El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1896-12-21
A HOME FOR LEPERS.
Their Only Place of Refuge in This
Country.
An Institution In Louisiana Where the
Poor Uncertainties Are Hap
PLY Housed and Cared


Perhaps few people know that the
only Ieper home in the United States is
one recently established in the parish
of Iberville, not many miles above New
Orleans. 1t is state institution, its
board of directors entirely masculine,
but if YOU would know who gives per
sonal service to these diseased outcasts,
ah, then, indeed, look to the women.
The whole civilized world has begun
to take alarm at the fact, indisputably
shown. that leprosy is on the increase
everywhere. Not the frightful leprosy,
perhaps. of Scriptural days, but dis
case incurable and hideous enough and
only to be stamped out by the complete
isolation of its victims.
To this end was the lepers' home in
Louisiana established and has for its
inmates men and women, black and
white. who have come to it from diff
ferent states of the union.
After the board of directors had for
mulated their plans, after the funds
had been placed at their disposal, one
great difficulty frowned on them. Who
could they get to care for the leperS :?
Men? Preposterous! Then one illum-
mated director proposed that they set
forth their dilemma to The mother supe
rior of the convent at Emmitsburg. Md.
Forthwith this mother called on Sister
Beatrice, then in charge of the hospital
at Lowell. Mass. When the summons
came Sister Beatrice cheerfully re-
signed her charge and became the
Jealous, and untiring superior of the
Iepers' home in Louisiana. Sister An
ME. Sister Thomas and Sister CYRIL
soon Joined her and, together, they
have made this home a real home for
those Who dwell in it. The sisters es-
tabliShed themselves in the old Camp
mansion, once one of the finest planta-
ton residences in Louisiana, but now
somewhat fallen into decay. With that
genius for systematic and wise admin
stration which is characteristic of the
order, they soon converted the dilapi
dated dwelling into a comfortab BILE
home. The house stands in the midst
of grove of towering pecans and wide
spreading oaks. Not far from this
building is a new house, wherein dwelt
the resident physician and priest of
the church. both consecrated to the
service of humanity.
In this building also, all the patients
madonna of the pots. an artist in her
line.
The sisters strive to interest and
amuse their patients. encouraging those
who are able to sew, wash, cut and saw
wood and cultivate the garden. There
is a large park for their exercise and
recreation. furnished with swings,
benches and outdoor games of various
Ii in q
built on either side of live-oak avenue.
These houses are comfortably fur
nished and spotlessly clean. Each
house is occupied by two persons. eN-
cept where there are more than two
members of the same family. in which
case they are all permitted to live to-
gether In one of them live four sis
tiers. all afflicted with leprosy, and each
with a different type.
Among the patients is a man of IS,
who does not remember when he was
not a leper. Another is union veteran.
| drawing Il pension and still in love with
| life. Yet another is a young mulattO,
who was employed as carpenter in
building the cottages. Hardly had he
| driven the last nail when he found
himself Il leper. But the most inter
the tragic pathos of whose story is al
most without parallel.
About six years ago, in the parish of
| Lafourche. there lived d young fellow
| of about - who was engaged to a good,
| pretty girl of Is. Almost upon the eve
| of marriage he made the horrible dis
| covery that he was Il leper. He re-
| leased the girl from her promise.
though she implored him to marry her.
| He sought a clearing im the heart OF
| the woods and lived there utterly alone.
| As soon as the home was open he sought
| its shelter. His sweetheart still loved
| him, still declared that some day they
would be united. Six months after her
| lover entered the home she, too. sought
| it, CRYING: "UncIcan! unclean!' Thus
| this woeful pair, 50 tragically united
are vet forever disunited, as marry they
cannot, at least as long as they are in
mates of the home. They spend much
of their time together and seem cheer
| full enOugh-ChicagO News.