The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-19
SOUTHERN LEPER SETTLEMENT.
Four Sisters Of Charity Go to Il to
Pass Their Lives Attending TO the
LeDers.

Lepers.
From the New Orleans Picayune.
Last Friday morning the Picayune
chroniced the departure of four Sisters
of Charity for their future home in the
leper settlement at Indian Camp, near
White Castle, La. These heroic nuns
went voluntarily to devote their lives to
the care of these unfortunate people, who
are Stunned by all, even their nearest
and dearest of kim The sisters were ac-
companied to the leper camp by Sister
Mary Agnes of the Charity hospital of
this city, and Sister Mary Jane of the
Louisiana retreat, who went to see them
installed in their new home. Sisters Ag-
mes and Mary Jane returned to the city
on Monday. and yesterday, in conversation
with the former, few interesting facts
were learned in regard to the arrival
of the nuns in the leper settlement and
the manner of their reception by this
sad, forsaken people. The sisters were
met at the landing by DR.. Wales the
physician of the camp, and their first act
was to go Immediately into the lepers'
1T was touching" said Sister Agnes.
ITO see the happiness of these poor peo-
pie when they caught sight of the sisters.
They almost Wept for joy. They had
gathered in front of their quarters, and
Sister Beatrice, who is to have charge,
went straight to them and said: My
dear friends, we have come to nurse you,
you happy
Have you really, really come to stay
with us| they kept on repeating. You are
sure that you are not going back? said
one sad-eyed girl. They told us that you
were coming, but we would not believe
IT, said poor leper, his voice trembling
with emotion. You are sure that you are
not going back? You will stay with US
poor lepers-
have come to stay. with you always. You
need not be afraid, we will not go back
we have pledged ourselves to God for life
We are here to stay, and, dear friends, we
do not intend to ever have The word
"leper' mentioned in our home again. We
are going to call you our friends-Our pa
tiemts; we are all Gods children
1T was scene that can never forget"
said Sister Agnes, and it was hard to
tell whose joy was greater, that of the
poor lepers, or that of the sisters who
had volunteered for this work and taken
Il. up as a holy duty. There are thirty-one
lepers in the camp; we found onA female
cook and nurse when we reached there;
the sisters Immediately assumed the work
of nursing and caring for their charge
Oh, l can tell you 1t was pathetic going
from cabin to cabin, for the camp is built
somewhat on the order of a plantation set
tlement; in one of the quarters we found
four girls who were sisters, and all suf-
fcring from this terrible disease; the
youngest of the girls is only 16 years old !;
and yet young as she is she is there till
death, for science has as yet discovered no
Nevertheless, under the humane meth
DDS and treatment inaugurated by the
present able board of directors OF the hos
pital. all the lepers are doing as well as
can be expeeTed from the nature of their
disease. Every provision has been made
for their comfort as far as the means at
the disposal of the board allows. They have
plenty of food and kind medical attention.
Still there j. much tnat the kind-hearted
people OF the state might do toward as
sisting the board in the way of sending
clothing, de!icac.es and other articles to
the papers; some of them are sick, and
would appreciate a dainty little chicken
now and then; and other small delicaces
that the sisters viii prepare and serve TO
the poor people. Then. people might send
books for them to read, for the sisters in
tend to build up library there There is
work for the sisters; and they are equal
to 1t.
"All Friday. Saturday and Sunday our
sisters were busily engaged in arranging
The lepers' rooms more comfortably; the
grounds also Will be greatly improved and
when the grass is cut and a pretty lawn
and garden laid out it will be more home
like and attractive at the camp The camp
has about 10 acres of ground, and the
trees are large and beautiful; in time u
can be made one Of the prettiest spots in
the state"