Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-21
LEPERS OF LOUISIANA.
Four Sisters of Charfty Go TO spend
Their Lives Among Them.

From the New Orleans Picayune
Last Friday morning We chronicled the
departure of four Sisters OF Charity for
their future home in the leper settlement
at Indian Camp. near White Castle, La.
Ihese heroic nuns went voluntarily 10 de-
vote their lives to the care of these unfor'
tChate people who are shurned by all
even their nearest and dearest of kin. Tho
SISTERS were accompanied &c the leper camp
by Sister Mary Agnes of the Charity Hos
pltai, of this city, and Sister Mary Jane OF
the Louisiana Retreat who went to SCI
them installed in their new home. Sister
agnes and Mary Jane returned to the city
on Monday, and yesterday. in conversation
Win tne former, q few interesting facts
We're CLEANED in regard to the arrival of
me nuns IN the leper settlement, and the
manner of their reception by this sad for
saken people. The sisters were met at
the landing 10y DIR. Wales, the physician
OF the camp. and their first act was to go
immediately into the lepers' quarters.
II was touching said Sister Agnes, ito
sec the happiness of these Eoor people when
icy caught sight of the sisters. They al
lEost weDt for jo.. They had gathered in
front or their quarters, and Sister Beatrice
who is to have charge. went straight to
mem ana said, My dear friends. we have
LII 10 nurse YOU TO take care of you,
anu Try 10 make you hairy
nave you really, really come 70 STAY
WIN US! they kept on repeating You are
sure That you are not goirg back?' said
one sad-eyed girl They told us that YOU
n;. coming, but We would not believe it,
Saiu q poor lerer, his voice trembling with
eIiouon. You are sure that you are not
gong back? You Will stay with us Door
lepers'- p'O'
fes, yes, said Sister Beatrice we have
cone TO stay with you always You need
,'ot DE afraid; We will Tot go back. We
nave pledged ourselves to God for Ufe We
are are mere TO stay, and. dear friends, we
Ieper mentioned in our home again We
are gong to call you our friends-our pa
'ients; We are all Gods children
IL was scene that | can never forget
! sdId sister Agnes, and il was hard TO tell
whose JOY was greater, that of the moor
iepers or that of the sisters, who had vol
uli.eeiea tor this work, and taken it I'D
as d hoiy duty. There are thirty-one leners
IN the camp; We found one female COOK
anu nurse when we reached there The
SISTERS Immediately assumed the WORK of
nursing and caring for their charges on
can tel you II was pathetic going from
cabin TO cabin. for the camp is buiIt some
what on the order of a plantation settle
f tnent In one of the quarters we found
tonr girls who We're sisters, and all suf-
,,n,,, .ioih TINS terrible disease. The
youngest or the girls is only sixteen wears
iI' anu YET, young as she is. she is there
IN ueath, Tor science has as yet discover
"a no cure Tor leprOsy. Nevertheless nm
Her the humane methods and ,raa trnapt
iha'lS ara ted 10y the present able hoard az
G.Lectors OF the hospital. all the lepers are
upihs as well as can be cxpe, ted from
the nature of their disease Every pro-
VISION mas been made for their colnfcri as
idr as the means at the disposal of tho
noafd allows. They have plenty Of food
tilu KIND medical attention still. there is
much that the kind-heart.d r,eor,Ia 90 ~
sIate might do toward d! s.sting IN. hoard
IN the way of sending clothing. delicacias
t 81 ot-'er articles TO the lepers; some of
mem are sick. ana would appreciate a
DAINTY little chicken now ard then and
other small delicacies that the sisters will
prepare and serve TO the poor people. Then
Ieople might sead books for them TO read
10 TIE sisters intend TO build up a library
there. There is work for the sisters, and
they are equal to it,
All Friday, Saturday and Sunday our
sisters were busily engaged in arranging
the lepers' rooms more comfortably. "Tbe
GROUNDS also viii be greatly improved. and
"hen the grass is cut and a pretty lawn
garden laid out il viii he more horn-lfke
ana attractive at the camp. The camp has
about ten acres OF ground, end the trees
are large and beautiful; N time il can be
niide one or the prettiest spots in the
state.