The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-04-28

s.
feet wide.
Each leper is allowed by the govern
ment only 1 cent a day for sustenance.
Father Conrardy says the lepers of the
colony are inclined to be Industrious.
and with the pittance from the gov
eminent he hopes to enable them to
provide for themselves quite plend-
fully, compared with the wretched state
they are now reduced to as a result of
misguided efforts or lack of co-oDera-
ton.
Before going to his work Father Con-
rardy expects to canvass the east for
assistance to place the leper colony in
fair condition. If he secures enough
money he will bGy a tract of land, build
houses on it which are no more than
verandas, and commence systematic
work to organize and develop the col
ony's producing capacity. In their pres
emit habitations the Cantonese have no
soap, bandages salve or chemicals of
any kind to treat their affection, which
makes the pain much more intense
than it otherwise would be. All of
these articles the good priest hopes to
provide, that the unending suffering of
such large part of humanity may be
mitigated as far as possible.
There is a Cantonese Chinaman here
in Portland who wants to return to his
native province with Father Conrardy,
to lend whatever aid he may to the
work He has the confidence of the
people there, and will be quite useful.
Father Conrardy goes as a Good Sa-
maritan, in the interests of humanity.
These unfortunates, in his eyes. are
men and women whose welfare JUST
fies sacrifice of those more favorably
born. Should he find those desiring to
embrace Christianity, he viii admins
ter to them spiritually. But his crown
ing ambition is to illustrate practical
Christianity.
The aged priests mission is one so
to the ordinary mind that it
seems difficult to grasp the depth of
its sacrifice. A much younger and
more vigorous mind might stand APP
palled before even the preliminary
work of this undertaking. White men
have had nothing to do there. All the
difficulties of racial isolation and Chi
nese stubbornness must be met. But
to Father conrardy, whose life has been |
a struggle With strange, wild people, |
these impediments are not needed. He |
feels confident that as soon as his |
work is indicated by first results there |
will be abundance of official aid to
promote and further his plan. His age |
he thinks but a small handicap. His |
health is yet good, and he has no fears |
Of leprosy. The simple element of eli
mate is what causes him most appre-
hension, as the colony is in damp, |
hot zone. Father Conrardy thinks
that by the time he has spent five
years in the colony it will be in such a
state of progress that the eyes of men
will be drawn, until a qualified sue
lessor may be found to take up the
burden and relieve the pioneer, that he
nay spend his, few remaining feeble
years in rest.
Since commencing his medical course
n Portland, Father Conrardy has net
,een idle in other respects. Various
PRIESTS have been assisted in their
hurches, and any work of the diocese
hat he could attend to has found him
eady and willing. 1t is novel for one
# Sc to commence a medical course,
which involves a cast amount of work,
ften overtaxing young and more vir-
i'm minds His Studies have been fol-
owed faithfully in every respect. DIR.
osephi, dean of the college, attests
hat the usual faulty memory of 60 was
ot evident in the examinations, even
n the long list Of difficult terms found :
n anatomy Now that he has received
is degree of NJ. D., nothing interferes
nth Father Conrardy commencing i'm
lediately plans for his great under
aking in Canton.