The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-12-11
FROM MANY LANDS
(Jennie Hunt
TO Every Boy

Archie was an average American
boy He went to school, enjoyed tops.
kites, marbles, balls and other things
that other boys like. In vacation days
he worked when he could find "a job"
to help his widowed mother. When
he was in the second year of the high
school ne got sick. Several physi-
rians having failed to find out just
what was the matter with him, an in
terested friend one day took him to
see a celebrated physician. This ply
stefan made the startling discovery
that Archie had leprosy, the most
loathsome, the most malignant, the
most hopeless of all diseases.
The laws of the state in which he
lived were very rigid regarding lcp-
rosy and so, without a goodbye to
his devoted neither and to his friends,
Archie was rushed off to lonely
place called Leprosarium,' provided
by the state for such cases. Here ne
will have to live the rest of his life,
shut out from family and friends and
the big throbbing world in which he
is 50 much interested. 1t was doubt
less very lonely indeed for Archie, es-
pecialy Mt first, and he watched the
big ships sail by and longed to have
somebody to talk to.
A few months after Archie was sent
to this desolate place Il friend from
"The Mission to Lepers" went to see
him. After they had talked awhile
the little fellow said, "The hardest
of all is not to be able to write to the
boys back home. ! guess their moth
ers wouldn't want them to be getting
letters from lepers. But ! wish |
could tell them about my wireless sta
ton"
Imagine the surprise of the visitor
when he discovered that Archie, dur
ing his solitary confinement, had con-
structed n first rate wireless tele-
graph station. OF course when the
visitor went home he saw to it that
Archie had what he needed to make
! the station more complete, and so
well did his station work that he was
one of the first wireless operators in
the world to pick up the news Of the
great Titanic disaster The wireless
operators on the passing ships have
become greatly interested in Archie
and always signal to him as they
pass.
The other day the friend went to
see Archie again. He found him Gag
erly watching for the baseball score
war news or any other news from the
outside world that he could catch
through his little instrument. Wher
the visitor asked il there was anything
he needed. Archie said "No. have
everything | need" And he hesitat.
ed and stammered little, and then
added. "Would it hc too much trou-
BILE for you to send me an occasional
copy Of one of the big magazines? 2
It seems a pity that the now law about
amateurs makes his wireless station
ineffective just at present.
Nov If every boy in America whc
hears this story will send Archie {
post card with cheering message
= Christmas would be happy indeed fol
this bright but lonely boy in his sol
itary prison.
If you were Archie wouldn't you
lust love to have bright beautiful pic
, lures and CHEEKY little messages from
other boys out in the great big world
Send a post card and join in tn
christmas POSTCARD Shower" TO
Archie. His address is
ARCHIE THOMAS,
Penikese Hospital. Penikese lslanc
New Bedford, Mass