The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-11


of from the balance Of the island by
towering and almost inaccessible cliffs.
To this spot 10 expatriated every Haw.
allan who Is found to have the faint Of
leprosy, and there they live until death
relieves them from their suferings. The
first glimpse OF Kalawao, the chief leper
Village, might lead n stranger to pro-
nounCe it q thriving hamlet. It's single
street is bordered by neat whitewashed
cottages, with gardens Of bright flowers
and cluEters Of graceful and decorative
trees.
The victims OF the dread disease are
cheerful, aud smile responsibility to the
greetings OF strangers, but with an ex.
preston that Is satriCal and sometimes
almost dcvilish ;their swollen faces, with
the flesh knotted and blotChed, grows a
thousand times more horrible when they
smile, and the features bear a look Of
liked agony never to be forgotten by ono
who has beheld 1t.
High mass at Kalawao-the solemn
mystery offered almost in the spirit OF a
requiem, for the participants are DOOM
cd and tho living are we'll nigh dead-is
aweird sight
The neatly.robed sanctuary boys are
all disflgured, some with pitiiul, distort
cd features, but fortunately none OF
these seem to suffer any pain or incon.
venienCe, though fingers and toes are
often missing, and the eyelids are thick.
ened and drawn out OF place. The beau.
tiful BaCramental vessels, OF richly.
wrought gold, were sent to Father Da-
mien by tho Superior OF 81. Roche in
Paris.
AsAD SCENE.
With the greatest sweetness and gra.
witty the Celebrant proceeds. The chapel
Is filled with wophippers, aud all OF
them seem 10 be singing, or trying TO
sing, simple refrains that sound strange
ly enough 10 the hoarse throats OF the
singers.
What a scene Is here. Tho bright
altar, clearly furnished; the priest
chanting the Pdter NoItCr, at his feet the
acolyteS, upon whose infant features is
already fixed the seal Of early death. Be.
yond the altar railing corruption runs
riot; there Is scarcely 0 form In the
whole congregation from which one
does not turn with horror, and many OF
the wOrShippers seem actually to have
risen from the corruption Of the grave.
The solemn boom OF the sea surf is
Ct accompaniment 10 the solemn service,
and the long, low sough Of the sea wind
ia like q sea OF sympathy. Tho very air
Ia polluted the fetld odor OF the Charnel
house prevades II, and all that chamber
OF horrors seems but the portal Of the
tomb.
This is the feast Of the Master as cele.
brated at KalRwao,
THE sEAL or DEATH.
Father Damien was first attacked with
leproBy In 1886; q few months later he
wrote to friend as follows;
"sinCe March last my contrere, Father
Albert, has left Nolokai and this arch.
lpOlago, and has returned 10 Tahiti and
the Goumoutous. ! am now tho only
priest on MolOkai and ! am supposed 10
DO myself afflicted with this terrible dis.
ease. II iB impossible for mo 10 60 any
more 10 Honolulu, on account Of the
leprosy breaking out on me. Those
microbes have finally settled In my left
lpg and my ear, and one eyebrow begins
10 fail, | expect 10 have my face soon
Having no doubt myself Of
he true character Of my disease feel
,alm, resigned and happier among my
people. Almighty God knows what 10
,est for my BanClfCatinn and with that
I say daily good aat volpntas
Father Damien continued his miniStra.
Ions 10 bis charges until within a few
lays OF bis death, and oil Hawaii mourns
hu death OF o hero whose deeds Of sell.
IACfiflcO and martyrdom exceed that Of
MY recounted In the pages ot history.