The Washington herald., 1914-06-08
EARLY EMBRACES
SCIENTIST Faith
Il Would Have Died but for
Mrs. Eddy's Book"
Says Leper.
WRITING HIS OWN STORY
Isolated Prisoner Has Finished Five
Chapters of His Efe's History.
What Is Truthp"
WRITING HIS OWN STORY

John Early. the leper isolated here
has embraced the Scientist faith as the
only thing that can help him.
Il only take a tonic now said Early
yesterday. Il would have died IL /,
hadn't been for Mrs. Eddy's book. II
has done me great mental good. / won't
say it has done me physical good
we'll, yes / can, because l couldn't have
stood it without that book. l read
it a lot-even more than / do the Bible.
II took up the study of Mrs. Eddy's
book when I was at the Diamond Point
station. That was a horrible place. II II
hadn't been for the book, l wouldn't be
here"
Wants to Stay Here.
John Early. leper. has taken the place
of John Early. soldier and citizen, for
good. Three years ago Early made a
brave fight to have the stigma of the
dread disease removed Now he wants
only to be allowed to stay in Washing
ton or to be put among enough of his
fellows to permit him to feel that he has
companionship.
Early was lying on the grass yesterday
afternoon at the leper home on the East
ern Branch. The most hopeless of the
hopeless that are kept at the District
quarantine station. Early Is isolated even
from the sufferers from virulent diseases
His Three Favorite Books.
A guard stood watching him outside the
inadequate wire fence that separates him
from the rest of the world. Beside Early
were his three books-Jules Verne's
Around the World in Sixty Days" the
Bible, and Mrs. Eddy's book on Christian
Science. Tossed carelessly on the grass
was a smart Panama hat. relic of his
trip through the land of the living when
he came here a week ago from the Pa
cific leper colony. Early was clad in
khaki trousers, a gray army shirt. His
khaki Norfolk coat was thrown on the
grass. He wore a new necktie. brightly
colored. and held in place by a jeweled
pin.
Il would like to stay in Washington
Early said when asked whether he want
ed to be taken back to the Pacific Coast.
The climate is better here. I wouldn't
mind being taken back il 1 could have
somebody to talk to. They ought to let
us stay together
The word ''us'' came as a shock. 1t
was an admission that he is branded
with the most terrible disease visited
upon human beings.
to all the time" continued Early. 1T Is
lonely here. I go to sleep at o'clock. It
isn't very bad here. There were only
three Of us at the place where stayed
before 1 came here. I would have died
II / hadn't read and written.
Il read newspapers. l like to read
about my case. and know that the read
ers are sympathizing with other lepers.
willing to BE q Sacrifice.
II want to see the government take
care of us. If / can do any good by
my suffering, I don't mind It so much.
Il hadn't read Jules Verne since I was
4 kid before this book"-he pointed to
he volume beside him-"was brought to
me. 1t is nice
Early talked some of the book he is
writing. 1t will be of ten chapters, and |
will be called What Is TRUTH" He has |
written five chapters of it. The manu- |
script he sends to his brother. Bynum |
Early, a soldier-as was Early. Bynum |
Early typewrites the pages.
1T don't cost so much that way" he
said.
The book is going to be about Early's |
ravels and his views of life from the |
iarker side Of the barrier that separates |
ife from that other thing-more horrible |
han death in any form