St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-02-14

ease of leprosy, the Oldest known anc
perhaps the most fatal of maIadles
There is no well authenticated cure
for it. For some reason Hawaii has
become known as the land OF lepers
vet one might live in the islands a
lifetime and never see leper or even
hear Of one.
On the north side of Molokai there
is a strip OF land which forms a sort
OF a tongue, projecting out into the
sea some ten miles. This tongue oil
land is about two miles wide at the
south side, where there is precipice
of over two thousand feet extending
across the island, and cutting of all
communication with the main island.
There is but one place at which it is
possible for a human being to scale
this cliff, and that is narrow wind
ing path known as the "Pali."
This portion OF the island, naturally
isolated from the rest OF the world,
was wisely selected by the Hawaiian
government as proper place tor seq
regating those unfortunate people,
the lepers. Here they live, some to
good old age. They have houses,
small fields, gardens, horses, cattle,
poultry and pigs. Some marry and
children are born to them. II the
child born Of leper parents shows no
signs Of the disease at certain age,
it is taken from the island and kept in
confinement for certain number OF
years. Then, if found Clean" is so
declared by the board Of health, "
and permitted to go about freely
everywhere. 1t is educated at the
expense of the government, and may
never be afflicted by the disease.
Leprosy, moreover, is not very con-
tagious. One OF the best authorities
on the subject declares that leprosy
can be contracted only by inocula-
ton, and that it is not more conta-
gious than consumption.
1t is not an easy matter to visit the
leper settlement. One can only go as
a guest of the board Of health, and
these officials make but two trips a
year. was very fortunate in being
in Honolulu when the board made
one OF its semi annual visits. On the
afternoon of November Goth, Mr.. ].
T. Waterhouse, the president of the
board of health, told me over the
wires OF the telephone TO be at the
dock of the Inter-Island Steamship
Company at s. 80 sharp. reported
on time, and found the steamer, Ke-
an.hon. lying at the dock with steam
up and Kissing from every valve.
Shortly after nine clock the wills.
tie sounded, and our craft pushed out
from the dock and steamed down the
bay. 1t was too dark for us to note
the tropical beauties along he shore.
Night in the tropics comes quickly.
There is no after.glow, no twilight.
The sun sets and it is dark. If the
sky is clear, the stars shine wondrous-
ly bright. and if there happens to be
moon, it is almost as light as day.
No poet ought to sing of moonlight
beauties until he has seen the moon
light of the tropics.
Not feeling a desire to turn in at
once, went forward Of the captain
cabin, and, taking a seat on the deck
gazed on the brilliantly lighted heav-
ems, while my thoughts wandered to
home and the loved ones far away.
Wearied OF sitting, gazing and think,
ing, at last went aft, where the deck
was covered with cots, and men lay
snoring everywhere.
Are all the beds taken ?" asked
the steward, a citizen of the Orient.
me gettee bed and blanket" he
answered
He darted below, aud in a few mo.
ments returned with a mattress, a
blanket and pillow There was a
spare place aft the mainmast and
just forward of the hatchwav. 1t
was very spare, for while my head
was jammed up against the mast,
my feet extended over the hatchwav
Notwithstanding my cramped posi-.
ton, however, fell asleep, and, had
all gone well, would have slept until
dawn of day. But, about half past
three in the morning | became con
scious of water falling on my face
and while halt sleeping and half wax
ing was trying to determine wha
it was, the officer of the watch criet
out
YOU'D better go below out OF tn
rain"
| snranp To MY feet and found IA