The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-15
MINISTERING TO LEPERS.
DEVOTED WOMEN WHO MAKE
HAPPY HOMES FOR THEM.
Some Strange and Pathetic Stories
Connected with the Refuge-A
Pair of Lovers Who Live Continu-
ally in the Leper's Cottage Under
the Live Oak Trees.

Perhaps few people know that the
only Leper's home in the United States,
is one recently established in the
Parish of Iberville, not many mries
above New Orleans.
1t is a state institution, its board of
directors entirely masculine, but if you
would know who gives personal serv-
ice to these diseased outcasts, ali!
then indeed, cherchey Ia 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,
perhaps, of scriptural days but dis
ease incurable and hideous enough,
and only to be stamped out by the
complete isolation of its victims.
To this end was the Leper's home in
Louisiana established, and has for its
inmates men and women, black and
white who have come to it from differ
ent 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 care for the
lepers? Men? Preposterousi Then
one Illuminated director proposed that
mother superior of the convent at
Emmetsburg, Md. Forthwith this
mother called on Sister Beatrice, then
in charge of the hospital at Lowell,
Mass When the summons came Sister
Beatrice cheerfully resigned her charge
and became the Jealous and untlring
superior of the Leper's home in Louisi-
ana. Sister Annie, Sister Thomas and
Sister Cyril soon Joined her and to-
have made this home
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 LouiSi-
ana but now somewhat fallen into de-
cay. 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 grove
of towering pecans and wide spreading
oaks. Not far from this building is
new house, wherein dwelt the resident
physician and a priest of the church,
both consecrated to the service of hu-
manity.
In this building also, all the patients
take their meals. prepared by black
madonna of the pots an artist in her
line.
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 their exercise
and recreation, furnished with swings,
benches and out door games of various
kinds. The leDers live in small cot
tages built on either side of a live oak
avenue. These houses are comfortably
furnished and spotIess1y 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 permitted TO live to-
gether.
afflicted with leprosys and each Slith
different type.
Among the patients is man of 20,
who does not remember when he was
not a leper. Another. is Union vet
eran, drawing a pension, and still in
love with life. Yet another, is young
mulatto who was employed as carpen-
ter in building the cottages. Hardly
had he driven the last nail, when he
interesting patients are pair of low
ers, the tragic pathoS of whose story is
almost without parallel.
About six years ago in the parish of
Lafourche, there lived d fine young fell
low of about %, who was engaged to a
good, pretty girl of is. Almost upon
the eve of marriage he made the hor-
rib1e discovery that he was a leper.
He released the girl from her promise,
though she implored him to marry her.
He sought a clearing in the heart of
the woods and lived there utterly alone.
AS soon as the home was open he
sought it's shelter. His sweetheart still
loved him, still declared that some day
they would be united. Six months after
her lover entered the home she too
sought it, crying 'Uncleani Unclean!"
Thus this woeful pair, so tragically
united, are yet forever disunited, 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 a fitting inscription
for the gateway of the Lepers 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, a set of peaceful, contented
folk
The martyrdom of Father Damien
and the self-sacrifice of Sister Rose,
have been sung and told in every cor
ner of the earth, but who has ever
heard anything of this band of martyr
courage they have offered up their
lives upon the altar of love and hui
mainly. Daily, hourly, these women
are in contact with people infected
with the most frightful disease known
to humanity, the bare mention of
which makes one recoil. Yet they say
of their ministrations, TT is naught,
1t is naught."
In an age when woman is often Of
fenSiVely lOud in DrOclaiminp her
superiority over man and the old order
of woman, it is little curious to find
a band of this old order, doing their
work under seal of smiling silence.
So far are they behind the times, that
they forget to call heaven and earth
to witness what they are doing. The
world is likely to hear little of the
self abnegation of these wo-
men, who for love of God and hui
manity, choose to minister unto lepers
l.. 0. HARRIS.
BEAUTIFUL BELTS.
Belts of gold army braid, with a gold