Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-03-01

is usually celebrated Mt or near the rising Of
the sun.
The Gipsies are clearly of Asintic origin.
| They closely resemble the lowest caste in In
dia, and it is highly probable that their an
cestors came from the banks of the Oxus and
the region south Of the same. Driven from
Asia by Tamerlane about the year l400, they
entered Europe by three great routes, one
stream of immigration reaching Spain by way
Of Africa, another sweeping into Europe
along the northern shore or the Euxine, and
the third aud largest tide ebbing to the ma
tions of the Danube by the way of Anatolia.
and Roumeia. In a comparatively few years
they became widely disseminated over Eu-
rope. Gipsy bands first appeared in Molda-
VIA IN the year l4lI, and few months after
ward were seen in Germany, and on the
coasts of the Baltic. The following wear
they made their appearance in Switzerland,
| pretending, as elsewhere, that they were in
habitants of Lower Egypt who had been
compelled by the Saracens to renounce Chris
tianity, but that having been reconsuered by
the Christians they had been sent to Rome
where the Pope, for their apostacy. con-
demned them to wander over the earth seven
years and sleep constantly on the ground
| They also pretended to have passports from
the Pope and the Emperor Sigismund, per-
Inlttlng them to wander at pleasure and steal
with impunity. They were described rs "a
"vagrant horde belonging to some unknown
| nation. OF brown color, strange appearance
"and known as the Egyptians or Zingar."
Alter the first surprise, and in some instan-
ces terror, caused by their appearance, they
were everywhere prosecuted with relentless
cruelty Nor. if we can believe the old chron-
cles, were the wandering Zingari the amia-
bic and innocent creatures to whom. rs
| Esmeradas and Preciosas, we are introduced
III modern romance.
In the year 1922 the Government of Basle
in Switzerland warned its good citizens
against the Zieruner lin different parts of
Central and Eastern Europe, also termed
Bohemans, Zinguri, Zingani and Tsigans.)
describing them as most artful ard cunning
in all possible devices against the estab-
"lished right o: possession.
AT this time there are doubtless moro
than 100000 Gipsies in Europe SO early
! as the year ZAP there were $4,000 in Swift
zerand alone, whence the Government at
tempted to expel them in 1910. Ferdinand
OF Spain endeavored to drive them out Of his
domnions in the year 1892, but they conceal
ed themselves in out of the way places, and
soon after appeared as numerous as before.
In France they were prosecuted with fire and
sword, and in 1912 the Government decreed
their entire humiliation. In Denmark, where
they we're called "lartars wandering about
"and njurlng people by their lies, theits. and
| "machinations of the black art" they were
ordered to be taken into custody aud pun
ished. In many parts Of Germany, the Clip.
sizes were thought to be secret emissares Of
the Turks, and were accordingly treated with
the utmost barbartv.
The Gipsies appeared in England some time
| in the 18th century. One of the first allu-
sions to them is in Sheltons description of
EIynoure Rumminge, published in the begin
ming OF the following century:
''IIcr kirtel Bristowe red,
With clothes upon her hende
That they way of lehde,
Weythen in wonder WISE
After the Sarazau's 2ise,
With a whim wham
KuIt upon ;rlm tram
Upon aer brayne pauGr
Like an EG.rTIAS .
CaTed about
When shr eth out"
! In the times of Henry VII. anG Elizabeth
! the GipSies We're the objects OF fierce pa..a-
mentary persecution. Ia Scotland. on the
other hand. they We're recognized as an indie
| pendent people, and in Consequence Of the
|
| Der to more than 100 600 souls. They hrgan
! however, to disappear, and in the time ui Sir
| Walter Scott scarcely 800 Gpsles could be
found where they had formerly been so nu-
| mcrous.
The possession Of 2J00G0 Gipsy slaves now
held in Moldlvra and Wallachla is about
! equally divided between the Governments of
the respective Prlncipallties and private in
| dirlduals. The Crown Gipses (DOmHeSh)
may be su5dvded into four classes: first.
the Ru9a1i and .iurdri. who alone have the
right OF washing the river sands for gold.-
Some OF the mountain streams of the Carpa-
thians are as rich in golden spangles as the
TagnS and PactoluS. In Pennsylvania, also.
where the art Of gold washing is brought to
much greater perfection than in the Danubian
| Pnncipalities, the goldwasherS are chiefly
Glpsles. They exercise great judgment in
the selection Of tavorlte locations. The ap-
paratus employed by them consists of a
crooked board four or FIVE feet long and be.
tween two and three feet broad, with Sigh;
elevation, generally a wooden rim on each
side. a woolen cloth is spread over this
board, upon which is scattered the god-sand
mixed with water. The small grains of gold
remain sticking to the cloth. The latter is
aiterward washed in vessel Of water, when the
metal sinks to the bottom.
When larger particles of sand are found
they make deeper channels in the middle oi
the crooked board in which the small pieces
are caught as they roll down. Each of the
Gipsy goldwashers pays q small tribute
which, however, does not go into the treasury
out Is given to the wives of the Hospodars as
pin-money.
The second class of Grown Gipsies arc
called UrSdrt, or exhibitors Of bears. The,
wander from village to village with bears
captured when young among the Carpathians
and taught to perform severa! dances. TC
insure themselves against accidents, tho
UrsdTi break off the teeth and claws of these
: animals, and render them nearly blind By
thrusting into their eyes a red hot iron.
: They have also peculiar method of captu
ring bears among the Carpathians. A vesse
= containing brandy and honey is placed wher,
Bruin repairs to drink, in such position tha
he cannot fell to see it. The male and the fe
male, as well as the young, are unable to re
sist the temptation-love of honey, if not o
brandy. being their besetting weakness Tn,
exhiaratng effect of the alcohol manifest.
: itself in the course of few minutes, and theI
begins the burlesque cotil!ion. The bear
dance until they fall powerless to the ground
when the wary Gipsies bind them fast ant
drag them home on their carts The Ursdr
likewise pay tribute Of u few piasters to tn,
Government
Third, Lingrdri, or wooden-spoon makers