THE LEPER HERO.

Evening Star, Issue 7875, 6 April 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LEPER HERO.

LATEST NOTES OF A VISITOR,

[From Our Special Correspondent.]

The following letter has been received from Mr E. Clifford, of the ' Church Army,' who is on a visit to the leper settlement at Molokai:—" I have now been here nearly a fortnight. There are 1,030 lepora here, well cared for, not generally suffering paio, and in most eases seeming light-hearted and happy. The air is very soft and pleasant, rven when the wind is high and gu&ty. Enormous cliffs close in the leper settlement, I and make it almost inaccessible from the other parts of the island, and the sea is so wild that often even a boat cannot land. When I arrived I had to come on shore at a precipitous rock at some distance from the village. Father Pamien met me there, having with him about twenty lepers. He gave me a hearty affectionate welcome, and as it was too rough to have my large case landed I had it unpacked in the boat, and all the presents taken out one_ by one, handed across the waves, and carried by the lepers to Kalawao. The engraving of ' The Good Shepherd,' from Lady Mount-Temple, came first, and then the magic lantern (which I have since been three times showing), the Ariston (a sort of little barrel organ, with many hymn tunes—the lepers love to turn it), and many pictures and books. Mr IBurne-Jones's beautiful picture I had myself carried by hand all the way from London, and it is now hung in Father Warden's room. He is just what you would expect him to be— a simple, sturdy, hardworking, devout man. No job was too

menial for him—building, carpentering, tending the sick, washing the dead, and many other such things form part of his daily work. He is always cheerful, oft<!ii playful, and oue of the moat truly humble men I ever saw. The. leprosy has disfigured him a good deal, but I never feel it anything but a pleasure to look at him ; and already the guriun oil which I brought is making a manifest difference in his face and hands, and in his power of sleepiug. How far the cure will reach it is of course impossible to say. He is such a busy man that I sometimes fear he will not find time to do the medicine full justice. The Euglish affection and sympathy touch him very much indeed. Pray for him, for there must be many times when he is tempted to be discouraged and over-sad at nil the terrible cases—bodies and souls—around him. I was very glad to be here at Christinas. You would have enjoyed the hearty way in which tiie lepers sang '0 come, all ye faithful.' I have been much interested in an old Christian leper from America, who says he can thank God for his kindness, and for many great mercies since he came here. He is more happy and contented than many people who havo health, wealth, and friends, and it has come to him through his illness. Father Damicn has told me to-day that for the fir&Uime for months he has been able to sing again."