there's a family in the village that
hasn't had it for n Christmas present.
How natural it does look, to be sure. And
it viii probably look just as natural to
Mrs. Smith; but then, I'Ye got to give her
uo,,aafhfuo I crnpoco