The Washington herald., 1914-06-04
EARLY PROUD
OF TRIP HERE
Leper, Now Resigned. Tells
How He Met Noted
People.
WANTS NATION TO ACT
Content to Live in Quarantine Here
as an Example to the
Country.
WANTS NATION TO ACT

John Early. the leper, placed under re-
straint Tuesday by the District authori.
ties, when he revealed his identity at 9
fashionable hotel after q two-day resi-
dence there. told The Washington Her
aid how he moved freely about IN the
best hotels and restaurants of the coun-
try. He rode in company with former
Attorney General Grey. of Canada, and
his family on a Canadian Pacific train
fro-l Vancouver to Montreal and in an
elevator Monday rubbing elbows with
Vice President Marshall.
Contented, he moved about the harrow
grounds of the Lazar House on the Po-
tomac, examining the roses he planted
there six years ago and talked OF his
dream OF national leprosariun, which
he claims was the sole motive of his re-
turn to the National Capital. s,
Admits He Js Leper.
'I know ] am a leper now," he said
wistfulIy. IT am resigned to my own
fate. My wife and children have left me,
/ am alone in the world. Ny doom does
not terrify me- But ] want my case to
serve as a great national example and
bring about the proper treatment OF un-
fortunates.
81 believe there are thirty or forty
iepers walking the streets Of New YORK
today. This should not be.
ITO demonstrate how easy 1t is for
Ieper to mingle in cities / planned my
present trip six months ago i knew that
II is only when a great truth Is sent home
to the hearts of the people that atten-
ton is paid to II. / know that II I
mingled among the well-to-do. and the
rich and exposed them to contagion that
they would arise out of self-protection
and further my plan of a national home.
That is why ] chose the Pullman cars.
why / slept at the best hotels. ate in
the best restaurants.
mo one cares what happens to the
poor. II I had kept to the slum the
agitation would have been light. ] had
no desire to hurt any one. l do not be-
Iieve that the present stage of my disease
Is contagious had the money to travel
as / did. I saved my wages and my
pension for months to do SO and l hope
that lesson has struck home
Pat World Behind Him.
The John Early that was, is dead to
the world. / have put the world behind
me. From now on / am willing to be
isolated, to have the warning bell Of the
unclean rung as 1 approach, to feel that
men shrink from me with the world-oid
fear Of the terrible disease that has been
laid upon me. but i want my appeal to
be heard.
'I contracted this Ioathsome disease in
the service OF Uncle Sam in the
Philippines
Speaking of his travels Early said:
/ left the Port Townsend station on May
II and boarded a boat for Victoria No
one questioned my appearance and I
mingled freely with the passengers. At
4 har
While in Victoria bought a first-class
ticket over the Canadian Pacific to New
York / had Washington in my mind all
the while, but i was anxious to visit
New York for a few days. While
en- route to Montreal i travelled in COM
pany with Mr.. Grey. former attorney
general of Canada and his family and
they were very kind to me not dream
ing who ] was.
'On May % l arrived In New York.
During my visit there l ate at Del
monico's, inspected the Waldorf Astoria
and other well known hotels and res
taurants. went to several of the leading
theaters and had a fine time seeing the
sights. Last Saturday / took in the ball
game and saw a double-header between
the Giants and Philadelphia teams"
As result of Early's visit. a move
ment has been started in Congress for
the segregation OF persons so anected
with leprosy. Two bills on the subject
were offered in the House yesterday
Each authorizes the erection OF a gov
ernment leprosarium. One bill was pre-
sented by Representative Britton, of
Illinois, and the other by Representative
Johnson. of Washington. Mr.. Britton' 3
bill authorizes an appropriation of $780,
900 by Congress The johnson bill calls
for an appropriation OF $4,000. The
johnson bill directs that the proposed
leprosarium shall be established in one
Of the Territories or insular possessions
The Britton bill does not designate the
location of the proposed leprosarium.
How to get Early out Of the District
and keep him out is the proposition that
bothers the local health authorities
most.
Health Officer Woodward put the mat
ter up to the Commissioners yesterday,
but no decision was reached, it was said.