Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-03-10

tho various stasesof the disease NJ the
settlement, and Whenever new cave
l. discovered ia any OF tue other
islatds, under the laws OF The country
tho victim IA removed TO Molokal.
There Is no help Tor 1t.
"rhe sufferers 20 70 tbs Island to
associate with othnra Win are stick On
like themselves, and there they remain
until they die. This pcrloi defen Us
much upon the constitution Of the
unfortunate victim. In most case II
Is iiom four ~ seven ycars Oc,ween
tho appearance Of the diaeese and
cath. Sometimes 1t Ia longcri but not
often.
"Most Of the victims thoro now are
native Hawaiians. A lew are Amsrl.
cnns. Tue whites seem much lees
suecspllbls to the disease than tho
natives. A visit 10 thu settlement lie
full OF interest,""
CONDITION OF THE LHPEls.
Mr.. Maciarlane said that he had
visited tue settlement at Molohai about
year AMI half ago az one Of com.
mitiee from the Hawaiian legislature,
and had thus learned somsibing OF the
life OF the lrperH aud 10 come extent
had become familiar with their con.
dillon. Tue disease ho did not con.
slider contagious, and, while tho
pregent methods ~ segregation are ia
existence, there was little or no danger
10 visitors or to whites who might
fcttle on any Of tho group Of islands
making up the ex-qucen's domain.
at IL said thaI seven sears may
elspse between the tlDae the lepr1us
poison enters the system aud any
visible sigma Of tho disease" said Mr..
Macfarlanc. "When n Rppuais the
victim Ia taken TO Molokai, aud hence.
forth Ia doomed to remain there In
circumstances dependent much upon
his financial condition and tue dispo.
sitlon OF his friends and relatives.
"Some OF the lepe.s live IN fine
houses, which they have built with
their own menns, or which have been
provided by Hympathetic frIcnds. Each
Of these has his own tract Of lanI 10
till. He has books 70 read. His house
tue luXuries OF the kingdom are within
his reach. The best that thc markets
afford Ia on his table. Ho may enter
tain as extensively as Ia possible with
ouch a limited social circle as the vet.
Element affords. He has nothing TO DO
but wait, with grim death slowly and
certainly coming upon him.
HAPPINESS on THE ISLAND.
"rhe government il bound to bro.
ide for those who have no means.
There are sAveril settlement. or vii
lager On tue island, aud TO SONS extent
the sufferers arc classified ia these.
Generally they TIL this soil, which II
40 "a thing, not only bechuss 1t give.
them something TO distract their at
tention from their own Hauerings and
'he snlferirgs OF .htis ~ fin,ez hut
also because II Is a healthful ming for
them.
"fhe superintendent Of the island
lives apart from sill the patients In a
house surrounded by high stone wall,
within which no lepor may come. His
position Il not Que which would be
sought for by NEST men, but he need
associate very little with the stricken
sublects over whom ne has control.
Physicians and nurses are employed
who attend 10 the wants OF the stricken
people, and they report the superinten-
dent.
some might imagine that this settle.
ment would be gloomy place, filed
with beings VINO We're IN abject misery,
the abode Of suffering, with no sun.
shine or anS bright side to life. This
Ia IA mistake. The loper' seem to be
happy. Many OF them spend their
leisure time In gambling. They own
horses, and nearly everybody is AN ex-
pert rider. They have picnics, gala
| days and all manner Of celebrations.
The casual visitor would say they were
u happy, easy.golng race, who had aH
much enjoyment "a the average OF
human beings-perhaps more than the
average.
"Tne visits OF the committee from
the legislature are made tns occa sion
Of great festivities. The lay IL looked
forward to from the time when 1t ia
first announced, and when the visiting
statesmen come they are Received with
a procession which tor picturesque
beauty In Unsurpassed. Tbs houses
are decorated. Every one is at his
| hest, aud the visitors arc mot mt the
rttNHinlip ihAuilk anu 'nNbAeth W tut
superintendent's house.
WELCOMING THEIR VISITORS.
"rhe procession Is one OF the most
peculiar which could be got up any.
where. Men, women aud children, all
on horseback, make II up, and their
costumes are striking and unique. The
| women ride astride, aud they have n
style OF dress which ia not down In any
OF the fashion plates They wind
about their bodies and legs long
| streamers OF the most brightly colored
fabrics. These form not only their
dress but their SADDLE, anu are all
| co lors OF the rainbow. Imagine
hundred or more stout Kanaka women
decorated In this way dying ut canter
up the road, while behind each the
ends OF these red, white AMI blue
streamers trail out over the horses
tails to u length OF six or eight feet.
They look like group OF circus riders
In unusually bright costumes. In the
distance they seem 10 be well, and 1t is
only on q near Wow that traces Of the
disease may be discovered. Even
when their disease has reached an ad.
vanced stage they join In there par
AIDES escorting TIA visiting members Of
the Legislature.
son these occasions they have an
opportunity to state any grievance
they may have, aud aveil themselves
| Of the Opportunity. They are born
/ annaab- -. 49,. a.. al thny luranUua fh..