The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-06-22
HOME FOR INCURABLEs.

Mr.. Emmeluth wrote an appeal, a
couple of days ago, on behalf of home
for incurables, which went to the hearts
of a great many people. His description
of the widow woman, who with troop
of children around her, was striving to
minister in the best way she could to
an incurable consumptive was true to
the very letter. The physicians tell us
that consumption is contagious, that it
is dangerous to inhale the air about
consumptive; that the expectorations
of a consumptive are dangerous; they
tell us many more things. But what is
humane person going to do? Turn
the consumptive into the street?
Yet there is no place where a con-
sumptive can go. The Queens hospital
wont have consumptives, they are dan
gerous to the other patients Yet the
Queens hospital is the only institution
to which an Hawaiian can go free
There is no institution where any for
eigner can go free, or any person born
of foreign parents. 1t is but natural
that large percentage of private doors
are closed against the chronic consump-
tive, There are people, who, like the
widow mentioned by Mr.. Emmeluth,
will run all risks in a good cause, but
We have no business to ask people out
of the kindness and humanity of their
hearts to run any risks at all.
Another thing learned from Mr. EN-
meluth's letter is the very small num-
. Der Of subscribers to the American Re-
1ief Fund. In the year 1896, in the dis
trict of Honolulu alone, there were 1900
American residents. This did not count
the American born on the Islands, nor
those of mixed blood, whose fathers
were American. At the present time
there must be well over 1000 American
residents in Honolulu, and yet of all
that number only forty names are on
the books of the society, as regular sub
scribers. This means that a poor per
cent of the American population is will
ing to burden itself with a subscription
of 81 per month for the alienation of
the distress of their own countrymen.
However, now that the matter has
been pointed out, there are good many
men who are ready TO put their names
down, and pledge themselves for sub
scription. 1t was a sin of omission not
of commission. 1t illustrated, however,
a charge made against the community
that it was "infirm of purpose" but
ready to give freely under an emotional
impulse.
But to return to the horne for incur
ables. 1t would not take a very large
amount of money to start it. The diff
Guilty which met the committee that was
looking into the matter some weeks ago
was to get land suitable for the loca-
ton of such a place. The site that they
selected, was refused. There is a piece
of Government land in the neighbor-
hood, which, though not so suitable, is
fairly so and is available. Half a loaf is
better than no bread, so if the ideal
site we cannot get, let us take posses
sion of what we can.
The charitable people of this town
should unite, without reference to creed
or race, in establishing such home. 1t
is the crying need of the place. Other
places provide for their incurables, we
do not. Two men from different parts
of the Islands, utterly unacquainted
with one another, have each drawn a
touching picture Of uhfortunates who
have come under their direct notice. If
further information is wanted go and
ask those self-denying ladies, who de-
vote themselves to looking after the
sick and destitute Of this city. Learn
from them what hard work they have
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