The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-06-25
A HOME FOR LEPERS.
Their Only Place Of Refuge In This
Country.
An Institution I'm Louisiana Whore the
Poor Unfortunates Are Hap
paly Housed and Cared
For.


Poor Unfortunates Are Hap
paly Housed and Cared
Perhaps few people know that the
only leper home in the United Etates IS
one recently established in the parish
of Iberville, not many miles above New
Orleans. It is 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 a dis
case incurable and hideous enough and
only to be stamped out by the complete
isolation of its victims.
To this end was the leperJ 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
lnulated 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 comfortable
home. The house stands in the midst
Of grove of towering pecans and wide.
spreading oaks. Not far from this
building is 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
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
is 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 a 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 a different type.
Among the patients is a man of IS,
who does not remember when he was
not leper. Another isl 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 a leper. But the most inter
esting patients are q pair of lovers.
the tragic pathos of whose story is al
most without parallel.
About six years ago, in the parish of
there lived a young fellow
Of about rs who was engaged to good,
pretty girl of 1s. Almost upon the eve
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 her.
He sought a clearing In the heart of
the woods and lived there utterly alone.
AS soon as the home was open he sought
it's shelter. His sweetheart still loved
him, still declared that some day they
would be united. Six months after her |
over entered the home she, too. sought
i, crying: "unclean! unclean!" Thus
his woeful pair, so tragically united,
ire yet forever disunited, as marry they
at least as long as they are in
mates Of the home. They spend much
II their time together and seem cheer
ul enough.-Chicago News.