The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-07-25

American-that is, an issue that re-
Gently reached America-contains
a tragic story of the rounding up of
leperS in Uncle Sans new colonies.
In buying the Philippine islands
this country purchased some ten
thousand or more cases of the
dreadfulest disease known to man
a disease that gnaws away the body
and makes declining days worse
than hell. Well may it be pictured
in scripture as the ne plus ultra Of
all bodily ailments.
Once upon time it was my fate
to see a leper, several times it has
been my fright, so to speak, to look
upon victims of this worse of hui
man maladies, sights that burned
themselves into my memory. |
sincerely hope that those upon
whom | gazed have ere this found
relief-in the grave.
Such sights as | gazed upon inspire
venerable respect for death and It's
healing qualities,
1t was many years ago, when Lu-
zon was inflicted with political cores
that made sanitary or healthy regu-
lations impossible that | was
brought in distant contact with vic
Tins of leprosy. 1t was while en-
deavoring, in uniform, to subdue
Aguinaldo and his followers that |
saw them. No more touching sight
was viewed during this period in
the impoverished country and help
less suffering people.
1t was in the mountains back OF
Manila, beyond the town where
Saint Antipatos work secured her
dedication. Three of us were on
scouting tour, searching for evil
dences of Ladrones. We wanted
water, and according to established
custom. we called at the nearest
house to take it with the bare for
mality of request.
Real Leper.
But we didn't take it; we would
have thirsted until today rather
than have taken it. To the door
came a horrible looking being, the
sole occupant of the cabin. His
fingers no longer existed. One
hand had disappeared, and bare,
bleeding stub alone remained to
show where it had once existed.
Deep holes in his cheeks, great
sores on his arms and legs, exposed
to the tropical sun because irritat-
ing clothing would have been I'M
bearable He was a leper, forced
into seclusion by the self-protective
instinct of his neighbors, there to
waste away and die, companionless,
cheerless.
We didn't get the water. Gold
wouldn't have bought our entrance
into the cabin.
Complete anarchy cannot exist
among men. Torn by instruction,
first terrorized by one band and
then another and robbed by all,
Filipino communities governed
themselves more or less.
The following is an instance, per-
tinent to this article.
NV Second Leper.
In a little town beyond our from
tier in the San Mateo valley, one OF
the saddest spectacles [ ever saw
was a confirmed leper, who had
been confined to prison by natives.
With no protection from the spread
of his disease, he had been forced
into hut from the doorway, come
in contact with no one, to pine away,
to rot away-until death.
I saw this man from distance.
Much of his body gone, and the re-
mainder dwindling away, | gazed
at him through the bamboo bars. A
small Aperture was there through
which food and water we're passed
bv the village authorities; there to
stay. suffer and die.
Many of Them There.
saw other cases, all seeming
more horrible than the other, all
causing me to wonder why in the
divine economy of worldly things
This disease was ever created; this
living without life, and dying with
out death; this that makes of men
social outcasts and seals their doom
more than any Judge ever sealed the
doom of man; this affection. when in
its grasp there is no possible ray
of hope.
Every town had its leper colony.
- of municipal institution. And