Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-03-02

vlsEsto q Hawaiian EHospEtal--A EEys.
terEons Disease.


ian correspondent to the San Francisco
Alta Californian, not one In five has
ever been admitted to the Kakaao lazar-
etto-the Oahu Ieper hospital. Few de-
sire that privilege. because they fear to
encounter horrible and disgusting
spectacle, and also through q vague
dread Of infection, therefore they go
without having seen a leper, for the
Molokal settlement is so far away tina
none but those who have business con-
nected with the settlement ever approach
that melancholy island.
Having expressed wish to sec the
unfortunate inmates of Kakaao, the doc
tor in charge of the lazaretto called at
my house one pleasant morning in Au-
gust last, and, accepting seat in his
buggy, we drove toward the seashore
Il hope, doctor, said, 'syou have
provided the necessary disinfectants
'Twould be an awful thing il l got a
dose of leprosy in return for my curl
osity."
The doctor laughed. ''There is q lot
OF humbug about leprosy in the mouths
OF everyone, not only in these islands,
but elsewhere he said, wherever the
disease is discussed. Now, the first day
/ met you was at the races at Waikiki,
and minute before you shook hands with
me ] saw you shake hands with leper
Don't be nervous. / shook hands with
him myself, and assure you that have
as great an aversion to being shipped off
to Molokai as you have"
'sBut it is not possible that lepers are
allowed to mingle with the peopleg"
asked
That all depends upon the rank and
influence of the leper. Among the COM
mon people the lepers when detected are
at once parted out and sent to Molokai
or Kakaao-good- day to you, good
day." and the doctor bowed to a fine
looking man who, in a spotless linen
suit, lounged on the gate of handsome
residence"
That is member of the legislature, I"
he said. land quite prominent on the
side of the opposition, yet the lady who
keeps house for him-for he is not mar
ried-is leper."
BY this time we had arrived at the
dzaretto of Oahu. 1t stands on the sea-
shore and consists of several rows of
whitewashed houses, inclosed by fence.
At the southern entrance is division
some fifteen feet in length, protected
only by large wooden grating,
through which, on certain days Of
the week, the lepers inside are allowed
to converse with their friends. When
we came up, some dozen or so natives
were seated on the long bench outside
the grating, chatting merrily with the
prisoners. Where were the tears and
lamentations / expected-the agonized
meeting of mother and child, of hus-
band and wife7 Certainly not apparent
at this portion of my visit. for the lepers
inside seemed like lot of school, boys
and girls, exchanging Jokes and gossips
through the playground gate with their
friends outside. The porter admitted us.
The square was traversed by numerous
walks, trees were planted here and there,
flower beds laid out, and benches placed
throughout the grounds. A tall, we'll
proportional native, neatly dressed, a
gold chain spanning his white waistcoat
aud newspaper in his hand, approached
the doctor. He greeted him cordially
in English, bowed to me, and, in reply
to the doctor stated that he was feeling
much better
''.Surely that is not leper, / said.
.'He seems in perfect health, and shows
no limb distortion, liberation, or any of
those signs which are associated in my
mind with the disease"
All, yes; he's leper," was the re-
ply, everyone you meet here is q ieper,
with the exception of the Sisters of
Mercy and DR.. Van Arnim, who has
been sent hither by the German govern
ment to make an exhaustive study Of
the disease; and now before we look
around the hospitals, we shall visit the
the sisters.
We found the sisters decorating the
little chapel with red hibiscus and the
graceful mimosa. blossoms. This chapel
is so arranged that the outer portion is
used for Episcopal services and the in
ner for the Catholic mass. As we en-
tered, a native preacher, leper, of
course, was holding forth in Hawaiian to
dozen or so of his brethren. The sis
tiers, both of whom were quite comedy,
volunteered to accompany us through
the wards.
And now we rested under broad YER
anda. where groups of merry, laughing
children were gathered, romping and
sporting in the full enjoyment of life. It
appeared to me incredible that those
pretty, rosy-cheeked youngsters could be
infected with the horrible faint or lep-
rosy. They were as active and graceful
as q lot Of young lawns. their faces were
clear. their eyes bright, their figures
straight and exquisitely nodded. Some
Of the girls of twelve and thirteen, just
on the threshold Of womanhood, were
positively beautiful. ssYes, said the