The American citizen. [volume] (Topeka, Kan.) 1888-1909, 1889-06-21

n iai,ifhe stirred of the gloomy PENN
snia on which the lepers were Daou
became at Kalawao. as ne "rOs9
self. physician of the soul ano 10y
magistrate, school teacher, carpenter
ioiner. painter. gardener, house-Aeopo.'
cook and often undertaken ana grave
digger" The poor lepers came
look upon him as their friend ana
sistant in every possible way. ne
moved among them, and lived WIN
them as one of themselves. MS lnnu-
ence became unbounded- he was INC
arbiter of all disputes. the maj re-
source in every trouble. tlnally tue
Hawaiian Government came 70 iook
upon Damien kindly. They put nm
nm the same footing as the medical IN
snector who at times visited the colony
and allowed him every privilege
Damien did not leave the island. but
remained constantly laboring among
the lepers.
We can not in these columns even
outline the results of Father Damlens
service of sixteen years in the leprous
colony. Suffice it to say the llcenuous
dances are no more heard OF COM
paratively little of the native alcohol
is distilled. The lives OF the people
are much more moral. and the leperS
have taken to cultivating garden spots
around their homes. kalawao Is Q
peaceful and apparently happy COM
munitv. In their former hopeless con-
dition the lepers jeered at sad omens
and rioted in frenzied attempts TO
drown the sense of their doom.
Damien made representations to the
government. These were followed by
others. Finally the Legislature sent
over committees of inspection, and
1.-The devout priest pointed out with
tears what was needed" AT last re-
lief>came, and Damien saw his efforts
crowned with success. The most serl-
Gus of the evils were removed; and
when this was done our hero priest
found that the leper settlement had
become God-fearing Christian COM
munity, looking to him as its head.
But it took years to accomplish such
a work. Slowly it came, inch by inch.
as the result of a consecrated mans
self-devotion and indomitable will.
When Queen Kapiolani visited the
peninsula in July. 1884, her officers
showed her the neat white cottages
standing among the cultivated fields,
the barns filled with produce the or
derby streets-a community showing
everywhere the hand of industry and
religion-and then pointing to Damien,
who stood humbly at distance, said:
HE is the father of it all" Later the
Queen visited the school for incurable
leper boys and girls, personally found
ed by Damien, and heard the children
singing.
1t was in 1884 that the first signs
that leprosy had marked Damien for q
victim appeared. But the heroic priest
continued his work till finally the worst
stages of the dread disease manifested
themselves, and then, unable to walk,
voiceless and nearly sightless. suffering
as only lepers suffer, on the tenth of
April he passed TO his reward. His
example stimulated another, and now
Father Conrardy continues the work
Father Damien took up, and like him
will continue the work till he fills a
| leper's grave.
Such is the brief story OF one Of the
noblest lives the world has ever seen.
| What contrast such life to the
countless thousands OF his fellow
Christians; how it eclipses the Stylites
and the whole profitless race of pillar
jewellers; how it inspires to heroism,
to duty; what a sarcasm is 1t upon the
complainings of those with whom the
world does not move as easily as the,
would have it! A nobler sacrifice wa.
surely never made this side Calvary
and wherever the story is told it will
become lasting memorial of a heroi,
and noble souL-Christan at Work.
GEMS OF THOIGLT