The Washington times., 1917-05-03
EARLY, LEPER, YIELDS
TO PLAGUE RAVAGES
Loses Interest Even in What Is
Given Him to Eat.

Lying on his bed in q small red
brick house so close to the Capitol
that he can almost hear the voices
of the nations lawmakers as they
debate war measures, and shut in
from the rest of the world by a ten
foot barbed wire fence, John r.
Early, the leper. who, since his sud
den temperance in Washington In
June, 1914, has been confined here,
result Of the ravages OF the scourge.
Although he is under the constant
care of Henry w. Lloyd, his attendant
and caretaker, and Is visited at fire.
quent intervals by DR.. w. c. Fowler,
OF the Health Department. who does
all that the skill OF his profession
can do to aid the sufferer. Early's
system 10 gradually being undermined
by the dread disease.
Depressed by failure to show I'm
provement and wearied Of his long
confinement, Early has lost all in
tsrest in the dolngs of the outer
world, and lies all day on his bed
half asleep and refuses to sit up. even
for his meals. Except on two or
three warm days In March, when he
dressed and walked around his small
yard for short intervals, Early has
remained on his bed since last
October, and has apparently abandon
ed all hope.
No Desire to Leave.
In the opinion OF his caretaker the
ten-foot fence which stands a barrier
between him and the one-time coveted
freedom of the outer world, might be
removed without causing any real
danger of the prisoners escape. Its
functions now is to keep out curious
visitors who might seek to enter
rather than to restrain the lonely
and desolate man.
"Of course, j never take any
chances" said Mr.. Lloyd, "and always
keep the gate locked, but don't be-
lieve any locks are necessary to re-
strain him. John has told me more
than once recently that he has no de-
sire to leave. and believe this IL true.
There is little left in the world 70 at
tract him"
When Early was first taken into
custody and for many months thereaf-
ter. he took a keen interest in the
activities of the outside world from
T..
ly read the newspapers and also put
in much time reading books. which
were furnished him by the District
government and by other persons. But
in recent months he has lost all i'm
terest In books and reading, and even
the newspaper. which is brought to
his room each day, generally remains
unopened.
Another marked change that has
come over the man is that he now ap-
pears to loathe publicity. "He has
grown very sensitive about people
who pass along the road looking at
him. and RACES II any one stops or
manifests any curiosity" said Mr..
Lloyd. He seems particularly to be
irritated by women. When last he was
out he became furious because a
woman who passed by paused to look
at him, and shouted abuse at her. He
is really childish about such things"
Besides reading, Early used to while
away the long hours by playing on
his phonograph, and took delight in
trying out new records. Now he never
the machine, and a number of
new records are there which he has
not played for the first time.
Appetite Fails
The last time Early used the ma
chine was in September, 1916, when
his father and mother visited him,
and he appeared to derive much en-
joyment in playing for them. For
several months prior to the visit he
had used the machine but little, and
since then has taken no interest in
IL.
81 always try to get him any lit
tie thing he wants" said Mr.. Lloyd, |
land the department always has done
everything 1t could to make him con-
tented. He used to ask for special