- — - . 1-e.i PERSONAL VISITS Of a Fourteen Year Old Girl TO UNTAINTED CHILDREN OF LEPERS In Japan, China, the Philippines and Hawaii ALSO Unho and Other Short Stories American Committee The Mission to Lepers 156 5th Avenue, New York Fleming H. Revell, Treasurer W. M. Danner, Secretary Mrs. J. W. McKean Mrs. Wm. M. Danner Mrs. Henry Fowler Some Chinese Untainted Children in Siao Kan Sen ^Visits to the Untainted Children of Lepers BY LOTS ELIZABETH DANNER, MONTCLAIR, N. J. The author of this interesting article is the daughter of Mr. William M. Danner, the Secretary of the American Com¬ mittee of the Mission to Lepers. She recently went with her parents to visit the Missions to Lepers in Hawaii, Japan, Korea, China and the Philippines. She was the young photographer of the party and returned with many valuable and intensely interesting impressions on her sensit ive films and on her still more sensitive m ind. Here she gives some of these impressions most graphically. — Editor. T iie t rain boy shook me and announced, “We are get 4 ” I opened my eyes and looked at my watch. It was 3.50 A. M., and in ten minutes we were due to arrive at Siao Kan Sen, so I scrambled sleepily out of the upper berth from between a pair of red blankets and hurriedly finished dressing just as the train pulled into the station. We had been tediously following in the wake of a Chinese flood during the past three days. The trains from Peking to Hankow were being run in “spots” and between these patches of railroad, everybody and everything had to be removed from the train on sampans, donkeys, chairs, or coolie-backs, and transferred over broken bridges and de¬ vastated rice fields. The Chinese assistant in the Leper Asylum met us, and with the aid of a flickering lantern we found our way to the five sedan chairs that were to take us to Dr. Fowler’s home. From our chairs we had a splendid opportunity to watch China waking up and making her toilet. Even at this early hour of four in the morning people were beginning their day's work. When does China sleep? No matter how late or how early yon will always find her at work. We met processions of men taking bales of cotton to market on “musical wheelbarrows” which make a shrill, squealing noise, very sweet to the operator no doubt, but far from musical to foreign ears. On we rode through the darkness, and then through the dawn, until at last as a sharp corner was turned, the bearers, with a grunt, set the chairs on the ground in front of a gateway. We stepped inside. What a contrast to the narrow streets thronged with people marked by heathenism, poverty *By courtesy Missionary Review of The World. Some Japanese Children—Saved from Leprosy superstition and filth. In the mission compound we found a group of clean, attractive houses surrounded by a well- kept lawn and garden. The Superintendents of the Leper Home, Dr. and Mrs. Fowler, awaited us with a warm welcome and a pot of English breakfast tea. Besides the hospital, the church and the leper work, Mrs. Fowler cares for the untainted boys whose fathers are in the Leper Asylum. Since leprosy is not hereditary, the children who can be gathered in the thirty different homes erected by the Mission to Lepers, are being saved from the dreadful disease. Here are the ten (in the picture) just as we saw them. Are they not worth saving? Mrs. Li is the real mother of three and the loving foster mother of the others. They have such queer names. Yu Sing means “born during the rain”; Hoseng means “quick as fire” and Ching Shan “ancestral hill.” The child in the center in front is called “Danner” and is supported with money given through the American Committee by friends in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. These boys are receiving a good Chinese education and some day will be numbered among China’s Christian citizens. At noon we returned to the station over the narrow, rough road between the rice fields and continued our way down the Yangtsze River from Hankow to Shanghai. A few days later we sailed on the “Empress of Russia,” for Manila, Philippine Islands. On Thursday morning at eight o’clock, a calesas —or two-wheeled carriage drawn by a sturdy little Filipino horse—took us from the St. Anthony Apartments to a dock from which the Government cutter “Polillo” was to carry us to the Culion Leper Colony with a party of public health officials, doctors, nurses and Manila ministers. Over three thousand of the lepers on the island lined the roadside next morning to welcome us while two brass bands furnished lively music. On the day we were there 4,444 patients were living in that model, sanitary city on Culion island. One member of the colony has started an ice plant, manufacturing and selling artificial ice, and an¬ other is planning to furnish electricity for the island. A special currency is used at Culion to prevent danger of con¬ tagion from money handled by the lepers. Cottages, hospital, public market, out-door amusement hall—everything is provided by the United States Government to relieve the monotony of their isolation and make their surround¬ ings as home-like as possible. The patients here have a splendid moving-picture machine, but very few good films are obtainable. On the second floor of a cement building on the side of the island where the well doctors and nurses live, forty brown Filipino babies were taking their mid-day siesta. They were awakened and taken to the lawn for a picture Some Untainted Children of the Filipino Lepers amid loud remonstrances. Then twenty pairs of white rompers scampered away. The other babies were carried in to the nursery to finish their several naps. In the afternoon an interesting service was held in the little chapel built entirely by the lepers. It was decorated with paper festoons in honor of the visiting party and long before the service began all the seats were filled and the windows packed with eager listeners who stood outside. We visited two other Leper Asylums in South China and returned to Japan for the Christmas holidays. On Christmas Sunday, a cold, cold day, we left the Meiji Gakuin early in the morning and first rode on the trolley, next on the train, and then on the circumurban to Higashi Murayama. At the station we were comfortably tucked into the rickshaws and our swift, two-legged steeds trotted off with us. The road wound through orchards of mulberry trees, past tea fields, quaint villages and villagers, Fujiyama showing itself at unexpected turns in the road, until we reached the gate of Zensei Byoin, meaning “The Perfect Life Hospital.” With many salaams we were received by the officers of one of the five Japanese Government Leper Homes. A Christmas program had been planned—songs and Scripture recitations. All five verses of “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful” were played on the harmonica by a young leper boy. On the platform were the shrines for Buddhist and Shinto worship as well as the pulpit and organ for the Christian service. The hall was decorated with tiny silk flags strung across the ceiling and in one end of the room a large Christmas tree stood, on which hung Christmas gifts for the patients. On the way back to the station little Japanese untainted children came running out to the roadside to watch us pass by. The party halted and I climbed out of my rickshaw to take their picture in their gay kimonos. Each was given a present and promised a doll. We hope soon to have money enough to build them a comfortable house. As we started on again they called “Sayonara 1 ” (Goodbye). In Honolulu we found two homes for untainted children. The boys of the Kalihi Home learn to garden, make their beds and mend their clothes, as well as to study Latin and algebra in the schoolroom. In the garden they showed us pineapple, sugar cane, poi; and in the kitchen fresh vegetables were being prepared for dinner—corn, lettuce and tomatoes. They enter into both work and play with a will. This is a happy home for children whose own homes have been denied them. Several older boys have already gone away to higher schools and will become self-supporting men. Untainted Leper Children at Play in Hawaii The Untainted Children of Lepers at Work in Hawaii The Kapiolani Girls’ Home, named for Hawaii’s famous queen who defied the goddess Pole, is on a high hill over¬ looking the beautiful harbor. Fifty-five girls go to chapel every morning at six and then march off to lessons and household duties. School-rooms, bedrooms, lockers, bathroom, nursery, chapel—all are as orderly as can be. The older girls gave a drill with lavender flower hoops and the younger ones sang “Rock-a-bye Baby” and “Jesus, Teach Me How to Pray” and then all joined in the familiar “Aloha Oe.” The gay shouts of the children in the yard play¬ ing marbles, the babies waving from the windows, and the parrot by the doorway calling “Good-bye” are beautiful memories to us. There are healthy children living with their leper parents because of lack of funds to build separate homes where they can be saved from contracting the disease. The records show that 95 per cent, of the boys and girls taken away from their parents while young grow up to be perfectly healthy men and women. Are they worth saving? HOW A JAPANESE BOY HELPED THE LEPER FUND O NE day I had spoken at a union service of Kumamoto Japan churches. I had outlined through a keen-minded Japanese interpreter the story of the world-wide call for help that should be given lepers in all lands. My pic¬ tures had attracted quite a share of attention. Following dismissal of the service a throng of people remained to see the pictures and ask me many questions. While answering questions, my attention was arrested by a boy of perhaps 12 years, who pushed his way through the group of people. He laid on the table a parcel wrapped in paper and said: “As I listened today to the story of the lepers I, too, wanted to do a share in helping these suffering peo¬ ple. I did not know how I could help, but I have been gathering old Japanese coins that do not have such value in my country (here he handed the interpreter the parcel). These coins might be sold in Mr. Danner’s country for something worth while and the money used to help the poor lepers.” When the message had been translated to me, I replied: “Please thank this fine boy for his lovely gift, and tell him I greatly desire to have his name and address.” This being translated to him in Japanese, brought his reply. Bowing his head very politely, in true Japanese fashion, he spoke briefly and left the room at a rapid pace. The words he had said before leaving so quietly were translated: “Tell Mr. Danner I am just a humble person and the giving of my name and address would add no value to the gift.” By this time he was gone, and no one could tell me his name or where he could be found.—W. M. Danner. The Story of Unho U NIIO was a blind Chinese girl. Although born blind, she had a very sweet voice. For this reason her mother sold her for a few copper coins to a wicked woman who forced Unho to beg and sing in the market places. One day Unho came home with a diseased foot and because she was unable to beg any longer—the woman took her to the Mission Hospital. When it was found that it would be necessary to amputate the foot she went away immediately leaving Unho on the hands of the missionaries. There were not a great many things which the girl could do, but she used to ring the bell for prayers and always attended the services. While in the hospital, she learned to repeat all the New Testament, except a few chapters in Revelation, and many of the Christian Hymns. Later on, Dr. Mary Niles discovered that Unho had marks of leprosy. Of course she could not remain in the hospital any longer and the only refuge for a leper was an old village outside the gates of Canton, China. Unho rebelled at the thought of living the rest of her life among lepers until the missionaries asked her to go be¬ cause she could teach these leper people the things she had learned in the hospital. She was willing to go, if this were the case, and at once started a Bible Class. Others became interested and soon seventeen wished to become bap¬ tized Christians. Unho sent word to Dr. Beattie and he went out to the village and held a baptismal service under the large tree, in front of the Leper village entrance gates. As the interest grew, it was necessary to have a Church in which to meet. This Chapel was built for Unho’s leper congregation by The Mission to Lepers. In later years the Canton Government decided to use part of the ground where the leper village was situated. This meant that the lepers would have to be separated—a few going to each of the colonies in that district. The story came home to America and a kind friend in Illinois gave the money to erect two memorial buildings at Tung- kun, (Tina—a leper home farther up the West River between Hong Kong and Canton. A few paragraphs from the beautiful letter sent by the lepers to Mrs. King are given here: “Temporary mat-slieds had to be erected for us, until you, dear Mrs. King, moved by the love of Christ and compassion for us poor afflicted ones, have enabled the missionary to build two big nice-looking houses. “We lepers living comfortably in such splendid houses ask ourselves, ‘Where does this happiness come from?’ It comes from the Lord and also it comes through your kindness. The Scripture says, ‘Love thy neighbor as thy¬ self.’ You have exhibited such a spirit and have shown much love towards us. May the Lord recompense you. We wish you peace. “We thank you, virtuous madame, for the big donation and for all your love and kindness engraved on our hearts.” The Leper Christians. I am the daughter of Mr. Danner, the American Secretary of The Mission to Lepers and with mother went with him on his journey to see the leper colonies of Japan, Korea. China, the Philippines and Hawaii. W lien in Canton we visited the old leper village. A few buildings are still used as a sort of receiving station. We also visited Tungkun. When we arrived here after a tiresome trip up the river in a little sampan, we received a very noisy welcome. The lepers had begged their Superintendent that they might give up their usual Christmas treat of a fire-cracker celebration in order to give us a proper welcome. W e saw the buildings given by Mrs. King, with her picture hung over the doorways. Special decorations had been painstakingly made by the women patients and hung in the wards in honor of our coming. Unho died in 1910, but we talked through an interpreter with several women who had been in her classes and they told us what an inspiration this blind, one-limbed, Chinese leper singing-girl had been. Lois Elizabeth Danner. Montclair, N. J., December, 1918. Thinking of Others A Story by W. M. Danner, American Secretary of The Mission to Lepers F OR some years it has been my privilege to help other people play Santa Claus for leper colonies. As Christmas approaches each year, plans are made with this in view, and 1 have had the greatest pleasure imaginable in transmitting something of the Christmas cheer on behalf of other friends to leper colonies in different parts of the world. My relationship to the lepers in the Louisiana Leper Colony has been one of great delight, but last year, when it became necessary for me to go to China, I had to delegate llie matter of our missions share in their Christmas presents to other friends. Doctor T. M. Hunter, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Raton Rouge, on behalf of our mission had the following interesting experience: In November, Dr. Hunter visited the Louisiana Leper Colony, which is some nineteen miles south of Baton Rouge, and in order to be Santa Claus just right, felt that he should ascertain as nearly as possible what the patients would like best for Christmas. He took one of the number, a long-time resident, into his confidence and said to him: “I wish you would take a little time and confer with the other patients, and see just what they would like for Christmas. Make up a list and send it to me, so I can bring suitable presents at Christmas time.” Doctor Hunter said in telling the story that he had children of his own at home who could make up a list that would stun Santa Claus, and he wondered what the response would be to the canvass this man was making to find out what 110 lepers would each like as a Christmas reminder. The reply came early in December, and said in substance: ‘‘Dear Doctor Hunter: I have done as you asked me to do; have talked over the matter of suitable Christmas presents with each of the residents. After thinking it over carefully, we have unanimously decided that if you have any money you could spare for Christmas gifts this year for us, we would rather you would send it to the Army Y. M. C. A., or to the Red Cross, for we think they need it more than we do. Signed by one of the Patients.” Theodore and His “Clucks” B OYS are enthusiasts, and given a chance, will imagine big things, and properly encouraged will work them out. At the close of an address I made four years ago in a New Jersey village church, I finished by telling of “Wil¬ bur and Pete”-—how a boy had used a gift of $3.00 made for his personal use to purchase a pig and feed his pig and sell him for enough to care for a leper for a year. In the audience that night, the livest member was “Theodore,” a ten year old boy with an imagination and a practical one at that. While the closing exercises were being conducted, I resumed my seat in the audience. Suddenly from the seat back of me a small boy leaned forward and putting his mouth close to my ear, I heard these words: “Mr. Danner, I do not have any pigs, but I could give you some “clucks” for the lepers.” I discovered that this ten year old boy was in charge of 94 chickens, and he pro¬ posed to share his profits with the lepers. That was four years ago, and it is pleasant to recall that all during these four years Theodore from his “clucks” has regularly sent $25.00 as his annual contribution to the Mission to Lepers. In this way Theodore is giving care each year to one leper. Not only is he keeping up his interest in the lepers, but Theodore keeps a regular account with his “clucks” and their product. A percentage of his income is set aside for his church and the balance, after supporting his leper, is put in a fund to cover his college expense. Theodore is applying practical methods to get the largest result from his “chicken business.” In visiting his poultry yard we were surprised to find one of the pens connected with electric lights. On asking him how this be¬ came necessary he said he was trying out an experiment; that the hens had not been doing much laying and he felt they were lazy, so he had installed electric lights and had an alarm calling at 4.30 each morning. Then he turned on the electricity for the hennery, and of course the hens would get up and go to work. Getting this two hours extra service out of the hens he said brought an immediate increase in the number of eggs. Theodore is also an expert agriculturist, and besides caring for the “clucks” he has a fertile garden in which he is raising high-class garden material, selecting his own seed from the best of each year’s crop. The orchard adjoining his garden is also under his care, and the trees are pruned and sprayed, and a great increase of fruit has resulted from his labors. [W. M. DANNER IN “WITHOUT THE CAMP”] Feeding the Pig For many years The Mission to Lepers has been silently and unselfishly striving to lighten the burden of the sad¬ dest of all human sufferers—The Lepers ( there are two million of them in the world.) There are two ways to help—send a contribution direct, or else help feed a “Pete Pig Bank.” You may have one of these “Pete Pigs,” and an intensely human little folder telling how the idea originated, by sending fifteen cents to the address given below. Contributions direct may be sent to the same address. Every Sunday School class should have a “Pete Pig Bank.” Every boy and girl should have one. Any one may join “The Golden Pete Bank Brigade.” send 15 cents for a Golden Pig Bank, and the story of “Pete,” and write today to THE MISSION TO LEPERS W. M. DANNER, American Secretary 156 Fifth Avenue, New York !/ A Suggestion If you would like to know what the Protestant Church is now doing for Lepers all around the world in ninety-two stations, it would pay you to subscribe for “Without the Camp,” the quarterly magazine of The Mission to Lepers. The work is done in co-operation with the Representatives of more than thirty foreign Mission Boards. This little paper contains the latest news of world-wide work for the Lepers. The cost is 25 cents per year. The paper is sent free to all donors of $2.00 or more per year. Subscribe through any local Representative of The Mission or send remittance to FLEMING H. REVELL, Treasurer 158 Fifth Avenue, New York WAYS YOU MAY CO-OPERATE There are at least seven ways in which cooperation may be given in the present work of The Mission to Lepers. 1. Join the American Auxiliary. Application blanks may be had for the asking. $2.00 or more is the fee. 2. In every church let us have a representative who will give out information and be the connecting link with The Mission to Lepers, working in harmony with the constituted authorities of the church, and seeing that the lepers are not forgotten. 3. Send for a program envelope which contains papers and talks suitable for use in any ordinary missionary meeting. 4. Subscribe for “Without the Camp,” the quarterly magazine of The Mission to Lepers. This little paper con¬ tains the latest news of “World Wide Work for Lepers.” And costs but 25 cents per year. 5. Order a metal pig bank and feed him coin and currency, so that in this way funds may be secured from a host of people who do not now have a part in this branch of the missionary work of the church. 6. Beside praying for the lepers, send a gift either for regular funds or building purposes, or for a Christmas offering. Gifts may be sent to Mr. Fleming II. Revel!, Treasurer, 158 Fifth Ave., New York City. 7. Remember The Mission to Lepers in your will. Legacies are an increasing source of revenue to many Mis¬ sionary Societies—Do not forget the lepers. For further information address W. M. Danner, Secretary, 156 Fifth Ave., New York City.