The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-06-27

My bitter reflections were broken; nv
hearse was at the door. Was it not
hearse, this wagon which was to bear
me to a living tomb-to cut me adrift
from the endearing ties of life2 Death
was more merciful than this The dead
rode in their carriages respectfully un-
conscious-but l rode on with every
nerve quivering with anguish. The
wheels rafting upon the stone pave
ment sang in my ears: "Going to the
grave-to the grave forever In the
street children Knocked me with their
merry voices; the sun flung upon the
blue dome above its royal banner of
light; birds sang jubilantly; happy
faces passed me, and flowers bloomed
on every side The air was redolent
with perfume. 1t was spring in Cali
I fornia, and all nature was glad; but +
[ could not partake of it. was young,
and was old. Grief touched my mind
with age, while youth imperiously as
serted control over my body. We
reached the outskirts of the city at
last The hillsides were covered with
blossoms Perhaps if / were to touch
them they might wither in my hand.
But no, they were of Heaven, and
would not shrivel even in the hand of
leper.
was shut in my tomb among the
lepers. The world and its Joys were
left behind. The pitiable wretches-
sharers of my miserable lot-seemed as
if they were bound in a heavy lethargy
Upon their faces was an expression of
mute resignation. They sat listlessly
about in an apparently uninterested
manner. Upon entering my new abode
I shrank from them with an irrepressi-
BILE shudder But they did not appear
to notice it, though | am sure my coun-
tenance must have betrayed the hot re-
bellion raging in my soul. Would ever
be like that loathsome object who sat
huddled in gloomy corner of<the
room? Oh, God Forbid Send death in
any form but thatr-to sit and wait for
the inevitable approach of decay, to
know as the Ieadenfooted years drag
by, one must reach the stage where the
flesh gradually drops from the bones
ansddsSygf ne remains but a living mass
nj intersection. Horriblel Horriblel
/ rushed wildly into the open air; / tore
os5ed my shirt; my brain and heart felt
Us if they would burst with the agony
which consumed me. My case attract
they, with my employers, demanded an
investigation. So 1t was finally de-
eided by the board of health that
should be brought before them for a
thorough examination. We're it proven
that was not leper, might return to
the world and the love of little Jess. If,
IN the contrary, l must be sent back
here but dared not think of that.
The day dawned at last that was to
decide my fate, and / was taken before
formidable array of physicians and
breadth of chest and strong limbs with
looks of establishment and admiration,
and critically inspected me as they would
the noble proportions of a FLOODED ami
NAL stood before them like muir
derer in the dock on his last day of
grace In vain tried to Danish hope
It crept through my mind like mar
cotic and whispered me that I was not
that repnlsive thing which all hnman-
ity shuns. 1t told me that I might
again go into the world free man
freeI to marry the girl loved-freel to
have home, and little children, and
the pleasant duties which filed the
lives of other men. I tried to think of
the other side of the picture, but all,
mol / had not the strength to conten-
plate that No vision of the inferno, or
the hideous pictures painted upon the
brain of drunkard in the frenzy of de-
lirium could equal the thought of be-
coming leper. gazed entreatingly
into those somber countenances-bu
their faces were impenetrable masks
from which l could read nothing
nothing. During DIR. Buckeyes exami-
nation he ran a pin into my hand and
arm:
do you feel any sensation9" he
queried. "None whatever" l replied
in stifed voice, and stepping aside
with an ominous look he made way for
Dr. Jameson, of Honolulu, who went
through rigid examination and then
announced to the board that it was his
opinion that was not leper.
mot leper." Oh, thank the good
God: The exclamation involuntarily
broke from me-my heart beat with
suffocating strokes as in dream ! saw
the face of winsome Jess; but | was
rudely awakened by the hard voice Of
the head physician, announcing in
measured tones that the board had de-
cided that was afflicted with leprosy.
Every word fell upon my heart like ice;
and through a great distance, which
sounded to my numbed senses muffled
as voice from sepulcher, heard DR..
Jameson pleading my cause. He stoutly
declared to the wise men who had con-
demned me to living death that was
not leper--that he had spent the most
of his life among lepers, and having
treated the disease for many years was
familiar with every phase of the NAL
ady; that 1t would be almost impossible
from the mere knowledge to be gained
from books to wholly comprehend the
fearful scourge. and that one must have
the actual experience of constant
practice in order to detect it in its
earlier stages. He urged them to
further consider the matter before
thrusting me where I must soon con-
tract the loathsome disease-and closed
with an earnest appeal to them not to
doom to a leper's ward young man
who stood upon the threshold of a
bright career
They listened with respectful atten-
ton to his remarks, but their convic-
tion was not to be shaken; the mighty
board had declared against me. was
condemned, isolated. The fire of youth
was in my veins, but heavy eclipse
would darlxen all my days The ply
sicians solemnly fled past Some
shrank by with averted lookss some
gazed at me compassionately; another
quickly brushed tear away, but
seemed apart from it all, as though l
had suddenly slipped out of life.
The doctor who pleaded my cause
came up to where stood, statue Of
despair, and mutely shook my hand. |
81 did my best" was all he said, and
hastily passed on to hide the tears |
which came into his eyes. / made no
response; words struggled to my lips, |
but were chohed In my throat. All had |
now left me. / wondered vaguely II l |
should awaken from the trance which |
chained me to the spot, and endeavored |
to think calmly, commercially, but rsa-
son fell back appalled,.
Through the mist which encompassed |
me saw woman approaching with |
an expression of pity upon her tender
countenance, an expression such as the |
woman who mourned at the feet of |
Christ must have worn Suddenly, like
the hooking cry of demon borne up |
on me by an Imagination maddened by |
suffering was the word leper-leperl
It burnt upon my brain, it swan before
my eyes; the air was heavy with signs |
of the unfortunate outcasts, and a voice |
~ 1,isnared clnsa AZ NV ear. atDn not |