The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-10-14

unselfish men and women-American
women-for they are truly heroes and
heroines all, who are giving their lives
and always facing peril worse than
death itself for the sake Of host .of
miserable unfortunates who are not
even of their own race.
The visitors were received at the
door Of the main building Of the Bish- |
op home by the Mother Superior, who
conducted them through the sixteen or
seventeen buildings included in the in
stitution, over which she presided.
With bare heads and, without excep-
tion, with eyes full Of tears, we passed
from building to building, from room
to room, deeply moved by the scenes
witnessed, proud of the American wo-
manhood that can give the world such
heroines, ashamed that such a visit
was needed to make us acquainted
with their work, their abnegation,
their heroism. Well-bred and well-ed-
ucated, ladies of refinement, and per-
haps wealth, they are here for life,
vice of the spiritual and temporal bet
terment of the most unfortunate of the
human family. The world ought to
know their names; these ought to be
enshrined in the hearts of all our fell
low-citizens. But they never will be,
for when the good sisters abandoned
the world and eXiled themselves on
Molokai, far from home and loved
ones, they left their names behind.
The Bishop home having been thor
oughly explored, meeting was held
in the hall which serves as theater
and meeting -roo:n to the inmates of
the institution. The meeting was pre-
sided over by Senator Dowsett Chair
man of the Senate Health Committee,
who paid glowing and eloquent trib-
ute to the devotion and heroism OF
the brothers and sisters of Molokai.
The inmates sung English and Hawaii
an selections with a perfection hardly
| credible.
During one of the few moments the
writer was able to pass in company of
the Mother Superior he foolishly re-
marked that in some Of the bad cases
it would be a mercy to put an end
to such a hopeless and miserable life.
The leper who called forth this remark
was Chinese, whom no stretch Of
| Imagination could dignity with the
name of man. His right eye was af-
fected by the disease, his nose was cut
in two, his mouth and right lower jaw
entirely gone. Both hands had been
eaten up by the disease. In order to
keep him alive a sister is compelled
to place with her own hands the food
in an aperture which is supposed to
be his mouth. / believe then that
death would be a mercy for any man
who should help to bring about his
death would perform a meritorious act.
Here is what the sister said in answer
to the suggestion: God giveth life;
He will take it away in His own good
time. In the mean time it is our duty
to make life as pleasant and as COM
Portable as possible for those of our
fellow-creatures whom God has chos-
en- to afflict with this terrible disease"
The Baldwin Home is in charge of
the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. They
are from France and Belgium, but as
Christian heroes they belong to the
world. The moving spirit of this in
stitutton, however, is an American
Brother Dutton. He was co-worker
with Father Damien, and has been at
the settlement over twenty-five years.
Here also they have brass band en-
tire]y composed of lepers.
listened to the music of this and Of
the Catholic Mission band. Every
member thereof, including Brother
Serapion, their teacher, is leper: some
have lost number Of their fingers;
some played their instruments with
lips half destroyed, liberated and dis
torted 1t was scene 1t would be
absolutely impossible to forget.
Brother Serapion Won Hoff the lead
er Of the band and the cnoirmaster of
the settlement, who teaches the lepers
music is now himself leper, having
contracted the dread disease. He Is a
Belgian. a talented man devoted heart
and soul to his work Of bringing such
measures Of Joy as is possible to this
unfortunate people.
Among the lepers at the Molokal
settlement are dozen Portuguese, one
French CANADIAN. three negro Ameri-
cans and more than a thousand Ha-
waiians Of all classes, with a sprink-
ling Of japanese and Chinese. A rela-
tive Of Gov. Carter, of the Territory of
Hawaii, is one Of the afflicted leprous
prisoners doomed to spend their lives
in the narrow confines Of the rock
abound and sea-girt plain Of Kalau-
papa. He Is an educated man and
trained athlete. He is president Of the
leper baseball club.
Once a year the two priests, who
are the fathers, counsellors and friends
Of the lepers, are permitted to leave