The Washington herald., 1908-08-30
Wife of Leper Takes Part in
the Night Services.
PAYS VISIT TO HER HUSBAND
Affecting Meeting of LeProsy Victim
with His Wife and Baby. Who
show No Symptoms of the Disease.
WouId Remain in Washington to
Cheer Her Stricken Companion


last night. keeping time in her steps TO
the drum beats OF the Salvation Army
Mrs. Early was happy in the conscious
ness that she and her baby have not yet
developed any symptoms Of leprosy. They
were examined yesterday by physicians Of
the health department and were found 10
be free Of the malady which has broken
Up their home and isolated the husband
and father.
Mrs. Early may remain in Washington
and engage in Salvation Army work. She
feels that her place is near her husband.
who needs her sympathy
Fears for Her Child.
The severest trial upon her is the
znowIedge that little Emanuel Early.
aged eleven months. may become afflicted
with the disease. CnQuestionably. at the
time Of the chId's birth. Early was in
the hrst stages Of the disease. The boy
was with his father constantly until two
weeks ago. Mrs. Early recalls how the
leper fondled the child before he left for
washington
Accompanied by Mrs BarmOur. her
mother. the Iepe-'s wife arrived IN Wash
ington Friday night. going TO the Saliva
ton Army Home. Later she was driven
in a carriage. with the child. TO see her
husband Early was standing near the
front Of his tent when she arrived Ee
lifted a hand and warned her not 70 come
too near Mrs. EarIy noticed the condi-
ton OF his hands and remarked
They were not like that before,
She Knows Her Duty
would you nurse him If lie remained
herez~ she was asked
Il cant say" she replied. 7 know
nay place is by my husband For my
I self I do not care. but the baby
VIII you join the Salvation Army
II I remain here I will she replied.
I have served before. and it is my
duty 10 serve again
Il met my husband five years ago
in PIattsburg. y. Y she continued
{ AT that time he was not well We
were married there while he was IN
Z the army soon afterward he was com
! PEELED. through ul-EeaIth. 10 give up
| his military life He was never strong.
I Ten years ago. iu the Spanish-AmeTi-
can war. he contracted yellow fever n
the island Of Cuba and slowly wasted
away. Al that tine q general debility
ward he grew worse and worse"
We both entered into the work OF
the Salvation Army as captains. in Os-
I weEo. y. Y. John was always a man
OF deeply religious tendencies. and the
work was pleasant and Congenial We
were very happy together, caring oniy
for each other and living only for our
selves. Maybe We were selfish in ouI
happiness. and my husbands fate IS ouI
punishment
With the exception of the time she at
tended the services OF the Salvation Army
Mrs Early remained n her room wit
her mother and baby She has no knowl
edge Of how he contracted the disease
nor does she seem able 20 understand th'
nature OF Early's malady. She talks a
times Of doctors and medicine as thougl
she felt his recovery was only question
-of time.
Twelve years IS long time sh,
said. and he surely ought 70 get bette
before Ieprosy gets a hrmer hold upoI
him
Il would ike 70 have him stay Il
Washington. for Il seems 20 be the on
place on earth where he can rest and re
ceive proper treatment In North caro-
lima he would not get the ne iical atten
ton he is given here IF he stays here
he viii be housed in a little cottage anC
{ given everything he needs He told m
last night that he IS comfortable. and
that the consideration shown him by II
health authorities has put him under
debt Of gratitude he can never repay
shorty before my child was born
John complained OF pains in his wrists
At that time those hard. red welts brok'
out On his forehead. and a general laxit,
seemed TO come over him
Neither Of us thought much Of it. w
did not regard the pains as anything
serious. and 1 frequently jested Wit
him because Of his Iaziness- He grew
r tired easily and seemed TO find difficult,
{ in using his hands. He was awkward
. one day. soon after the child was born
asked him 20 bring me a glass Of water
As he approached me the glass slippe'
from his hands and crashed on the floor.
It's my wrists. I.ottie.' he explained
I don't seem able 20 use them right
No Marks Upon Him.
When he went away two weeks ag
ne appeared 70 he as well as ever. Their
were no marks upon his face and hi
, hands were Of normal size. He ha
charged since then
! Physicians Of the health department ex
b amined Mrs Early and the child for evi
dences OF leprosy yesterday afternoon
and reported that neither had become af
ficted with H. Il is possible the chill,
: may develop the disease later. according
TO physicians.
Early was thankful last night when in
formed his wife and child were appar
entity free OF leprosy.
Ny greatest care on earth is gone h
! said. for I am assured that I alone an
10 suffer. do not care for myself I an
able 10 submit to whatever God sees 1T I
bring upon me
That boy OF mine he continued. wi
! make his mark in the world. When I di
he viii be great comfort to his mother.
North Carolina Silent
I No news from the health department O
North Carolina has been received.
Mrs Early. her mother. and the chill
will probably pay a visit to the leper to
day The guards are strict. and the rul
= that no visitor be allowed 10 pass the lin