A Leper’s Letter.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 456, 22 March 1890, Page 3

A Leper’s Letter.

The Detroit * Free Press ’ gives these extracts from the farewell letter of a leper in Molokai to a relative in that city : “ This is one of the liveliest places I have ever seen. Lepers are full of hilarity. Girls, boys, children —some very bad —all playing together as if there was nothing wrong. They play the guitar and flute constantly. When I first came here and had to go through a row of lepers, with their hideous faces and hands, I wanted to die, but now I am used to them I don’t mind them so much.

* When I first came up here I wanted to commit suicide, but I atn calmed down now. I have built a neat little cottage some distance away from everybody, all inclosed with a stone wall. I have a horse and sulky, plenty of newspapers and magazines. Mv great trouble now is my eyesight. When I can’t read any more then I want to die. I would sooner be here with this disease thau in any other part of the world, where I would be shunned by every body. ‘My right hand is giving out. I have two fingers that do not have much feeling in them. My left foot is also affected. I am breaking in a horse. He stepped on my foot. I let him stand there some time and had no pain. You see, it is a curious disease that appears to destroy without pain. There is no cure for it. It is sure to kill, and is only a question of time.’ In a postscript sheet he says : * I have now a good nurse, who will see me properly buried, which I hope will be soon.’