Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-12-28
mlN!s7ERINC TO LfpERS.
, woNDERFUL AND INTEREST
ING INSTITUTION.
.,sters of Charity Have Been Nurses For
over Ten Years and show no
Signs of the Dreaded
Disease.

one of the most interesting and
wonderfully conducted institutions IN
tba world is the great leper hospital
of the Island of Trinidad, where lepers
rom all the Windward islands come
Cor treatment. / went 10 this institu-
lion in company with the surgeon-gen-
oral Of the colony, and it is mainly
from him these facts are derived. lie
had studied leprosy in India and ia
balf q dozen English colonies. The
bospital consists of some half-doZen
detached. one story, succeed build
inrs set in the form of = square about
soyargl acres of grass-covered, tree
shaded lawn. One building is re-
served entirely for the sisters of char
itv. who form the nursing corps of the
bosnital and this is backed by gar
don which they work themselves and
which is famous for its roses and bios
somipg vines. The, roses, more espe-
ciaIly. are noted for their size. per-
fnme. and loyeliness even in the trop-
les where splendid orchids grow. The
flowers are as big as peonies, and eth
or nure white or blush color, and the
bushes bloom so profusely and contln-
uously that it is necessary now and
then to take them, roots and all, out of
the ground to prevent complete eX-
baustiou Of their powers.
This garden and their musical in
strumcnts are their refuge and relax
alton. for the sights they daily witness
ore SO distressing, so wearing TO the
nerves. that the superior frequently
requires them to abandon their work
for few days and give themselves up
10 music and gardening until they
recover their tone. Every few years
they are sent away to some other duty
for several months for the same rea-
son. Many of the nurses have been
more than 10 years ut work in the hos
ptal and there has never been the
slightest sign of coutagion in one of
them They observe the usual eXquis-
Ste cleanliness demanded by their re-
lgious VOWS. and the superior takes
care hat their physical condition is
carefully watched. but no other pre-
cautions are observed, and they do not
seClude themselves from the world. At
the time of my visit there were but
two white men in the hospital, all the
others being negroes, Iiindoos, and
Chinese.
4 haif-brocd Hindoo in one of the
wards had evolved in his long leisure
4 most Ingenious tower some five feet
high, built of old cigar boxes, half-used
pencils cast-off bits of wire nails etc.
4 thousand odds and ends, including a
broken clock case, some of which he
had begged from visitors, more OF
which he had rescued from the refuse
tins. This contained some 80 little
rooms and "A winding stair, and was in
habited 10y pet gray rat, who. at
signal from his master, would mount
the stairs and visit every room, ring
Ing a bell in one, turning a wheel in
another, pulling Il string which loosen
ed q tiny shower of water in third,
and displaying all the triumphs of ten
years patience and skill. TO the infinite
pride and delight of his afflicted own
or
Most Of the patients had no such re-
source and sat in brooding indifference
and silence the hopeless prisoners OF
despair But the patience and pity Of
The beautiful young woman in white
zap, who had given up wealth and
youth and high place to soothe those
So unhappy, who bent over them, was
like The infinite gentleness of an angel
bending over the infinite horror of hell
Washington Post.