Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-04
OWEN STANLEY, THE GIPsY KING.

From the Pittsburg Post
Owen Stanley, the recognized leader Of a
large band Of Gipsies in this country, died
short time since in Madison, Ind, and his re-
mains were taken to Dayton for interment be-
side those of Harriet Owen, Gipsy Queen,
who was buried there some two years ago. The
ceremonies were announced to have taken
place with great pomp, and rowing bands Of
this singular people were gathering at Dayton
IN all directions to participate in the funeral
ceremonies, which were to be of a curious and
imposing character.
In noticing the fact of his death, we observe
that the papers make no remarks upon the
character, life, and personal history of the de-
ceased.
The "Gipsy King" Owen Stanley, and his
numerous family, have frequently visited this
part of Pennsylvania and we know them we'll
The government of this peculiar people among
themselves, is patriarchal-the oldest member
of the tribe or family receiving peculiar rev.
erence and implicit obedience from all its mem
bers.
The Stanley family of Gipsies, of which
Owen was the patriarch, chief, or king, came
to America some seven or eight years ago from
England, by way Of Canada. Inc Gipsy King
the father of seventeen children, all of
whom, We believe, are in America and living
These, with their descendants, now number
about two hundred persons. They still keep
up their nomadic, Gipsy mode of living, tray
cling from place to place in bands, sub-divi-
ded according to circumstances The trade is
possessed of considerable wealth in horses,
wagons, and money, the latter of which they
are not ayerse to lOaning to persons in whom
they have implicit confidence. Knowing them
selves suspected, they are naturally a suspici-
Gus people, but when once their confidence is
acquired they are free e-hearted, open handed
and jOyial. In all matters of practical life
they we'll informed. They drive a sharp
bargain, are cautious and prudent, and we can
say that the Stanley family have proved them
selves honest, for in all charges made against
them, which are not unfrequent they insist
upon Investigation and come out triumphant
We recollect that at one time when in this
city, man from Ohio swore positively to the
ownership of horse in the possession of a
member OF the tribe and offered for sale at the
horse market, and he was arrested. After he
bad, by questioning and cross questioning, in
duced the complainant to swear positively that
the horse was his fathers, Stanley produced
the bill and receipt for the purchase of the
horse, gave bail for stay Of proceedings for a
couple of days, and not only proved his legal
ownership in the horse, but that the man who
was said to have been its owner still had his
own horse.
When the Stanley tribe first came to this
country the father and mother remained in
England, and joined their children in this
country at the request Of their son Levi Stan
ley, who sent to England thousand dollars to
aid them and some of the poorer members of
tHo CTlDe I'D cOme 10 the UnlteQ states.
The old man had many valuable articles
which had descended to him from his ances-
tors, and which he desired to preserve as relics
of the olden time. They were s liver cups ard
silver quarts or tankards, which had been pre-
sented to various members of the tribe by Eng
!ish noblemen and gentlemen, as rewards for
feats OF agility, strength, running, jumping,
dancing, &c. When encamped upon large
common grounds belonging to the nobility and
gentry of England amusements of this sort
were common, but by an act of Parliament
passed about twenty years ago these grounds
grazing of the gipsies, like the hunting grounds
of our Indian tribes, were taken away from
them. This fact, together with the fear that
the younger members of the tribe might be i'm
pressed for the Russian war, induced the STAN
leys, together with several other gipsy tribes,
to emigrate to America, where they could
find plenty Of room without being regarded as
trespassers.
When the Stanleys resolved to come to Amer
ica, one and all, the question arose as to how
they should convey the family relics above
spoken Of which were numerous, and, being of
silver, valuable. They feared that both in Eng
land and In this country the popular prejudice
which sets down the gypsy as a thief might in
duce the authorities to seize them under the
suppositiOn that they were stolen and that
thus they might be put to trouble and delay,
or might lose their cherished treasures alto
lucy dCCOupllsneu tue AFFAIR with
true gypsy cunning. Purchasing a cask of
liquor, they secretly placed the silver ware in
1T, wrapped up so as to deaden the sound, and
then entered their liquor for regular exporta-
tion at the custom-hOuse. The cask and its
valuable contents came safely through official
valuable deposit which it contained. The fam
lily are still in possession of these relics which
they regard as heir-looms to be handed down
to future generations.
Owen Stanley, at the time of his death, was
about 80 years Of age. He was of small stature,
only about feet inches in height, but 1.-the
and active as q cat, notwithstanding his ad-
va lced age. VIII, n encamped in the vicinity of
Pittsburg, at East Liberty, last year, he could
leap from the ground upon the back of the
largest-sized horse as neatly as ever Eaton
Stone, the circus-rider, could do.
The whole tribe are remarkable for their
longevity and for robust health, showing that
the nomadic life, with all its discomforts, as we
dweliers IN cities would esteem them, is condu-
GIVE to sound bodily vigOr and length of days.
Now that the patriarch has ceased his wan
derings In the land Of his adoption, Levi STAN
ley the oldest son, will mount the Gipsy throne.
He is man of more than ordinary intelli-
gence;with decided turn for speculation He
is a thorough Yankee in this respect-ready to
trade anything he has, except his wife and chill
dren, 70 turn an honest penny He is q fine
looking man, and mis- wife is a noble specimen
of the Gipsy race; she is tall and stately, with
the presence and action of a born queen; her
hair and eyes are black as jet, the latter bril-
liant and sparkling; her complexion is dark
ruddy brunette her features handsome. Her
mien and step are as independent as those of
the "McGregor on his native heath With
her broad brimmed hat and holiday attire,
brilliant with strong contrasts of colors, when
We saw her last she looked the queen as much
rs Victoria or Eugenia ever could do.
The wife of Owen Stanley died, and was
buried in South Carolina about three years
ago, and, since the death of tho old patriarch.
Levi Stanley and his handsome wife are now
the Gipsy king and queen of the United States
EMANclPAIIoN OF WOMEN IN CHISA.-A Pekin