The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-22

Typhus is the creatures name. AZ
hrst " lurl.s there unnoticod fattcnlng
upon tho rich, rank food IL finds around
Il, until, grown too big 90 longer hide,
II boldly shows its hidoous head, and
through alley and street, crying rs IL
runs. forces itself into John Ingerfeld's
counting house and tells its tale.
John lingerie Id sits for awhile think.
ing Then he mounts his horse and rides
home at as hard pace as the condition
Of the streets will allow. In the hall he
meets Anne going out and stops her.
Don't come too near me, :" he says
quietly. "Typhus fever has broken out
at Limehouse, and they say one can
communicate it, even without having it
oneself You had better leave London
for a few weeks. Go down to your ia
TIERS. Twill come and fetch you when
it is all over. :"
He passes her, giving her wide
berth, and gcos mp stairs, where he re-
mains for some minutes in conversation
with his valet. Then coming down he
remounts and rides off again.
After little while Anne goes up into
his room. His man is kneeling in the
middle Of the floor packing valise.
where are you to take it," she asks.
Down to the wharf, ma am" an
swers the man. "Mr. Ingerficld is 60
ing to be there for day or two"
Then Anne sits in the great empty
drawing room and takes her turn at
thinking.
John Ingerfield finds on his return to
Limehouse that the evil has greatly in
creased during the short time he has
been away. Famed by fear and igno-
rance, fed by poverty and dirt, the
scourgc is spreading through the dis
trict like fire, Long smoldering in
secret, it has now burst forth at so diff
ferent points at once. Not a street, not
court, but has its lease" Over a
dozen of Johns hands are down with ii
already. Two more have sunk PROSTATE
beside their work within the last hour.
The panic grows grotesque. Men and
women tear their clothes off, looking tc
see if they have anywhere upon them q
rash or patch of notified skin; find
that they have, or imagine that they
have, and rush screaming half undressed
into the street. Two men, meeting in q
narrow passage, both rush back, toe
| frightened to pass each other. A boy
stoops down and scratches his lcg-not
an action that under ordinary circum
stances would excite much surprise il
that neighborhood. In an instant there
ic gto l,n Il.
strong trampling on tho weak in theil
eagerness to escape.
These are pot the days of organized
defense against disease. There are kline
hearts and willing hands in Londor
town, but they aie not yet closely enough
| banded together to meet swift foe sucl
as this There are hospitals and charitie.
galore, but these are mostly in tho city
maintained by the city fathers for the
exclusive benefit of poor citizens ant
members of the guilds. Tho few FIRE,
hospitals are already ovcrc,owdod ant
! i'll prepared. Squalid outlying Lime
house, belonging to nowhere, cared 70
by nobody, must fight for itself.
John Ingerfield calls the older men to
gether, and with their help attempts t,
instill some sense and reason into hi
terrified people. Standing on the step o
his counting house and addressing a
many Of them as are not too scared t.
listen, he tells them CT the danger of fea
and Of the necessity for calmness ant
courage.
''We must face and fight this thin,
like men" he cries in that deep, din
conquering voice that has served the In
gerfields in good stead on many a s.ee
swept field, on many storm struck sea
"There must be no cowardly selfishness
no faint hearted despair If we've got t,
die, We'll die, but please God We'll live
Anyhow, we will stick together anC
help each other. mean to stop her,
with you and do what can for you
None of my people shall want. -
John Ingerfield ceases, and as the vi
brations of his strong tones roll away
sweet voice from beside him rises clea
and firm.
Il have come down to be with yol
also, and to help my husband. shall
take charge of the nursing and tending
of your sick, and l hope l shall be o