The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-02-11
A HOME FOR LEPERS.
Their Only Place Of Refuge In This
Country.
An Institution In Louisiana where the
Poor UnfortunAtes Are Hap
PLY Housed and Cared
For.

fernaps rev people know that the
only leper home in the United States is
one recently established in the parish
OF lberville, not many miles above New
Orleans. 1t is a state institution, its
board Of directors entirely masculine.
but if you would know who gives per-
sonal service TO 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
case 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? Preposterousl 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 real home for
those who dwell in it. The sisters es-
tablished themselves in the old Camp
mansion, once one of the finest planta-
| tlon 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
che church, both consecrated TO the
service of humanity.
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
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 live-oak avenue
These houses are comfortably fur
nished 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 permitted to live to-
gether. In one of them live four sis
ters, all afflicted with leprosy, and each
with different type.
Among the patients is man of rs
who does not remember when. he wa;
not leper. Another is union veteran
drawing pension and still in love witt
life. Yet another is u young mulatto
who was employed as a carpenter il
building the cottages. Hardly had h'
driven the last nail when he founC
himself leper. But the most inter
sting patients are a pair Of lovers
the tragic pathos of whose story is al
most without parallel.
About six years ago, in the parish o
Lafourche, there lived young fellow
OF about rs who was engaged to good
pretty girl of 49, Almost upon the ey
of marriage he made the horrible dis
covery that he was a leper. He re
leased the girl from her promise
though she implored him to marry hel
He sought clearing in the heart Q
the woods and lived there utterly alone
As soon as the home was open he sough
s its shelter. His sweetheart still love
. him, still declared that some day the
2 would be united. Six months after he
: lover entered the home she, too, sough
4 it, crying: "Unclean! unclean!" Thu
s this woeful pair, so tragically unite'
8 are yet forever disunited, as marry the
5 cannot, at least as long as they are il
o mates of the home. They spend muc
5 Of their time together and seem cheer
0 full enough.-Chicago News.