New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TIE GIPSIES.

MI Walter SimSOn, the author of rather than half
Ibis volume spent about IA years from 1917 to 1881, in
collecting materials for history and description of the
Gpses of his native country, Scotland. With the zeal
md perseverance, Of genuine antquay, and something
Of henepdy Of the explorer Of dangerous and unknown
regions he penetrated into their squad encampmehts hob
oobbed with thieves, pckpockets beggars and moune
banks and 10 use the words Of Sir Walter Scott who
ouraged assisted him. made himself capable Of conves
Ing with any Gypsy whom he met and learned like the
royal Hal drink with any tinker in his language.
The result Of his researches few articles in Black
woods Magazine" and the manuscript Of the present
history" which is given to the world by his de-
,cendant in America. Mr. James Smson has added
pJeace introduction, dsquisiton and great many
noes Of which interesting He has also, as he
says taken great many Liberties with the manuscript
and rearranged Of the materials. We are not GER
tain that he has improved the book by this MEANS for the
arrangement could not be much worse than it is now
The title Is not misnomer This is not
History of the Gipses," but collection of many
curious facts and anecdotes about the Scottish por-
ton of the tribe with the addition Of few short and
unsatisfactory particulars respecting Gipsies in other
parts of the world. The author touched but slightly
the vexed question Of the origin of this strange people,
but the editor has supplied his omission by theory that
they are the descendants Of the mixed multitude who
up with the Israees out of Egypt These refugees
probably slaves like the Jews perhaps the progeny
Of the ancient She Kings by native Egyptian women
They could not follow the chosen people into the promised
land ard probably they parted from themin the wilderness
md wandered eastward into Hindosal whence after many
centuries they spread themselves the EARTH This
theory accounts for the fact that the Gpses constantly
represent themselves be of Egyptian origin and also
for the striking resemblance between their language and tho
dialects Of certain Hndoo tribes On entering Hindostan
they would find themselves in the midst of civilized
peop governed by rgd laws Of CASTE and little disposed
to welcome horde of strangers who, from their past
don had little idea Of gon and little respect
for the rights of property TIE Gpses therefore, would
naturally cling together instead of becoming amalgamated
with the Hindoos; and the habits of life eDgendered by
their peculiar isolation oud become fixed and he
redtary There record Of the circumstances which
drove them of India II las been suggested that they
fed from the oppresols of Taneane; but if this be so
it is strange that the Of that conqueror has
been preserved among the European Gpnesi and more
over the heavy hand OF the Tartar would have fallen
rather upon the higher elias Of the Hndoo than upon
a poor and despised peope like t. eso fugtiyes from
Egypt
The Gipsies first appeared Europe at the beginning of
the Fifteenth century, being Observed In Germanyln 44,
in Switzerland 10 l4 in Italy in 1922 and in France and
Spain in 1927. No information TO have been OBJ
tanned from them as to the country from which they
pilgrims and under that character received considerable
respect during half century, being favored by different
potentates with passports and letters Of security Their
leaders were probably better class Of vagabonds than
the modern representatives of the tbe though in every
county and at all times their Manners habits and cast OF
features have been the same. On the continent they
we're horsedealers innkeepers workers in iron, must
ciaus juggers and fortuneteers. They roamed about
the country living in tents, and hawking small articles Of
merchandise; bit their chief occupation theft Very
severe laws were passed in different countries for their
termination Punishment the only effect of which was
to drive them from district OF Europe to another
They first appeared in England about 1912 earlier under
u leader named Giles HatAer, whom they called
king, and woman named Csot, to whom they
gave the title Of queen and they still very numerous
in that country though the progress of civilization has
compelled them abandon many of their disreputabe
habits. There Gipses in Scotland at least early
1906 when James ~. wrote letter to the King of
Denmark in favor of Anthonus Gawro Earl Of Little
Egypt Gypsy Chief. From an edct published by james
V. in favor of John Faw, Lord and Earl of Little Egypt
in 1870 it appears that the Gpsies in Scotland were
allowed to punish the criminal members Of their tribe &C.
cording TO their peculiar laws and customs After
ward however they made the victims of the most
cruel and barbarous laws escape which they generally
became nominally oaDsmen, and assumed the sur
names of those cheftans and nobenen who
we're willing and able to afford them protection
They oten intermauied with the European race; but
it was most commonly (iipsy woman who took "white"
man for her husband rather than the tev6fe end the
man then adopted nto the tribe and the children
were brought up to speak the Gypsy language and follow
all the customs of their mothers people BY repeated in
temarages the characteristic features and complexion of
the have been oberled much changed that at
the present day it is almost impossible 10 distinguish
Gypsy at sight. In old tHes the men used to employ
themselves in athletic amrsements, such as leapng
eudge'-Payins, throwing the hammer, casting
.h.s putting-stone, and playing at golf, quots,
and other games; or in tinkering, making horn
spoons. casting rude implements OF iron, playing
the violin and bag-pipes, or stealing and selling
horses The women did most Of the peddling and petty
teving and drove thriving business in fortune-teng
though it was only few Of them who pretended 10 pro-
ciency in the last named art They had no hxed haoa-
tons. but travelled about the country in bands Each
harahad its own district and if ore enroaehed upon the
territory of another there generally resulted desperate
and barbarous fight in which the women bore Their uu
share of tho wounds and glory Of the day. Whenever
they could the Gpies lodged in barns and ou-houses
woman was generally sent ahead with an infant IN her
arms to beg permission Of farmer to pass the night
in his barn. and If ea ave granted 20 or 80 OF the
rang were sure to be found with her before
morning. They never forgot kindness shown
them by the country people upon whom they quatered
themselves and rarely never robbed their entertainers
great many instances recorded Of farmers who have
been assisted in time Of trouble have had their stolen
purses restored TO them by Gpses whom they have be-
fiended Tho children we're trained to theft under
ugd discipline They frequently practiced themselves BY
picking the pockets Of each other Sometimes pair OF
brooches made fast TO string suspended from the