The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-11-21
NUMBER 46.
The Gipsies.

the Gipsies:
10 TIE EDITOR OF THE WORLD The IL.
lusion made by you in your issue of tho =.
on the subject of the gipsies, induces me
to think that you will give insertion TO the
following remarks on this singular race:
The gipsies have frequently called forth
certain kind and degree OF interest, which
has often died away again for this particular
reason, that little or nothing can be learned
from them of their history and condition, on
account of the extreme prejudice that is
entertained towards them and the singular
reserve they show to people outside OF their
body. But when we gain their confidence
we find about the tribe much that is inter.
esting TO the generality of intelligent
persons.
The question that most naturally presents
itself, is, "who are the gipsies !' The
reader of history will be surprised TO know
that they are the "mixed multiiuden Of the
exodus that left Egypt under Moses, and
separated from the Jews in Arabia Petra,
and travelled northeast into India, where, in
consequence of the rigiditY of caste that has
prevailed in that country from time i'm
memorial, they formed themselves into
wandering race, living distinct from ali
others. Having been runaway slaves OF e
civilized society, the change of their cir
cumsiances naturally led them 10 adopt
lha, condition which has characterized
them since the beginning of the fifteenth
century, when they first became known 10
the inhabitants of Europe.
The gipsies that go about England today
are merely the remains of the wild stock as
it entered Great Britain in or previous to
the year 1906. In their natural state they
are and have always been very prolific
people. In the early part of the reign Of
Queen Elizabeth they were estimated, in
England, at above 1o,00e; and, notwith-
standing their great natural increase, they
are generally set down as "bsing of very
few in number in England" A late writer
in Chambers Edinburgh Journal even
makes the assertion that "before this GEN.
tury expires there will not be gypsy in
Western Europe" But a. the present day
there are in Europe and America together
less than 3 ,OOU, 900, of all mixtures of blood,
shades of color and position in life.
! So little is known Of the gipsies that peo-
| pie invariably believe that when a gipsy
| leaves the tent and settles in life, or even
travels without a tent, he ceases 10 be .
gipsy! But, notwithstanding every change
of whatever kind he may make, hs and his
descendants never cease TO be gipsies
The North American Indians are "dying
OUT" because they depart this life but the
gipsy tribe gradually leave the tent and
gets scattered amid the rest of the popula-
tion, and maintain their identity as people,
Notwithstanding their having no religion
peculiar 10 themselves.
The prejudice that exists against gypsy
is such as would lead Us 10 think he was 9
snake or some other reptile, rather than =
man. The original gypsy has therefore no
alternative but TO hold himself aloof from
the rest Of his fellow creatures, and even to
lead The rowing life for which he is SO
much blamed. He has been born int that
state and been reared in it; and knowing
no other he naturally follows it. aud finds
the life of the ordinary inhabitant as dis
tasteful 10 him as his would be 10 the
ordinary inhabitant.
Add to this the fact that the common ma.
tive, of whatever condition in life, will moi
associate with him; will Tot allow him 10
enter a school, will even consider il pollu.
lion 10 touch him, and you will see how
difficult, how almost impossible il is to
r make anything of what people generally
understand 10 be a gypsy. But whenever
, the gypsy leaves the tent, and in the popu.
lar estimation ceases to be gypsy, he mos
rigidly hides from the public the fact lha
he belongs 10 the tribe. The tent is the
hive from which the tribe swarms hence
., as people know of no other gipsies thar
those about the hive, they come yer.
= quickly 10 the conclusion that they 'car
make no,hing of the gipsies;" withou
/, knowing that the tribe, taking year witt
year, ard tent with .ent, are constantly
throwing off swarms of gipsies, into al
kinds of lineraut and settled life. On &C
b conn, oil the tribe as it were, "hiding itself,
a | dS u leaves luc leut, tno IdCOs ooOu a. ~ .
I, known TO the world, never gets the reputa
ton for the improvement of which it i
capable, and no one OF The tribe, outside 0
the tent, will say that they are gipsies
4 consequently the subject of their history !
allowed to remain in slough, out Of whicl
il is necessary 10 drag it. 5.
r How TO KIss.-First, grasp with haste
around the waist, and hug her tight TO thee