The times., 1899-09-10

ways and means of sustaining the Bened-
cehcia. The first idea of the Santa Clara
ladies was the common one in Cuba-yiz,
that rich American pigs" might be gra-
ciously allowed the privilege of squander-
ing their surplus millions in the island
they had liberated and that the Red Cross
of Geneva, with unlimited means at is
back. be eondescendingly permitted to
carry On the work in its own way. When
We run up against such cases-which not
infrequently happens-Mss Bsrton's opin-
ions as TO the true state of affairs are
never long shrouded in obscurity; and
during the next half hour those ladies re-
| ceived more wholesome enlightenment
than ever before in the course OF their
lives. The outcome was that the Red
Cross gave a little judicious help TO the
Benefcencia enough TO place it firmly on
its feet, together with the clear under
standing that no more assistance would be
given and that it must heneeforth be To-
eal1y maintained. And then Miss Barton
rented another house. had it cleaned and
disinfected. established therein three OF
her nurses. and relieved the oyercrowded
Beneficencia of half its children.
Where Lepers Have Their Being.
road to the edge of the town
to the Lepers Home, oppo-
site the cemetery. on top of a breezy hill
The long. one-storied wooden building,
painted sky blue, with the legend, Hos
pital de San Lazaro'' In black letters over
the wooden arch of its gateway. looks very
bright and clean amid the surrounding
yerdure.
| Its apartments are ranged around a wide
| central patio, open to every breeze-male
| patients on one side, females on the other
| officers in front, kitchens and storerooms
| in the rear. A surprising number OF lep-
| ers are here, almost as many as in the big
! San LaZaro Hospital. Of Havana. The ma
| 1ority Of these are negroes and. as always.
| the worst cases are Chinese. Why is it,
| | wonder that the loathsome disease finds
its most congenial ground in Oriental
! bodies? One smiling old fellow, who IN
| spite of his infirmity retains scanty rem
nant of precious pig-tail, eked out with
| braided shoe string lost his eyelids long
ago, together with most OF his features.
The curious thing fabout the case is that
kindly Mother Nature hastened TO supply
substitute for the missing eyelids, in the
shape of thick film which shades the ten
| der orbs, something as an OWLS eyes are
protected. 5tJ
| Others have lost hands and feet, ears.
| lips. noses, suffering no more pain when
| the scaly members dropped off than a
snake does In shedding Its skin.
| / was particularly Interested in young
mulatto woman, tab. slender and apparent
| ly in perfect health. She sat in darkened
| corner, with eyes downcast and hands hid
| den in the folds of her gown. oblivious OF
present surroundings as il wrapped in
| cloud of memories IT'S her hands, said
/ the brusaue attendant THE fingers are
| falling off. Come, show them, Isabel. l
| refused the heartless invitation to look,
! but dropped my bunch of roses in her lap
1 and turned away. At sight of the flowers
| her slumbering soul seemed TO suddenly
wake up and look through its darkened
| window Sits She instantly arose, MADE an
! obeisance worthy the first lady Oh the lahu
| and murmured, "Mili gracias, senorita
| Vaya con Dios'-tA thousand thanks, lady
God go with YOU" So rich in Spanish
courtesy are the poorest of these creoles.
Limit of u Life of Misery.
4 The doctor says that twenty years is the
limit of q lepers life. and that they SUI
/ fer little physical pain. beyond a Slight
burning sensation at first. Meanwhile.
disease in any other form passes them
by. No matter how yellow fever, cholera.
smallpox or any other scourge may De
raging these wretches who long Tor deatn
are exempt. At the beginning they are
always extremely sensitive and Try TO nide
1 from human sight After time, tney
usually become resigned 10 their aiiliction,