Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-07-27

called In. One Of these soothsayers
II easily distinguished On the streets
OF Honolulu by the scarlet handker'
chief he wears around his neck, When
indoors he Is very gay In his dress, bur
ON the street he only allows himself
a trace OF scarlet.
There Is one venerable wizard that
Is said to be V G ninety years Of age,
living In the hills near Honolulu. and
who IL noted for the wonderful power
Of his eye. He Ii filthy, ragged and
unkempt. but the strange light In his
eve holds the natives In awe and al.
tracts many curious white people
who want to see what he is like
And now. leaving the legends and
superstitions Of the fair island behind.
We come 10 what may be called Ha.
walls skeleton In the closet. II Is
the leper settlement In the mountains
OF Molokai, II Is located on a PENN.
sula OF some 5000 acres In extent. II
Is surrounded on three sides by the
ocean, and on the remaining side by
a steep ~precipice about 1900 feet In
height. The settlement can only be
approached by a small pathway. and
two policemen are always on guard
here 10 prevent any n from entering.
/. Only 4 Few White Lepers. :.
About lao lepers were sent here in
1865. and the number has increased
from time to time until there are
about a thousand persons In the com.
munity. Nina-tenttB OF the afflicted
inmates Of the place are either Chi.
nese or natis IS. white people being
rarely susceptible to the disease. Little
Is known Of this dreaded malaay. II
Is a cureless but painless ~aifliction,
and the theory is that It can only be
taken from contact. The first symp.
toms are generally little spots behind
the ears.
One OF its strangest features Is
| that children born OF leprous parents
are seldom afflicted. All child zen born
at Molokai are carefully watched until
they are sever years of age. and II at
that time they are found to he non.
lepers they are taken to Honolulu and
placed in an institution provided for
them. These children are carefully
sheltered and nurtured. and almost
invariably grow up to be useful citi'
Zens.
1t seems horrible to be sent TO ar
out-ofthe.way island for life, but 1t Is
said that few Of those who have been
committed to Molokai would care tt
leave. There are schools. churches
musical societies and a good band
There Is even a race track. where
those of the lepers who own horses
can indulge in speed contests. The
lepers live in rows Of pretty little
houses, and all may have their garden!
and their little fields.
They are permitted to mingle witt
each other socially, and may marry !
they choose. The state pays for al
expenses of living, and charitably in
clined persons supply many comforts
such as books. magazines. music ant
other Injuries. Once each year ar
entertainment is given by the society
people VI TlOHOluIu, anu III luG plO
ceeds are devoted to providing com
forts for the lepers. No Christmas OF
holiday Is allowed to pass without
sending gifts OF goodies to the chill
dren on the island.
Heartrending Scenes at Parting.
To be committed to Molokai is real
~ not such a great hardship upon an.
unmarried or unattached person. blu
when a husband or wife becomes at
flicted the separation is, Of course,
terrible ordeal. 1t Is worse than !
they were sent TO prison for life
Worse because the prisoner may b.
pardoned, but the leper has not tn,
slightest hope of cure. One OF the sad
dest sights In the world Is when
steamer is departing for Molokat
Husband and wife are often ruthlessl
i torn from each other, and In almost a
, instances those who are not Athlete