The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-07
LEPERS IN PORTO RICO.
YANKEE CLEANLINESS RULES
THE LAZARETTO.
Some Cheerfulness Among the In
durable Victims Of Elephanti-
asis-An Island Home.

with Spain is the proper care OF Inn
tied number of lepers, men and wo-
men, in Porto Rico. These are lSo-
lated on a reservation in comparative
comfort, within walking distance CT
San Juan, but are soon to be removed
to a small island where they can have
greater liberty without endangerinG
general health, and at the same time
can cultivate the land and earn Hv-
ing for themselves.
A New York woman, who is an ac-
tive member of the Tribune Sunshine
Society and who has just returned from
Porto Rico, tells thus of the way che
happened to pay a visit to the lazar-
etto, and what she saw there:
Il was standing on the sea wall at
San Juan, near the old chapel, watch
ing the senoras coming from service.
Tim, the army mule, who now does
duty as saddle horse for Lieutenant
Luis de Puy, was near by. Tim has
been, taught to pick up handkerchief.
One of the native beauties in passing
dropped her handkerchief accidentally.
Tim picked it up. AS she took it from
his teeth my attention was attracted
to her sad face. She told me she had
been praying that she might be per-
mitted to see her husband, who was
one of the leperS in the lozaretto. She
was touched by my sympathy, and
begged me to pray, too. l promised to
do something for her if possible.
II sought Captain Dawson, the SAM
tary inspector, in his office at the Con-
sulate. I found him in consultation
with several of his assistants. He eX-
claimed, when he saw me: L have just
returned from trip I made to select
an island to be used for my leper col
ony. / have found an ideal one, with
trees. foliage, running streams-a lit
tie paradise-and I am happy L have
been telling DIR. Glenon about it. I
hope to make the lepers as comfortable
and happy as it is possible for such
unfortunates to be. They will have
gardens to work in and raise what
they wish in fruit and vegetables. The
work will be a godsend in occupying
their minds.
Luis Peno is one of the prettiest
islands on the west coast of Porto
Rico, and contains 400 acres. I will
build comfortable cottages for them,
and hope to have a model leper colony
all over the island to find all the lepers
there may be and send them to the
lazaretto near here until the island is
ready for them
"'Oh Captain,' said, that is what
1 have come for. 1 want to go out
and visit your lazaretto Are there
any women there?'
Ives, more than half are women,
but only dozen in ALL
Please, may 1 go out to visit then?'
Have you no fear? What is your
object? 1 decidedly object to visitors
who go out of mere curiosity
g No, ] am not afraid and I feel as if
I might comfort them, and some good
may come of my visit. You know,
woman often sees things that a man
does not that might bring more COM
fort to women. Have you a matron?'
:. No; the keeper is a man. The doc
tor visits them daily, and I myself am
a constant caller They have my SYM
rathy. 1 do not feel that the disease
is as contagious as some people sup
pose. I have studied them carefully.
Some of them have lived for years with
their families at home, sleeping in the
same room, and often in the same bed,
without contagion. The women are of
all ages
''Then the CAPTAIN knit his brows,
and presently asked, When do you
wish to go?'
- 'Now-to- day-if I may
$50 it was arranged. AT = D. m. we
took carriage at the Plaza and drove
out past the historic Cristobal- Colon
frowning down upon US from the hill
-;@l, 49,
little naked children playing in the
sun, while the older people lounged on
the verandas or in the doorways scan
tily clad; past the haunted Fort Ger
mo, with it's romantic walk of palms;
then along a stretch of country road,
and presently long white building
came into sight, back of which was a
small, low structure, surrounded by a
group of tropical plants and palms.
Before it stretched the waters of the
inner bay.
I'm front of the large building were
several soldiers, one of whom stepped
forward and presented arms. This
building is the prison. A battery of
artillery (Americam is stationed near,
and a squad is selected daily from it's
members TO guard the prison
Davison's First Lieutenant, had been
appointed my escort, and who speaks
Spanish f1uently, told the guard who
we were, we were allowed to pass on
down a winding path to the rear, where
we were again stopped by guard. who
on recognizing my companion, allowed
us to continue. We stood a moment
on the embankment and looked across
the road, which divides the prison
from the lazaretto. when almost in
stantly from every doorway there APP
peared a leper Men, women, girls
and boys looked over toward us. then
consulted among themselves, and all
pressed forward to the railing as they
saw us descend the embankment.
Now said Mr.. De Puy, have you
seen enough? How near do you care
to go? Will you go into the house?
Will you go up to the balcony or will
you look at them and talk to them from
speaking distance only?'
For a moment 1 gathered my skirts
together and hesitated. 1 had on q
blue linen lawn gown, and my conf
panion suit of white duck. 1 quickly
asked, How near do your care to go?'
oh. I go right into their rooms and
see that they are clean and comfort
able. I am not afraid = but you?'
Come 1 said, We will go. We can
destroy our clothes afterward.
"As we assembled the steps the woman
w