The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1860-05-03
Stlrtteo sflistrllanp.

The GrPsIEs.-The greatest attraction
in this vicinity, at present, seems to be the
Gipsies. of whom but little appears 10 be
known. There is something very myster
Gus connected with them and their history,
and the minds of many have been baffled
in trying to determine their origin--from
whence sprung, of what nation they are a
branch. and whittier are they going. Fer
the benefit of those who wish to pry into
futurity aud learn the fate tha. awaits the
i Gipsies, vii! give few hint In regard to
their customs and manners, so that all may
he confirmed as to their power of penetra-
ting the mystic veil of the future and Of
revealing things wonderfully strange.
Where they sprung from is a question
differed on by many. bat the evidence
which has been deduced from their man.
ners and customs, and also from their Ian
guage. establishes pretty conclusiyely that
they are OF Indian or Hindoo origin
Their first appearance ih Europe was in the
yeas l4l4. just as they appear at the pres
ent time. in clans. and were called Gipsies,
from their supposed Egy'ian orgir In
France they We're called Bohemans, be
cause the first county they appeared in was
Bohemia. They have always. and in all
counties, been considered as outcasts, not
wiihstanding they constitute a single race
and speak langngage peculiar to them
selves. Spanish writer's assert them to be
of Moorish descent. relices of that people
VINO once Inhabited Spain. Others try to
prove them to be of Persian descent, while
there have not been wanting writer's to
prove them of European Origin. But the
greatest credence seems to be given to their
being of Egyptian origin, which, though,
Is shown to be very untenable. Their Ian
gugage is different from that of the Coptic.
as are also their manners; are in that
country they are trerded as in other parts
of the world as foreigners.
There has been vocabulary of several
numbered words drawn up, decisive of In
dian origin, and shows that they are the
relice of a wandering race expelled from
Hindoostan during the war of Timour Bey.
The men seldom have any occupation
more than trading in horses and tinke ing
They don't like to work at anything tha,
requires much physical exerlion; their
working is confined to smithiug principally
and 1t has become proverbial-"so many
Glpsies, so many smiths"
The women have always been known
Tor that peculiar art and power of telling
fortunes" making known what has pas
long since. with perfect accuracy, and di
vining what will come TO pass twenty years
hence, with the greatest plausiblity. Blu
how this wonderful thing is done is difficu
to toll--but there are like most of their Sc,
--"hard to read''
"InatteItion to cleanliness seems 10 h,
characteristic Of them in all countries .,
well as pilfering and steeling. Some O
them have attained some emnence in thos,
brutalizing exhibitions called pugiisti,
combats.''
There are considered, generally, pes
to society. and in mand countries measur.
have been taken for their determinations
They have been known no. only to TAX,
little things. but many instances are men
toned oi their stealing aud carrying ava,
children, waiting until a reward was offered
and then returning them 1t is well
Known that Adam Smith, the author of tbe
Wealth of Nations was thus taken by
them