The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-09


UPTON, Mass. April s.-Mrs. EN-.
ma Thomas pointed with trembling
nnger 10 the chapter In the Book OF
Ruth, as she stood recently before the
Massachusetts State Board OF Char.
tiles making the strangest plea ever
heard before that body--or any SINH.
lar body.
Mrs. Thomas was begging that she
be allowed to leave the world OF liv-
ing men, and 20 10 a living death in
Massachusetts, leper colony on lonely
Penikese island.
MRS. Thomas Is not a leper She 10
strong and In good health. She knows
that once on the island she can never
return. She knows she goes TO a tomb.
That II she ever leaves the island the
world will cry. "Unclean. unclean.
and fee from her like an accursed
thing.
Yet she pleaded with the state Off
Gals. who heard her grayely.
You see, it's the boy" she sobbed.
My son, you know. You've taken
him from me, and put him there. He
isf the only interest | have in the
world. just want TO be with him and
help him"
And In the end the board granted
the permission. Mrs. Thomas was
officially appointed attendant to all
the 10 lepers in the colony.
Mrs. Thomas knows what leprosy
Is. She knows that sooner or later she
will become afflicted. she knows the
dread horror OF the disease, how II
multilates and eats up the body. kill
ing its victims inch by incn.
But mother love is greater than ali
else. She goes TO the island gladly.
To her IL isn't sacrifice-merely an
opportunity OF service-of doing one
more thing for the bright boy she
brought into the world.
For l7-year-old James Archibold
Thomas. the son, is bright boy, ant
his coming was hailed with pleasure
by the other lepers.
James. always a leader in his
studies. became interested two years
ago In wireless telegraphy, and Is now
proficient operator. He built his
cwn station at Upton, Mass. his old
home. His playmates there have
raised a fund to send the apparatus
to him at the leper island. SO that he
can continue his experiments.
Penikese island is lonely desolate
place. The waves from the ocean
sweep the coast. and the winds roar
over II in time Of storm Often in
winter the little packet which brings
mail and provisions to the colony IL
unable 10 make the trip.
With Jimmy Thomas \ member of
the colony, Penikese island will keep
in touch with the world. The boy
leper's signals will flash across the
ocean. and up and down the coast.
The news OF the world will be caught
on his key. and given to the other
colonists.
To Mrs. Thomas the sentence of
her son 10 the lepers colony two
weeks ago was the moro terrible IN
that IL laid bare an old wound. yet
at the same time, II was something OF
q relief
For her husband. the boys father,
died OF 1eprosy- eight years 2g0. Over
the son hung all the time since a.
mothers devouring fear that he might.
have the germs of 1t in his body
fear she could not share with anyone.
but which never left her day or night
Every morning she looked into the
boy's face for some sign that the
BLACK Death had laid It's hand on him
during the night. Though a thousand
times treasured, she always dreade!
the morrow. With the doctors orde.
she knew the worst.
The father. a sailor, contracted the
disease In the Barbados. He was on
his way to this country when IT was
discovered The father was turned
hack and sent away to die. The fam
ily came on. The parting was terri
BILE thing.
You must stay with the boy" the
man told the woman. 1T is your duty
He must take my place.
The immigration officials forced the
two apart. lest the woman be affected
nv the disease But every word ~
her husbands farewell words chung to
her memory.
She was thinking OF them still when
she pleaded her case before the state
board.