San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-23
THE BRIDE OF LEPROSY.
SELF SACRIFICING AMBITION OF A
TRAINED ENGLISH NURSE.
DeSoting Herself to . Study of Leprosy
in the Hope Of Helping the Sufferers.
To Make an Investigation Under the
Empress of Russia's Patronage.

uniform called at this Office. On her dress
she wore to my surprise the order of
merit, which is awarded by the Russian
Red Cross sociSy, but which in most
cases is not "bodily" bestowed. In her hand
she carried what presently found to be
one of the most important budgets of docu-
ments that have ever been put into the
hand of woman by the Russian govern
nent. 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," asked Miss Marsden after
she had told me of her intention-"what is
it that induces you to turn your attention
specially to leprosy?"
st came about in rather strange way,
and long before leprosy had begun to at
tract much notice, even in the medical
world. l was nurse in the Russo-Turkish
war in ls17-7s, and one day at Sistova saw
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
i
ed to devote my whole life antatrength to
lepers if ever the opportunity was given
to me-
"And from that day forth have waited
for the opportunity to fulfill the vow
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 my way, 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 / remained for about
four and half years. After a rest went
out to New Zealand, where my last sister
was dying of consumption. A week after
l arrived she died, and l accepted the place
as lady superintendent at the Wellington
hospital Then l 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 sufferings must be if he breaks or
Injuries a limb and has to remain unat-
tended to for days and days till doctor is
brought to him, or till he is taken long
journey to where the nearest medical man
lives In order to enable them to help
themselves and each other till medical as
sistance can be obtained, went among the
mines all over the island and gave ambu-
lance lectures. 1t was strange experience.
Sometimes | had to travel four or five days
to get to them; then 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.
ION these tours saw good deal of lep-
rosy among the Maoris. and a few months
ago came home to England, thinking to
go to Molokai and there make further
studies of the disease.
81 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 i 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 | belong to the Church of
England, and once more my hopes seemed
to be batfied
"At the first March drawing room this
spring was presented to the queen, and
three days after the Princess of Wales,
whom some of my friends had told of my
intentions, telegraphed, asking me to come
and see her at Marlborough house.
WOMEN OF ROYALTY ASSISTING.
II cannot tell you how kind the princess
was She promised to write at once to her
sister, the empress of Russia, from whom
/ was anxious to obtain the Red Cross
Order, which had nominally been awarded
to me after the Russo-Turkish war, but
which | had not received. A few days
later / 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 | was received with
such simple kindness and sympathy that
could hardly believe | was really in the
presence of the highest lady in the land.
she listened TO all had to say, and when
/ 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 Marsden,
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 think l can find
anything connected with the study of lep-
rosy all over Russia, Siberia, the Caucasus