The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-07-24
Plans Discussed For
Its Progress,
THE DAY ON THE ISLAND
The Molokai Colony FIourishing
and Unfortunates Seem
Happy,

DIoIol,ai. The Board and those allowed
10 accompany 1t left Honolulu Friday
night at o'clock and arrived at Kalau
papa at daybreak Saturday. About elcv.
en- hours were spent at the settlement
and almost all this time was occupied in
visiting the points Of interest in consul
tation with the managers and discussion
OF the settlements future. The Boards
custom to visit Molokai twice n year
bur owing to the plague the Board did
not go at the time set for the last jour.
ney. and as II was on July %, 1889, that
the previous visit was paid. n year say,
but few days had elapsed.
GREETING ON LANDING.
AS usual. when the party was landed ir
the small boats crowds of the lcpers gath.
cred TO meet them. Many of the visitors
OF whom over a hundred were natives
were greeted by relatives and friends who
Kissed them passionately and carried them
of to their own homes scattered about
and enjoyed their close company until
the whistles blew for the return. There
was much embracing, as always on such
oct asions, and, many of the visitors bring
inf food and pleasant drinks, scores of
little luaus were spread.
The Board of Health extended every
courtesy to those who had obtained per-
mission to go with II and no restrictions
were placed on them. To those who have
lived here long or who have made the sad
trip to the island of sorrow there Is lit
tie new to he told. but for others details
will he interesting.
There are now 9sS lepers in the settle
ment. The number IL decreasing yearly
or the 1888. 5si are males and 1914 females
Most of the lepers are natives. Thirty
are Chinese. and twenty, including Por-
tt.p ttFht -ItyA Api
cans. four are British. five are Germans
and one Norwegian. The latter Is n
girl OF 16 who lived here for some time
and. going to San Francisco, developed
the disease in the Salvation Army Home
there. Nearly 5000 lepers have been taken
to Nolokai since the colony was estab-
lished in 1861. The average deaths q year
is about 125.
THE LEPER HOMES.
The lepers live all over the peninsula,
few miles in extent at the base of pre-
cip.tous mountains, which rise 1000 feet
and form a sheer wall to guard escape to
the other side of the Island. where are
plantations and healthy residents. The
landing is at Kalaupapa and here is the
Bishop Home for Girls. The Home con-
sists of many cottages grouped about
well-cared-for grounds and all presided
over by the Sisters of St Francis The
Sisters showed the Board about and an
swered many questions as TO the events
and Improvements of the year. There
are about 125 girls and women in tho
Home, many of the latter having lived
in its care since childhood.
They reside in the cottages which hold
about eight or ten and which are kept
scrupulously clean by the labor of the
lepeTs The walls are decoated with pic
lures and the lepers sit about on the
porches or floors in the native fashion.
Those who had friends as visitors were
especially happy hut almost all seemed
serene and cheerful. Especially did they
brighten mp when spoken TO by the Sisters
who called each by name. The Home is
for the unprotected female lepers of the
colony. and often it's inmates marry and
go to housekeeping in one of the many
houses built by the Government for them.
The Sisters have a daily school for the
girls and they learn the simple branches
OF knowledge which, with muslc-they !
have pianos and an organ-helps them to
forget their isolation. Besides they learn
the Catholic tenets and take great in
terest in the practice of that faith, II
priest of the order OF the Sacred Heart
minIstering TO their spiritual wants
DAILY OCCUPATIONS.
stereoptcon would add greatly to
their pleasures. With II evening enter
taInments might be given and an inter-
esting acquaintance with the sights of the
wcrld-neyer 10 be seen by them-might
he gained. Money could not be expended
better. Agricultural Commissioner Wray
Taylor. who has looked after such mat
ters several times In the past will en-
deavor 10 get the necessary money. ,
Anyone who would glance into the hos
pital at the Bishop Home and see the un-
fortunates who are unable TO serve them
selves and for whom death can be tile
sole alleviator of suffering would under
stand the depth Of pity that stirs the heart
of one who returns to communion with
his fellows after a day with the lepers
Written language fails.
on horseback the Board and its guests {
JoUrneyed across the pennsula-a couple
of miles-to the Baldwin Home at Kala-
wac. The bounty OF II. Z. Baldwin built
and equipped the Home and improvements )
fIcm year 10 year are due to his charity.
II Is under the direct charge of Brother J
Joseph Dutton. who for fourteen years !
mas been I'm the work tIe is not cleric
but devotes his life without salary TO
the care of male lepeTs who do not live :
In separate establishments. The people | '
Of the Home were In gala attire Saturday. 4
most OF the boys and youths wearing
khaki uniforms with brass buttons.
They lolled about under the trees or :
dashed up and down on horses, riding '
with the abandon OF cowboys. With q
brother Dutton are a number OF re- !,
Iiglous men OF a minor Catholic order. :,
principal OF whom Is Brother Van LII, Z
belgian whose face speaks his large IL
heart and industry, ~
BIG TARo FIELDS. Y
They have taught their charges 10 toll =
10 "a purpose and the green fields, baupna
and sweet potato patches and EXTENSIVE !,
tarc plantations show work and skill Now
there are over a hundred acres In taro M :,
WAihkolp, near kalawao, the product ofI
which IL consumed by the lepors, poi be.
INF the staple food. la the last year great 7
advances have been made ia taro growing -
a good deal Of Il IL upland iaro which /,
aops not need vet soil, Those lepers i,