The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-01
Az AMER1cAN IEpERs, HOME.
The Only Place of the Sort in the Union.
New York Evening SUM

recently established in the parish of Iber-
vile, not many miles above New Orleans.
1t Is II State institution. it's board of di-
rectors is entirely masculine, but it is
women who give personal service to these
diseased Outcasts.
The I.epcrs' Homo in Louisiana 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 formu-
lated its plans, after the funds had been
placed ut its disposal, one great difficulty
was encountered Who could be got to
care properly for the lepers? One ilumi
mated director proposed that they set forth
their difficulty to the mother superior of
the convent at Emmetsburg, Md. Forth
with this mother called on Sister Beat
rice. then in charge of the hospital at
Lowell, Mass. When the summons came
Sister Beatrice cheerfully resigned her
charge and beca lie the Jealous and untr-
ing superior of the Lepers' Home in Lou
isana Sister Annie, Sister Thomas and
Sister Cyril soon joincd her, and together
they have made this house IL real home
for those who dwell in it,
The sisters established themselves in
the old Camp mission, once one of the
finest plantation residences in Louisiana
but now somewhat fallen into decay.
With that marvellous genious for system
natic and wise administration which is
characteristic Of the order, they soon con-
verified the dilapidatcd dwelling into IL
comfortable home. The house stands in
the midst of grove of towering pecans
and wide spreading oaks. Not far from
this building is Il new house, wherein
dwelt the resident physician and priest
of the church, both consecrated to the
service of humanity. In this building
also all the patients take their meals pre-
pared by Il black cook.
The sisters strive to interest and amuse
their patients, encouraging those who are
able to sew. wash, cut and saw wood, and
cultivate the garden. There is large
park for exercise and recreation, furnish
ed with swings, benches and outdoor
games of variou, kinds. The lepers live
in small cottages built on either side of Il
live oak avenue. These houses are com
fortably furnished and spotlessly clean.
Each house is occupied by two persons
except where there are more than two
members of the same family, in which
case they are all permitted to live to-
gcthcr.
In one Of them live four sisters. They
are all afflicted with the disease, and in
each case it is of Il different type
Among the patients is il man of 80. who
does not remember when he was not Il
leper. Another is.a Union veteran draw.
ing pension and still in love with life.
Yet another is Il young mulatto, who was
employed rs carpenter in building the
cottages. Hardly had he driven the last
nail when he found himself leper. But
the most interesting patients are Il pair Of
lovers.
About six years ago in the parish of
| n n. I.a f.,t
Of about %, who was engaged to II pretty
girl of Is. Almost upon the eve of mar
riage he made the discovery that he was
leper. He released the girl from her
promise, though she implored him to
marry her. He sought II clearing in the
heart of the woods and lived there alone
AS soon us the home was open he sought
its shelter. His sweetheart still declared
that some day they would be united Six
months after her lover entered the home
she, too. sought it, a lepcr. Thus this
pair, so tragically united, are forever dis
united, as marry they cannot, at least AS
long as they are inmates of the home.
They spend much of their time together
| and seem cheerful enough.
Abandon hope all We who enter here
| might seem fitting inscription for the
gateway OF the I.cpers' Home Yet its
inmates, face to face with horrible fate,
| seem cheerful and even happy. 1t is a
| genuine surprise to find, instead of
wretched, sullen, despairing people, set
| of peaceful, conientcd folk
Tie martyrdom Of Father Damien and
| the self sacrifice OF Sister Rose have been
| told in every corner of the earth, but few
have heard anything of this band OF
martyr women. With heroic courage they
olfer up their lives upon the altar of love
and humanity. Daily, hourly, these wo-
men are i'll contact with these plague,
| stricken people. Yet they say of their
| ministrations; at is naught! 1t is
naughtn
In an age when woman is often loud in
| protlniming her superiority over man and
| the old order of women, it is IA little curl
| Gus to find a band of this old order doing
| its work under Il seal of smiling silence.