New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-17
LEPERS OF LOUISIANA.
FOUR SISTERS OF CHARITY co TO SPEND THEIR
LIVES AMONG THEM.
From The New-Orleans Picayune


From The New-Orleans Picayune
of four Sisters Charity for their future home In
the eper settlement at Indian Camp near w White
devote their lives to the care of these unfortunate
and dearest Of kin The sisters were accompanied
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 Agnes and Mary Jane
conversation with the former, a few interesting
G IN the e4 in SsS to and the the
their reception by this sad forsaken pe9ple he
s psisTa %e the ' ana their first &C. 10
on nG the sas se rse ITO see tn.
haPPness Of he:e poor people when they for caught 61
TSey had S esthered in 'front.' Of their quarters
Sister Beatrice who i TO have charge went straight
to nurse you, take care OF you, and try TO make
you harry YOU really really come to stay with us
they kept on repeating You sure that you are
not going back? said one sad-eyed g NJ, The S .oa
IT, said poor leper. his voice trembling with emo
ton. You are sure that you are not gong pack'
Yes yes said Sister Beatrice. we have come TO
viii not 90 back We have pledged ourselves to God
for life We are here to stay ana dear . we
toned in our home again. We are going TO call you
our rendsour we r are all God said Sis
ter Agnes, and II was hard to tel whose 10y vas
ters. who had volunteered for this work and taken
it up as a holy duty. There are thirty,one lepers In
the camp; found one female cook ana nurse
when we reached there The Sisters Immediately
assumed the work OF nursing and caring for their
charge. Oh ! tell you II was pathetic gong
from cabin to cabin, for the camp is built somewhat
on the order of plantation settlement In one or
the quarters we found four girls who were Sisters
and All suffering from this terrible disease: mo
Youngest of the girls Is only sixteen years old ana
vet young as she is. she Is there till death, for SCI
ence has as yet u. icovered no cure for leprosy
Nevertheless under the humane methods ana treat
ment naugurated by the present able Boari or d.
rectors of the hospital. all the lepers are doing as
we'll as can be expected from the nature or their
disease Every provision has been made Tor Their
comfort as far the means at the disposal or inc
Board allows. They have plenty OF food and KIND
medical attention Still, there Is much that the
kind-hearted people Of the State might do toward
assisting the Board in the way OF sending clothing
delicaces and other articles to the lepers, some OF
them are sick, and would appreciate a dainty little
chicken now and then. and other small delicacies
that the Sisters will prepare and serve TO the poor
people Then people might send books for them TO
read for the Sisters intend to build up library
there There is work for the Sisters, and they are
equal to II. c,.
'All Friday. Saturday and Sunday our Sisters
were buslly engaged In arranging the lepers' rooms
more comfortably. The grounds also Will be greatly
improved and when the grass is cut and pretty
lawn and garden laid out II will be more homehke
and attractive at the camp. The camp has about
ten acres Of ground, and the trees are large ana
beautiful; in time II can be maze one OF the pieu
est spots In the State.