The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-29


dren are educated at the expense OF
the Government. Thus, after thirty
years, the Government has the salts
faction of believing that effectual
means have been devised Of caring fo1
the unfortunate lepers in the most
humane manner, while attempting to
suppress the disease which was SO
threatening to the population and fair
name of the Hawaiian Islands. How
eyer, as is to be supposed. attempts
are made to escape this lifelong
quarantine.
King Kalakaua, in his royal pro-
gress throughout the group of the
Hawaiian Islands, did not fail to visit
Molokai,s where he made a speech to
his unfortunate subjects, who were in
exile because they were lepers, and
assured them Of his deep interest in
their welfare. His words called forth
the grateful sobs Of the leper colonists,
who were much moved by the smy-
pathy of their sovereign, whom they
were permitted to hear without ap-
preaching him. So when the Board
of Health make their annual tour Of
inspection hundreds Of lepers gather
about the house where visitors are
entertained, but no leper is ever
allowed to enter. Thus every precau-
tion is taken to prevent the spread Of
the disease, while efficient supervision
is had Of the hospitals, schools and
other agencies which belong to this
leper asylum.
The death of Father Damien, the
Belgian priest who died on Molokai a
few years ago, attracted the attention
Of the Christian world to the religious
needs Of the lepers. Joseph Damien
went there a young priest Of thirty
three years Of age and labored among
the unfortunate exiles for some TWEEN
~ years. After sixteen years Iprosy
appeared, and he suffered loss Of
smell, then Of touch and Of sight,
-
until finally, after losing fingers and
Toes, tuberculosis attacked his lungs
and throat, and then came his heroic
death. Nor did he have to wait long
for a successor. His brother, Pam
phile Damien, accompanied by four
priests and as many nuns, have gone
to take up his work.
His comrade, Brother Joseph Dut-
ton, has been on Molokai for sixteen
years. The reports Of the Propaganda
show that priests and lay brothers
and nuns have long ministered there
in the hospitals and schools devoted
to the lepers and their children.
Nor is the word being done among
the lepers on Molokai limited to the
labors of these praiseworthy priests
and their associates. After the noble
work which has been done on each Of
the. other islands by the American
Board, one is prepared to learn Of a
Congregational Church, with its faith
full pastor, on Mol0kai. Here also
are 10 be found Young Mems Chris
tian Association, a Sunday school, a
Bible class, singing school, gym
nasium and reading room. One who
has observed the Hawaiian love of
sweet melodies is glad to know also of
a band Of sixteen leper musicians on
Molokai. III
While visitors are permitted to ac-
company the health officers on their
semi-annual visits of inspection, every
precaution is taken to avoid unpleas-
ant scenes between the leper colonists
and their relatives, as we'll as to pre-
vent any spread Of the disease through
the inadvertence Of visitors in being
brought into immediate contact with
the lepers, who go freely on foot or
horseback over all that part of the
island. Molokai is literally without
the camp" and no one can visit the
Hawaiian Islands, where leprosy, some
thirty years since, promised such de-
cimation Of the inhabitants, and not
be impressed with the wisdom of the
legislation which was based upon the
example of the laws Of Moses for the
segregation Of lepers, and upon its
effectiveness In fact, the visitor to
Che Paradise of the Pacific now
needs to go to Molokai to find leper,
unless by accident he encounters one
who is about being removed thither,
while the traveller in Palestine is
liable, as occurred to the writer Of
this article at Sheechem, to have the
6ngerless hands of poor lepers stretch
ed out for aims as the curtain Of his