Evening star., 1902-08-07
LEPERS' SOCIAL LIFE
DWELLERS IN MOLoKAI OBSERVE
NATIONS BIRTHDAY.
Outdoor Sports and Indoor Amuse-
ments at the Island
Settlement.

From the Honolulu Star.
People on any passing vessel that went
near the leper settlement on the evening Of
July 4, ii there was such a vessel, must
have thought that the usually quiet little
peninsula had suddenly been transformed
into small inferno. The lepers celebrated
ito beat the band" closing the day with a
grand ball in the evening. The celebration.
the ball and the sports that still engage the
attention of the unfortunates are part of
the reason why no more complaints come
from Kalaupapa and Kalawao to the board
of health. and why the board was able to
visit the place on Saturday without hearing
numerous kicks.
Gayety at Molokai.
The settlement has become a new place
in the past two months. The people have
been walked up to social life and to an
interest in sports, and they are having a
better time now than they have had before
for years. They have something better to
do than get up petitions and make COM
plants. The new superintendent ]. D. Nc
Weigh, put his shoulder to the wheel at once
when he took charge and by more liberal
rules In the matter of amusements. by en-
couraging sports and social entertainments.
he has aroused the unfortunates from their
state of idleness until in the little village
there is usually something going on. Life
Is happier all around. A movement Is now
on foot to get up minstrel show. Any one
who can help by making donations OF cos
tunes will contribute to the enjoyment of
the lepers and help along bit of theatri-
Gals that will be unique.
Lepers Play Ball.
Following up the commencement made on
June II. when. after much difficulty In or
v,izfy, feSoo hon
was held. July began with sports. All day
long there were contests Of all kinds, clos
Ing with tug Of war In the evening. Then
plenty Of fireworks, and nowhere in the
world were fireworks enjoyed more. To
many of the inmates they were new. Lepers
might be seen seizing and lighting Roman
candle. holding it aloft and emitting whoops
Of delight that would have done credit to
the most enthusiastic patriot in the land. 1t
was a really hot time In Kalaupapa, prob
ably the hottest that usually silent village
ever knew.
Music Of the Dance.
The ball was another grand success. The
hall was crowded, so that there was scarce
ly room for the dancers at first. The
couples soon began to swing out over the
floor, and swhen they once got started the
lepers danced the night away, to the tunes
Of their own musicians. 1t was 4 pleasure
to all onlookers to see them enjoy them
selves, and McVeigh declared that it was
enough reward for any amount of labor to
see the unfortunateS walked up to enjoy
ment of such an occasion. The lepers are
now allowed more freedom in the use of the
hall. The former rule was lights out at 8
o'clock. Now they are allowed to keep the
hall open till midnight every night, except
ing Sundays, when 1t is closed all day.
Changes of this Sort with the arousing of
sporting interests by the judicious use Of
funds for prizes, etc, have done much to
improve conditions at the settlement and to
create the existing better feeling.