Daily camera., 1897-01-07
A HOME FOR LEPERS.
rheir Only Place of Refuge in This
Country.
An Institution in Louisiana Where the
Poor UnfOrtunates Are Hap
PLY Housed and Cared
For.

only leper home in the United States is
one recently established in the parish
of Iberville, not many miles above New
Orleans. 1t is a state institution, it's
board of directors entirely masculine,
but if you would know who gives per-
sonal service 10 these diseased outcasts.
ah! then, indeed, look to the women.
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 lepers' home in
Louisiana established and has for its
inmates men and women, black and
white, who have come to it from diff
ferent states of the union.
After the board of directors had for
mulated their plans, after the funds
had been placed at their disposal, one
great difficulty frowned on them. Who
could they get to care for the lepers?
Men? Preposterous! Then one illum-
mated director proposed that they set
forth their dilemma to the mother supe-
rior of the convent at Emmitsburg, Md.
Forthwith this mother called on Sister
Beatrice, then in charge of the hospital
at Lowell, Mass. When the summons
came Sister Beatrice cheerfully re-
signed her charge and became the
Jealous and untiring superior of the
lepers' home in Louisiana. Sister An
ME, Sister 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 es
tablished themselves in the old Camp
mansion, once one of the finest planta-
ton residences in Louisiana, but now
somewhat fallen into decay. With that
genius for systematic and wise admin
istration which is characteristic of the
order, they soon converted the dilapi
dated 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 a new house, wherein dwelt
the resident physician and a priest OF
the church, both consecrated to the
service Of humanity.
In this building also, all the patients
lake their meals, prepared by black
I6iadonna 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
Y wood and cultivate the garden. There
His a large park for their exercise and
srecreation, furnished with swings,
sbenches and outdoor games of various
kinds. The lepers live in small cottages
built on either side of liveoak avenue.
Hhese houses are comfortably fur
nished and spotlessly clean. Each
house is occupied by two persons, ex-
Acept where there are more than two
3nembers of the same family, in which
base they are all permitted to live to-
kether. In one of them live four sis
ters, all afflicted with leprosy, and each
with a different type.
Among the patients is a man OF IS,
who does not remember when he was
not leper. Another is a union veteran,
drawing pension and still in love with
life. Yet another is a young mulatto,
who was employed as carpenter in
building the cottages. Hardly had he
driven the last nail when he found
himself leper. But the most inter
;tsting patients are a pair OF lovers,
Nhe tragic pathos of whose story is al
o5rst without parallel.
MAbout six years ago, in the parish of
fafourche, there lived young fellow
a about 25 who was engaged to a good,
rretty girl of IS. Almost upon the eve
II marriage he made the horrible dis
eovery that he was a leper. He re-
leased the girl from her promise.
! though she implored him to marry her.
He sought clearing I'M the heart of
he woods and lived there utterly alone.
rsoon as the home was open he sought
its shelter. His sweetheart still loved
BIN, still declared that some day they
Would be united. Six months after her
hver entered the home she, too. sought
crying: "Unclean! unclean!" Thus
& Us woeful pair, so tragically united,
de yet forever disunited, as marry they
chnot, at least as long as they are in
rates of the home. They spend much
dtheir time together and seem cheer
enough.-Chica2o News
MH Pigeons Outwit Hawk.
b observing southern sportsman
told recently about flock of pigeons
hat measured brains with a hawk and
6me out on top in the contest. IL. 5.
o,,-,ol 4ooly 0f riueOpS