Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-21
Believes If Congress Were In
formed of Necessity Money
Would Be Appropriated.
SAYS SUCH INSTITUTION
WOULD SUSTAIN ITSELF
Afflicted Man Devotes Time to Writ.
ting Book-Comforted by
Christian Science.

Lying in a hammock that was bein
svayed by the breezes from the river
John r. Early, the sole occupant o
Washington's ''leper camp" greeted
Star reporter yesterday afternoon witt
the statement that he has the best quar-
tiers in the District of Columbia
Il would not give this place for an,
home in the city, he stated II hav,
ample room in the house and plenty o
breathing space outside, and the seen
cry about here is fine.
I have the company of the watch
men, my meals are sent in from across
the way. and I am spending much tim.
occupied, and what more could I de
sire?'
Early says if it were not for his firm
belief in the Christian Science teaching.
of Mrs. Eddy he probably would be
miserable creature. He has found much
10 interest him in her books, however
and has had SO much comfort from fol
lowing her teachings that he has beer
able to forget much of the past and lool
to brighter future.
And because of my firm belief IL
Christian Science he stated. II have
been made about as happy as any person
could be under the circumstances
Realizing that there are many curiou:
persons in the world, he says and many
of them anxious to see him. Early sug.
gested to representative of the health
department that he be permitted to de
liver addresses to audiences on the lawr
IN front of his lodge. His request was
promptly refused.
1T was not because of any desire or
my part to seek notoriety that 1 was will
ing to deliver addresses" Early stated
out ] thought that some good might b,
accomplished while 1 was satisfying the
curiosity of my hearers
You see he continued Il realize m,
condition and am not sensitive, SO that
the sight of persons staring at me woulG
not affect me and I might be able to dc
a great amount of good
While the work on his book is claim
ing much of his time, and perhaps ward.
ing on many moments of depression
Early thinks if the authorities would
permit MIN to construct narrow walk to
the river and permit him to fish. it w,,,!!d
be means of making life less burden.
some.
Early's Neighbors.
Only few hundred feet from the brick
structure occupied by Early is the hos
pltal building in which a number OF
smallpox patients are being treated and
1t is from the kitchen of the keeper OF
that establishment it is stated. thai
Early gets his meals
smallpox detention camp Many persons
OF both colors and sexes, a number al
children included, are being detained
there because it is believed their exposure
10 the disease requires that they be KEEP,
under surveillance. Yesterday Afternoon
the mixed assemblage on the lawn mar.
f!cipated in games or were stretched or
the lawn. apparently enjoying them.
selves as much as If they were at a sum.
mer resort.
None Of the suspects or smallpox pa
uents was able to get glimpse of the
lone man afflicted with leprosy, however,
though children of families employed on
the District reservation passed along the
road or played in front of Early's house.
The sight of the children. Early said,
brought him no sad reminders of his
home life in the camp more than four
wears ago, when his wife and babies
were with him.
Early stated that while he is entirely
satisfied with his surroundings and has
no complaint to make. his greatest de-
matter of having leprosarium provided
for the unfortunate victims of the dis
ease in this country.
AOPCS Gs5S " III ACI,
II Congress only knew Of the need Of
such an institution he said, money
would be appropriated without delay
suitable accommodations provided and
those afflicted would be made happier.
And" he added. sit would be an eco
nomical move on the part of the gov
soon be made self-supporting. 1 fee
that my mission on earth is to assis
those who have nothing, and certainly
the lepefs have nothing
Early said he would take the super
intendency of a farm connected with
such an institution. and he feels that a,
the end Of two years he would make the
farm supply vegetables and meats enough
for colony Of 300 Such an undertak
ing. he said. would not be a serious one
and he is certain that at the end of 3
few years the colony would need very
little money from the government for it.
maintenance.
II would adopt the barracks plan foa
leprosarfum. said Early, land hav,
place similar to those occupied by
be provided and all those who were abb,
70 be about could eat in one big dinin,
gJom.
'.AGvancments could be made from
time 10 time until the place could b,
run On mo community plan. Industries
~~<<SSAsS,A3S>A
tia c1oehan9 needed could be made by tn
'AnhAAdf1nf1' and the Community.
OsRchss could be established an.
AnIDeman68 provided, and all wfthol
tne government having to fnour much
f0A0S Axpense-
Alleges Erroneous Impression.
1Gbse Deopos+.says the ostzacassd man
hsv1 . wrong conception Of lepers. The
ssm b tntnk they are people who ar
Ae 4ecaying and Dropping to piecea
bat such Is not the case. he stated.
TAke my own case, for instance b
said. Z can trace my disease back 81,
year1 At least. and am able 10 perform
an honest days labor: indeed. believ
L VIII do more than an average day
work on q farm or elsewhere
Il md IN reading Of the disease an
from Information cleaned from person
familiar with II that many lepers liv
to a good old ago and that many O
them contract other diseases. All do no
die from leprosy, by any means"
Early thinks It almost q crime for III
government to have persons afaicted wit
leprosy penned in detention camps Wit
practically no diversion or work Z
DO. Put them to work. he says, an
the exercise will give tho man interest 4
life; but no interest, In his opinion ca,
be obtained by being segregated In
detention camp.
Make a man feel that he is earnin,
his livelihood" he said, land sec ho1
soon he will improve. He then has Z,
object in life. and even II he knows ther
is no cure for him he win do his best 3
improve his mentality.
"A Sunday church service is somethin
for him to look forward to each weel
and an entertainment of some KIND dur
ing the week would be an additions
means of assisting him.
Give him the proper place and sur
roundings and put him with his fellow