The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-07-15
ENnsicS.


A band Of Gypsies has been oncamped in this
ncighhorhood for several days. The question is
frequently asked, whore did this strange people
come from Those who are here now came from
Englaud. There arc it is said lSB67 Of them in
England but there the question is still asked,
where did the Gpsios come from? There seems
to be no general agreement as to tho precise
country in which they had their origin. The Edg-
liSh writer's seem to agree that they are of Asiac
origin, and belonged to one Of the lliudoo tribes
Their language is now ssid to be very mach like
that Of the HjndooS, Everywhere they are re-
markable for the dark brown color Of their skins
black hair and eyes. and white teeth, aud the sym
metry Of their forms 1t is estimated that there
are 10, 900 scattered through Europe They are
most numerous in the south of Spain, and in Hun
gary, Moldavia, and Pennsylvania They every
where lead II strolling life, except in cold coun
tries they sometimes have fixed homes and live in
houses. They are horse doc ors, dealers in
horses, and sometimes they follow II trade, and
make iron and wooden utensils They are remark
able for a talent for instrumental music. They
are everywhere inlolCnt and SO fur us they make
any effort to procure the means of living, the men
are chiefly employed in cheatery and tricks, and
the women in fortune telling. They have no
learning, do not read nor write, and yet strange as
it may seem, with all their Ignorance, they find
plenty OF men and women in this land of boasted
they say, and look upon the mummories of hag-
gard old gypsey women as revelations and there
seems to be rs much anxiety to consult them rs
there was among the ancient heathcn to consult
the oraccs
They have no established religion, but in coun-
tries where there is an established religion they
embrace it no matter what its form. They are
Mahomedans in Turkey, and Christians in Spain,
and thing when not required by tho law of the
land in which tbnv live IN hn Snmpthinn
They marry often as carly rs IA or l5 years of
age, and do not care whether they be brother or
sister, or whether they be strangers. No Gypsy
will marry any one but one of mis- own race, and
the uniformity of their complexion aud general
appearance bear witness that there is little inter-
mixture Of any other races. If Gypsy be-
comes tired Of his wife he does not hesitate to
turn hor off. They are said to be very affection
ate t) their children, aud this prevents them from
Furnishing them.
They are said to be must utterly depraved and
destitute ofmoral senSbity and principle, and to
regard cheating and stealing as no way wrong
They are also represented rs extremely cruel, and
to take real enjoyment in inHicting pain, and on
this account were in some countries employed as
executioners and like all cruel people they are
said to be great towards. Their cowardice pre-
vents them from stealing only when they can do
it safely. They never break in houses in the night.
Many efforts have been made to convert the
Gypsies into orderly men and women. Maria
Theresa exerted herself to improve their condi.
ton in her dominions about l76S, But all her
efforts were fruitless. They are the same wander
ing vagabonds now that they have been ever
since they were first known in Europe, which was
in l4l7, in Germany. AS long ago as l4lS, the
number that entered Italy alone was estimated at
| $4,000 men in that year.
1t is supposed that they fed from their native
country, India, to escape the crueies of Tanner
lane, who invaded India and laid it waste, and
filed it with blood and devastation about the
year 1898
The Gypsics have very little of government
Each man has his own property. They do not
have II community of goods. In their personal
appearance they are by no means prepossessing
but they are not the most rcpulsve people we
have sc N. Their food is said to be poor and dis
gusting, They eat the carcass of an animal that
has died Of disease as readily as those which they
! butcher.
The facts stated above are chiefly found in the
American Encyclopedia. Some oi them we de
rived from conversation with some of the mos
intelligent Of the gyp5ies themselves who are now
enaampcd here, -MarysOilIe O. Tribune
Mr.. Klippart expresses the opinion that I" i
the cultvators of Ohio had praclicad genera
| system of understanding their clayey soils, anC
had thnrouphIv undarston1 tho nn,ural hi story n