Arizona republican., 1896-09-03
HIS LIFE ID THE LEPERS
Eight Yea-r.- -';t L IL .
 OStr
Successor to Father Damien
 Interviewed.
Describes the Terrible Condition of
 China, and Macao.

San Francisco Chronicle: Rev. Father Conrardi, who, for the past eight years, has been in charge of the leper settlement at Molokai, in the Hawaiian islands, succeeding the late Father Damien, is spending few days with Henry Hoffman, at 45S Guerrero street, preparatory to seeking a eli mate for the winter where he will find relief from asthma, contracted on the wind swept leper island in the Pacific
 Father Conrardi Ahas given his life to the care of lepers, and has made deep study of that dread disease. On the island where he has been stationed there are about 100 persons afflicted with it. Two priests look after them, and are assisted by five sisters of the Order of St. Francis. According to Father Conrardi's statement, made yes terday, while the Hawaiian govern ment spends much money for their cure, but little good is accomplished the greater portion of the $80,G00 or $90,000 annually appropriated being expended in salaries for a number of useless officials After leaving the islands, Father Conrardi visited the leper colonies at Canton, in China, and at Macao In the former place he says the condition of the colonists is most pitiable. "The Chinese regard leprosy as a curse and any one who would think of going to the place as being accursed' said the priest. "Tfhe government only allows five yen a year, about $2.50, for the support of each leper. When one is sick and needs assistance he is left to his own care. The government fur nfshes neither medicines nor bandages. two prime requirements. I would stay there and minister to their wants if I could get enough for my support, but the government will not allow it. l would build a hospital to care for them, but that requires money
 At Macao the condition is little better. The lepers are given certain amount of rice each year. The wants of the females, both at Macao and Canton. are looked after by some French and Italian lay sisters. Last year they received over 2,000 persons including 1,500 babies. They are called Sisters of Carrossa and Sisters of St Paul de Chartres. They raise and ed. ucate these children. They, too, are in much need of money,
 Rumors of an uprising among the Chinese and against the whites came to Father Conrardi from reliable source before his departure. He says there is a great feeling of unrest. anC 1oa end Of the year. He says the native. are dissatisfied with their treatment.
 At Molokai, i'm the Hawaiian is lands, the natives attempt to raise l, little fruit and corn, but as the plant. approach maturity a whitening winS comes along and bIights everything If the Hawaiian government Woult erect windbreaks, it might be possibl to raise fruit. AS it is now the leper have become discouraged and are lag and indifferent. They attend schoo about as they please. The govern ment requires the girls to remain witt the sisters until they are 16 years o age, but after that ffhey do as the please. While the majority of tn lepers have been converted to Cathol ic1ty, the remainder are either Cal vinists or Mormons.
 During his stay here Father Con rardi will visit the lepers at the pest house. "If there were enough of then I would be willing to stay among ther and minister to their wants,'' he sait ''I have messages for some of the1 from friends in Honolulu." Fathe Conrardi was we'll informed regardin their condition, and knew the name of several of them. In the virtues ( the Goto remedy Father Conrardi put but little faith. He is we'll acquainte with Dr. Goto and has frequently dis cussed with him the chances of curin the disease Both had come to th conclusion that it was incurable.