Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-07-22
Hungarian GiDSies.

\
Their slender shape, flowing black hair,
gli,tering eyes, pearly teeth, ard dark
complexion, give then an exotic appear
ance, but we cannot call it attractive. In
fact, they dwell in realm of filth. The
growing-up sons Of spotted rags; but the
children dispense with even this luxury,
quite satisfied to cover themselves with the
mud in which they delight, Some of these
little ufchins are beautiful eyes so
purley blue, as if the glance Of an Eastern
heaven had transfused its pellucid color
into, them. This PECULIARLY shines the
brighter, as it presents a marked exception
to The mystical brillancy of the black
eyed majority. ~
We can trace back the tribe in Hungary
to the end Of tho fourteenth century,
They are apparently of Indian extraction
probaly outcasls, driven by Tamsralane
from their homes, whence they wandered
farther and farther westward. In Hun
gary, as perhaps even in India, they are
ouicasts, not on account of their race, but
owing to their mclean habits, their lazi-
ness and bodily weakness. They do not
yet seem reconciIed to the idea of fixed
property, and still keep TO their rowing pro-
pensilies. Every dirty work. which no
body else willingly does is allotted to them.
AS formerly did the Jews in Egypt, they
often make unburnt bricks; their women
not unlreqnently assisting in their scanty
labors, in which they differ from the Jew.
sh females, who are decidedly averse 10
any kind Of exertion.
Nothing, however, more clearly marks
these gipsies MS outcasts. than their taste
for garbage. 1t isl great treat for them,
when fowls, pigs, cattle, or even horses die.
Be it by distemper Or by accident, such
dantes are always welcome TO their appe-
lite. This abnorhious taste they Justify
by the argument: eff the animals are
good 10 eat when the butcher has slaugter.
ed them, must they not be much better
when killed by God himself?"
Unmartial in their appearance, and
notorious towards, they differ from their
brothers of The Middle Ages. who are said
to have defed the rack. The best Of them
are like tha children of Jubal ;-'the father
of all such as handle the harp ard the
organs" or Tubal Cain, ian instructor Of
every arliicer in brass md iron =" .+
They often excel in music; being artists
untaught in art, they form whole bands,
complete orchestras, and execute compli-
Gated performances, most of them without
the knowledge of q single note. Like the
chorus or,he birds ofthe fields, they blend
discordent tones into strange, but magical
harmonies, With sudden transition their
strains of wild enthusiasm modulate into
plaintive songs ofthe deepest melancholy
1t is as ifbrillinnt remembrances ofa grand
past flashed up from amidst the ashes of
Joy and hope. The blaze extingulshed,
nothing remains but the feeble glimmsr Of
regret.
This is the impression left on the mind
by the gipsies' music-n most perfectly
adapted to the genius Of Hungarian nation
ality. No Hungarian festival pleases the
fancy without the gipsies' bands. They
are as much in request at q peasants
wedding, us at an elegant entertainment in
the County Hall. This isa public building
in the chief place of the county, where the
county meetings, called Congregations
are held, to which old and young come
from great distances. The gipsies are well
aware Of their own popularity, and make
the mos. of it on every occasion. Such
of them os are no, in favor with the music,
and therefore uncourted, avail themselves
of every pretext, such as a bisth-day, bap-
tism, convalesence, or return home, TO
torture the ear without mercy = Madame
Pulksy's Memoirs ofa Hungarian Lady