Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1855-05-19
MoRGANF OWN, 85557.s 1.s

/, and Pharpar, those pleasant rivers o.
| Damascus which theileprous Ma aman
lloyed 4 orintheyalley ofths Nile where
amarous breezes delighted to kiss the
brow of;lhe beauteous Cleopatra, or a.
long the jupgle-banks Of the dark Gan
| ges, where the fanatic mother still filings
| l6erswailing babe ofthe wild waters, the
world may never kao,o. !. .slli.
Their, appearace in Europe was just
after one ssal Of those terrific events, which
have now w and then startled the worldly
|its fearful sublimity, and will forever
tower above the undisting guished years
/ ofby-gone centuries likethe yastisland-
promontories looming up above the
nameless waves of a turbulent Ocean.
The mighty Tamerlane at the head
Of his Tartar rihordes, burst with tornado
| force, upon the plains Of Eastern Europe
and strampled down Whatever seemed
sacred or lovely The flowers of.inno-
cepce wi,hered. The fruits ofindustry
| perished. The homes Of innocence cur
led in flames and the Genius ofdislinlcs'ii
tion poured out all his wrathfal walls
\ Wbenitbe storm had swept BY, the Gyp-
sizes .wero seen TO follow in its tracks:
stripping the dead and plundeying the
living. Since then, they have followed
Iihe sun in his westward course around
the globe. No mountain was too high
lfor themto climb; ;.no riyerltoo! broad for
them to cross; no forest TOO dark for
themito penetrate. Over the wide At
lantic they seemed 10 come on the
wings Of the wind d-tempted not less
perhaps by the congenial freedom Of
our country, than by, the ssupersticious
credulity of our people. From city 70 70
|city-from town 10 town they have wan.
|dsfed through our land; and what some
4 NAV .conside or as remarkable as any 9th
eli er incident in theirhistory, they have
atlast discoveredlh there is such place as
| Waynesburg.
Aud they will be likely to remember
.Iittoo; for if Madam Rumor speaks tru.
|1ytReir knayish impositions were pracs
iIticed with considerable success upon
1.-The credulousin the neighboring COM
muiity. asac ID
Fortune telling, which has ever been
IItheirtfayorite mystery is said toIhaye
ilbeen peculiarly profitable here. Many
sober, lstaid, and respectable citizens
ASHAMED to visit them in the light of day
q .sonla wpit till the .lenetheniAe shad.
ows Of eve fell llupon the Earth and then
after q careful reconnoisance of the
ground 10 be certainthat no curious eye
was watching their movements. they
wouldlglide sealthilylop tosthe6 6Gypsey
tent. aud present their broad palms with
as much eagerness as eyeraah ancient
Idupe felt at the shrine oftthe Delphiap
Oracle aAn .glf .3a
Ihayebeen told, twas quite amusing
to. sec the efforts of these pretended
seers. to please tieiryictims, and to com
mand their faith by predicting The graf
Iiication ftheir most cherished wishes:
To The young maidens they promised
loyers-always handsome, and some
Times rich,:-to the young gentlemen
the erealization Of. those visions of glory
|and dreams Of fame which are so allnr.
ing TO the youthful mind; to alheEold
riches, and nothing but riches, forthey
had sufficient knowledge ofthe human
heart to be aware that ayarice is Tie
last passion that dies within it, But
they do not rely alone upon furlunei n el
telling. They3have many other imPo'
silions which are eaqually profitable. 6:
One ofthetn was recently practiced up;
on a simple.mipded individual no, TWEEN
lty.fye milesfron theshad ofthese Col!
.Ilege.walls. They promised him thatil
he would deposit all his money in aipar-
Eticular place, and let it remain for sew
eral days without looking att, itIwould
be doubled in value. He did SO. OF
I coures the money was extracted by one
| oftheir gang before the appointed day;
and thus tile hard earnings of Years
/ were swept from, anhonest but ignorant
man. Pity him. we cannot; contempt
far such supersticious weakness checks
the feeling fcompassioh before it rises
toia sigh, or finds expression in tear.
The Gypsies are superstitiods lhetti.
selves. bdtl they have interpretations Of
Their owp. Every thing which they
believe they have learned from other
races. The sorteries, charms, sPells
aud witcHcraG, of the nations among
sIwhom ,tliey dwell, areimplici,ly beliey-
4 ed by them; while they have not The !lii,
] slightest filth in their own preltena! ed q
lars Of palmistry, aud diyinalion. But
,(ihe most remarkable feature in the ma.
Itional characters Of this singular people
lis their utter irreligion. Theologianl'!
have asserted that the most be,llglitee
tribes have some vague conceptions Q
a Great Fist Cause, and of religious
obligations. The Gypsies constituletl''
only known exceptions to the correct
mess Of this general remark theyseen
not to hayo had the most distant idea Q
a Supreme Being, or the fainlest dream
4 - I r.. n MI -, ,.,, rad N n1tAra =