Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-09-19
THE BRIDE OF LEPROSY.
self SACRIFICING AMBITION OF A
TRAINED ENGLISH NURSE.

in the Hope of Helping the Sufferers.
To Make an Investigation Under the
Empress of Russia's Patronage.
A lady dressed in a neat, simple, nurses
uniform called at this Office. On her dress
she wore to my surprise the order of
Red Cross society, but which in most
cases is not "bodily" bestowed. In her hand
she carried what presently I found to be
n of the most important budgets of docu-
ments that have ever been put into the
hand of by the Russian govern
ment. The lady was Miss Kate Mars
den, who hopes to start soon for a six
months tour through the wide domin-
Ions of the great White Gar" there to
study the subject of leprosy, which has OF
late aroused so much attention and in
terest.
"What is it," 1 asked Miss Marsden after
she had told me of her intention--"what is
It that induces you to turn your attention
specially to lcprosy?"
"It came about in rather n strange way,
and long before leprosy had begun to at
tract much notice, even in the medical
world. I was nurse in the Russo-Turkish
war in lS77-7S, and one day at Sistova Isaw
two lepers for the first time in my life. The
sight of the disease was so loathsome, so
altogether appalling, and the suffering of
the poor men was SO beyond anything that
l had ever seen, that there and then Ivow-
ed to devote my whole life and strength to
lepers if ever the opportunity was given
to me.
And from that day forth I have waited
for the opportunity to fulfill the vow I
made at the sight of the two Bulgarian
lepers. The time was not yet for many
years. Several of my sisters were living.
They were very much opposed to my plan,
but they have all died of consumption, one
after the other, and now there is no longer
any obstacle in anyway, except one, which
may at the last moment compel me to give
up my plan"
IN TRAINING.
"And what did you do while waiting all
these years?"
II first became deputy superintendent
of the Woolton Convalescent home, Liver
pool, Eng, where I remained for about
four and a half years. After a rest I went
out to New Zealand, where my last sister
was dying of consumption. A week after
| arrived she died, and l accepted the place
as lady superintendent at the Wellington
hospital. Then I heard of the miners in
the South island, many of whom live sew
eral days. journey away from any place
where they can get medical assistance in
cases of accident. You can imagine what
a mans sutferings must be if he breaks or
Injuries a limb and has to remain mat
tended to for days and days till a doctor is
brought to him, or till he is taken a long
Journey to where the nearest medical man
lives. In order to enable them to help
themselves and each other till medical as
s%istance can be obtained, l went among the
mines all over the island and gave ambu-
lance lectures. 1t was Il strange experience.
Sometimes l had to travel four or five days
to get to them; then 1 gave my lecture, sat
with them by their camp fire, slept in a
tent which they had specially put up for
me, and rode off again next day to another
place.
"On these tours l saw a good deal of lep-
rosy among the Maoris. and u few months
ago l came home to England, thinking to
go to Molokai and there make further
studies of the disease.
Il should tell you that my final object
has always been, and still is, to study lep-
rosy and it's various treatments as thor
oughly as possible, and then to go to India
to organize the care Of lepers who in many
cases are terribly neglected. Soon after
reaching London l went to the Hawaiian
consul, Bond street, to see what assistance
he could give me, but he informed me at
once that only Roman Catholics could be
received at Molokai. That, of course, put
an end to it, as I belong to the Church of
England, and once more my hopes seemed
to be baffied.
"Affha firSf hyor,on nury, %Lt,
spring l was presented to the queen, and
three days after the Princess of Wales,
whom some Of my friends had told of my
intentions, te%legraphed, asking me to come
and see her at Marlborough house.
WOMEN OF ROYALTY ASSISTING.
Il cannot tell you how kind the princess
was. She promised to write at once to her
sister, the empress of Russia, from whom
I was anxious to obtain the Red Cross
Order, which had nominally been awarded
to me after the Russo-Turkish war, but
which l had not received. A few days
later I was on my way to Russia, obtained
the order without trouble and was specially
invited to come and see the empress at
Gatschina.
And there again l was received with
such simple kindness and sympathy that l
could hardly believe I was really in the
presence of the highest lady in the land.
she listened to all I had to say, and when
l expressed the wish to study the leper
question in Russia she promised her help
and the emperor's. The rest is soon told.
In this folio" continued Miss Marsdeu,
opening out one after the other the large
white sheets stamped with mighty
official seals and signed by some of the
most important and powerful men in
Russia, II have papers emitting me to
go into all the hospitals, all the prisons
and to all places where I think I can find
anything connected with the study of lep-
rosy all over Russia, Siberia, the Caucasus
and Asiatic Russia, and to see everything,
get all information l can, and take what
notes and photographs l like about lep-
rosy. Every official is bound to give me
all possible assistance, and as in some parts
Of Russia leprosy is very prevalent, indeed,
I am convinced chat could obtain infor-
ton Of priceless value.
But the empress has lone more than
that. l don't speak Russian, and that
would have been an obstacle. Therefore
DR.. Duncan the chief medical officer at St.
Petersburg, is to accompany me on the
whole tour, the Russian government pay
ing all his expenses. At Riga DR.. Duncan
is to meet me, then we go On to Moscow
or1 Capt,oJ u ,,cpso r., S;bor;o, opJ Goo11,