The Irish standard., 1905-08-19
Conditions Of a Yellow Fever
Epidemic in tho South
Described by One Who Passed
Through the Ordeal.

1ue 1OreDOulugS OF neaVy weeks are
at last realized-the white-lipped whis.
perings at length burst forth into the
fateful cry-"the fever is here" A
very pail of heart crushing sadness
sinks so heavy, and so long, DER the
fair sunny South. The whole face of
nature seems changed, and the pulse
of life itself stands still. Leaden "care"
sits, an unwelcome guest in every
home. Stores close instantly, courts
adjourn unceremoniously - happy
homes abandoned-left unguarded, or
pawned for the price of a ticket north.
All values shrink and utterly disap.
pear. The most urgent affairs must
be postponed, for yellow Jack" ere.
ates very void in life.
All the hours are full of tears-Griet
keeps watch in brightest eyes
Every heart is wrung with tears-And
the light hath left the skies.
And the altars mourn the priest, and
the cradle mourns the child
And the bridegroom at the feast,
mourns for her who loved and
died.
Not light in any day,-in the night
time-not ray, and the dying
pass away.
Whilst the living awe-struck crowds,
see above them only clouds,
And around them only shrouds!"
Poor Father Ryan!-how mournfully
sang he, the Southland's sorrow:
"Girdled with gloom, and of all bright.
ness shorn,
And garmented with grief kiss Thy
rod
And turn my face with tears all wet,
and worn,
To catch one smile of pity from my
God.
Around. me blight, where all before
was bloom,
And so much loss,-and nothing won,
Save this-that I can kneel on dust
and tomb,
And weep-and weeping, pray-Thy
will be DONE"
Through the cities burns breath,
filled with woe and fear and death
And the dead, they are so lone,-A
hasty grave,-without a stone.
And just the memory of a moan.
The moment the yellow Flag" ap.
pears, there is wild rush for trains
Observation-Disclosures the
pestilent breath. The ceaseless tramp
of hurrying feet sounds through all
the day and through the night. Bar
racks, army posts are deserted, for
'tis not cowardice even in soldiers to
fee from yellow Jack" At this time,
too. devoted ministers, instruct us con.
corning their consuming desire, to re-
main and die, among their afflicted
flock, but alas! and alas! stern duty to
wife and children, tear them away
northward. Southern people need no
theological disquisitions, as to the
utility and desirability of celibate
clergy, who in time of danger and
death, need not "study the things that
pleaseth a wife" Every state, town
and county, and every dirt road
through the densest woods, has it's
armed guards, to warn back every ven-
turesome refugee who seeks to escape
from the blight and infection. Every
train is stopped and searched, outside
the cities, every door is locked, every
window closed and fastened tight, de-
spite intensest heat, and suffering for
food and even craving drink of wa
ter.
These panic-stricken refugees are
thus herded and jammed into an in.
ferno, reeking with foul air, whilst
the thoughtless or desperate one, that
dares open a window or stand on
platform, has shotgun pointed at
him, with gruff but convincing orders
Ito get inside and close that winder."
Nor are any words wasted, for the gun
speaks the next word and closes the
argument forever. Even the engineers
and crews are changed before the train
can come near town, and strict are
the orders to steam through at lively
speed. Nor can mail goods be thrown
off; all must go to the disinfecting
station, to be perforated and perfumed
with vile-smelling acids, which no self
respecting microbe would stand.
Many death results from these al
legged necessary quarantine regula-
tions, with shot gun backing. But the
individual must suffer to save the gen.
eral people. I remember walking of
evenings alone the noble government
street, Mobile, in company with Father
Coyle, the present pastor at Birming-
ham, Ala. AS he is exceptionally rich
in philosophic and poetic lore, we easi-
ly forgot the sights and sorrows of
the day, as we argued pro and con
of Plato, Aristotle, and the others, or
searched memory for apt quotations to
that