The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1897-09-17

with preventing the spread OF the disease,
to make its unhappy victims contented.
But the beart-rending walls of those who
part with loved ones and friends for the
last time as they are about to be conveyed
to Molokal tell the motto of the Leper
Asylum "All hope abandon, ye who
enter here" But this separation from
friends is the chief sorrow of the Hawai-
ian leper, and that is required in order to
save loved ones from the possible conta.
gion of the disease.
Among the victims of leprosy are per-
sons of excellent families, whose friends
build cottages for them on Molokai, and
see that they lack nothing for their COM
fort. 1t is stated that the first person to
be removed to the leper island was law
yer who had been active in securing the
regulation which required the removal of
lepers in order to prevent the spread of
the disease. No sooner did the unmis-
taxable evidence of the dread disease first
appear than he insisted on setting the
example Of patriotism in voluntarily sur
rendering himself to be removed to
Molokai, although some years might have
passed before his condition would have
been known to the public. The disease
had made considerable inroads among the
lower classes, and nothing but this heroic
remedy promised to suppress it effectual-
ly. Vigilance is used to separate any one
who is suspected until it is definitely
known whether or not he is q victim of
the disease, and if so, he is promptly ex-
lied to the island. Children born Of par
ents who are lepers, after passing given
age without showing signs Of the disease,
are removed from Molokai and kept in
for a number of years SO
that they may neither contract the disease
nor be the means of spreading it,; then,
II found "clean" by the Board of Health,
they can be permitted to go anywhere.
Such children are educated at the expense
of the Government. Thus, after 30
years, the Government has the satisfac-
ton of believing that effectual means have
been devised of caring for the unfortu-
nate lepers in the most humane manner,
while attempting to suppress the disease
which was so threatening to the popula-
ton and fair name of the Hawaiian Is
lands. However, as is to be supposed,
attempts are made to escape this lifelong
quarantine.
King Kalakaua in his royal progress
throughout the group of the Hawaiian
Islands did not fail to visit Molokai, where
he made a speech to his unfortunate sub
jects who were in exile because they were
lepers, and assured them of his deep in
terest In their welfare. His words called
forth the grateful sobs of the leper Icolo-
nists who were much moved by the sym
pathy of their sovereign whom they were
permitted to hear without approaching
him. So when the Board of Health make
their contamination of inspection hun.
dreds of lepers gather about the house
where visitors are entertained, but no
leper is ever allowed to enter. Thus ev-
cry precaution Is taken to prevent the
spread of the disease while efficient SUI
pervision is had of the hospitals, schools
and other agencies which belong to this
unique Leper Asylum.
The death OF Father Damien, the Bel
gian priest who died on Molokai few
years ago, attracted the attention of the
Christian world TO the religious needs of
the lepers. Joseph Damien went there q
young priest OF 33 years Of age and labor
ed among the unfortunate exiles for some
20 pears. After l6 years leprosy appear
ed, and he suffered loss of smell, then OF
touch and Of sight, until finally, after
losing fingers and toes, tuberculosis at
tackled his lungs and throat, and then
came bis heroic death. Nor did he have
TO walt long for a successor. His brother,
Pamphile Damien, accompanied by four
priests and as many nuns, has gone to
take up his work. His comrade, Brother,