The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-06-28

have had to try and find q home for
these poor creatures, realize how terri
BILE their condition is and how very diff
ficult it is to provide for them.
1t was not so long ago when young
man wandered round from one place to
another, and finally died in the house
Of a samaritan who took him when he
was almost at deaths door For these
there is no place in the hospital, even
when they are ready to pay. Not only
are they miserable themselves, but
they are a menace to their fellow crea-
lures. Are we going on forever, closing
our eyes to the miseries around us, mis-
cry which can be readily found If we
will look for them. The priest and the
Levite passed by on the other side and
| left the unfortunate who fell among
| thieves and got sorely bruised in the
encounter, very severely alone. 1t was
no business of theirs said they. But
the Samaritan not only stopped and
gave aid, but he saw the victim placed
in position of safety and put his hand
into his purse to help him.
Are we, as a community, going to
play the part of the priest and the
Levite, or are we going to enact that of
the Samaritan, or rather it should be
said, are we going to continue to play
the former parts, for we have been do
! ing so long enough.
| The cases which were cited recently in
communication We're not fancy pictures.
There has been no drawing upon the
imagination, and no dressing up of
facts. 1t was no fancy case which Mr..
Emmeluth cited of struggling widow,
with a growing family, throwing pre-
caution to the winds, and nursing a Gy-
ing consumptve. 1t was no fancy pic
ture when a poor Hawaiian girl, in the
| last stages of consumption, could find
no abiding place. 1t was no fancy pic
ture when a consumptive sailor was
passed from one individual to another,
finding no shelter and little food, till he
almost died in the street. These things
have happened, and they may happen
again.
BIS dat qui otto dat,"-he gives twice
who gives quickly, says the old Latin
poet and it is true bit of philosophy,
which may be applied to the present
matter. After much discussion the
question of the home for incurables is
in allegiance. The land which the COM
mitee, that had the matter in hand a
few weeks ago, had decided upon, is not
available. Those in charge of it feel
disposed to play the part of the priest
and the Levite and pass on the other
side. OF course there is no obligation
that any one should sell land for this
purpose, but when a suitable piece is
found, which would be advantageous, a
public spirited body of men, and one
which had the good of Hawaiians at
heart, would do a graceful and charit-
able deed to SELL or better still, to give
the land. But if that piece cannot be
obtained, why another location should
be chosen
1t is no use standing over the pa
tents body and arguing where to place
him, prolongng the controversy to such
an extent that when some sort of agree
ment is reached, it is found that the
patient has already solved the question
by dying where he is. We don't want
to wait for any such catastrophe. We
want to get at what we propose to do,
and we want to get at it quickly. We
might take the advice given in that lit :
tie brochure "A Message to Garcia"
Just as the messenger did not hum and
haw, and ask how to get to his jour-
ney's end but straigthway went and did
it, so we should cease humming and
having, and get practically to work up
on our home.
1t is true that the demand for assist
ance to various charitable institutions
and organizations is continuous. But
it must be remembered that this COM
munity has been singularly blessed
with prosperity, and that it is the
duty of the prosperous to provide for
those who are unfortunate.
The home of incurables is an object
which appeals to all. There should be
no religious prejudice, no race feeling
called up by it. 1t is an institution
where religion and race should meet on
a common plane, the plane of death.
For the home for incurables simply
means the place where those for whom
there is no hope of life will go to await
the inevitable end. 1t is the place that
we shall provide for the weary and
wornout to lay their characterization
bodies and peacefully watch for the APP
proach of death. Kind hearts and skill
ed hands can smooth the last path of
the incurable, and it is this which this
community is called upon to provide
and the provision should be made
quickly.