Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1896-11-19
MINISTERING TO LEPERS.
Some Strange and Pathetic Stor-
les Connected With the Ref

les Connected with the Hell
uge.
Perhaps few people know tina
the only Lepers' Home in thu
United States, is one recently es
tablished in the parish of her
vile, not many miles above New
Orleans,
1t is a State institution, it
board of directors entirely mascu
line, but if you would know who
gives personal service to these
diseased outcasts, ali! then in
deed, cherchez la femme.
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, per
haps, of Scriptural days, but 8
disease, 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 different
States of the Union.
After the board of directors
had formulated their plans, after
the funds had been placed at their
disposal, one great difficulty
frowned on them. Who could
they get to properly car for the
lepers? Men? Preposterous9 Then
one Illuminated director proposed
that they set forth their dilemma
to the Mother Superior of the con-
vent at Emmitsburg, Md. Forth
with this Mother called on Sister
Beatrice, then in charge of a hos
pital at Lowell, Mass. When the
summons came Sister Beatrice
cheerfully resigned her charge
and became the Jealous and untir-
ing superior Of the Lepers' Home
in Louisiana. Sister Annie, Sis
ter 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 established themselves in
the old Camp mansion, once one of
the finest plantation residences in
Louisiana, but now somewhat
fallen into decay. With that
marvellous genius for systematic
and wise administration which
is characteristic of the order, they
soon converted the dilapidated
dwelling into a comfortable home.
The house stands in the midst of a
grove of towering pecans and
widespreading oaks. Not far
from this building isa new house,
wherein dwell the resident physi-
clan and a priest of the church,
both censecrated to the service of
humanity.
In this building also all the pa
TENTS take their meals, prepared
by a black Madonna of the pots,
an artist in her line.
The sisters strive to interest
and amuse their patients, encour-
aging those who T 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 kinds. The lepers live in
small cottages built on either side
Of a live oak avenue. These
houses are comfortably furnished
and spotlessly clean. Each house
IS occupied by two persons, ex-
cept where there are more than
two members of the same family,
in which case they are all per
mitted to live together.
In one of them live four sisters,
all afflicted with leprosy, and each
with a different type.
Among the patients is a man Of
seventy-fve, who does not remem.
Der when he was not a leper. An
other is a Union veteran, drawing
a pension, and still in love with
life. Yet another is a young mu.
latto, who was employed as car.
penter in building the cottages.
Hardly had he driven the last mai
when he found himself a leper
But the most interesting patients
are a pair of lovers, the tragic
pathos of whose story is almos'
without parallel.
About six years ago in the par
ish of Lafourche there lived a fin,
young gentleman of about twenty
five, who was engaged to a good
pretty girl of eighteen. Almosr
upon the eve of marriage he mad'
the horrible discovery that he was
a leper. He released the girl from
her promise, though she 'imploret
him to marry her. He sought
clearing in the heart of the woodi
and lived there utterly alone. A
soon as the home was open b.
sought its shelter.
His sweetheart still loved him
still declared that some day the,
would be united. Six months