New-York tribune., 1903-06-07
ASYLUM FOR LEPERs.
Fine Work Being Done for the Victims in
Burmah

FIera in Rl1rnah one grows callous at the ssveral
and CHASTITY sights one sees leprosy N al us
worst forms stalking rampant through tne streets
and thoroughfares. says writer in The Graphic
Ascending the steps OF a pagoda you rub snouIoers
with the victims in the markets, on the streets
you 1ostle against them. and yet you DC not seem
to feel the repugnance stranger not used 70 sncn
sights would feel
rouch that ts new and interesting IN the Golden
City. once the Citadel OF the Lord OF the White
Elephant and the Colder Throne But there Is one
sight one institution. one enduring memorial IOr
which we are not indebted to the past Ths
.eNr.,e1- Yan,an the Royal Garden. where ST
Johns Ieper Asylum is situated. is the home 01
uany miserable creatures TO whom even parental
doors are closed; it is tine home Of the afhcted
and the despised the home OF hideous sights and
repulsfve objects Almost all the countries or
Europe are allied in the work OF mercy carried on
at this institution: priests and nursing sisters VINO
have given up and friends TO minister 10 res7
most miserable Of creatures, are JolileU III 'iei'
labor Of love
A visit to the asylum conveys a lesson OF self
denial that strikes speechless How dreadfuliy,
neanIy selfish feels! 1t exc1tes eInotloIs thd'
cannot be frnagined-they must be felt To Us. 70
whom it has not been given 70 understand such
love- the devotion that inmolates life on the al5ar
Of self-imposed duty seems Madness M WnaS 11 Du1sS
US up most difficult tasks ah9 O1l Ia "a 80
struggles the hope Of success, Is denled 70 tns
@ workgg har ~ 119 of q cure Following the patient Iabors
OF the devoted attendant? What gain; what prom @
suredIy pass through the minds OF the un1orIundIo
patients for naught else can account Tor tne sLi9
of dogIike love and affection that breaks over anu
trsnsfg1Ires for moment their otherwise dSnSuISd
and hideous countenances as they look upon IhS
calm features their Self-appOnted atCeridnlS-
Inch nv inch the asylum has grown. urlIl4 now y
has attained the position OF being ranked as Qs ..
the most noble institutions not only In Burmah o1I
in the whole world. 1t had very humble DeSllIlls
as most things in this world have. 1t was snoruy
after the annexation Of Upper Blrn1aAoI' c 70 os
more accurate in 1SSS-that the late Bishop SIMON
addressed the authorities the subject or IepeIs
but II was not till 1891 that the Rev Father Wen,
niger following the example of the Immortal
Father Damien, of MolOkai was able 70 round tle
Johns Ieper Asylum on a grant or SIX acres o.
land lust outside Mandalay. The beginning was
necessarily on very small scale. and when IL ls
taken into consideration that the number or IepeiS
in Burnah at that time variOUsly estimated at
ANYTHING between eighteen thousand and thlrJE
avaiIable space was Immediately filed up. and hun
dreds OF other FunfOrtunates had per1orce 20 De
turned awav From the appalling figures quoted
above of those affected. 1t is very evident that
asvIums such as the St. Johns were not only very
useful but absolutely necessary as being the only
bued with the Ieprosy virus and so slowly but Ger
tainIy stamping out the terrible disease But under
the circumstances. nothing could be done. new
wards had to built, and to DO this money Was
idea struck Father Wehinger to try fresh fields and
pastures new So in 1895. with the permission or his
ecclesiastical superior. he undertook a voyage 70
Europe on a begging tour. The reception he met
with in the several countries he visited was. TO say
the least enthusiastic In England committee or
sstance given him After absence OF three years
Father Wehinger returned 10 Burmah. and at once
set In hand the erection Of the wards. with the
aid OF NJ BIin. architect and engineer.