Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-08-07
A Troop OF Wanderfng Gypsies In
- FDniIndelnhla. 9 sl2
From tho PhiIadslphia, TELEGRAPH. July .

[From the ,Philadelphia Telegraph. July SOL i
During the early part Of June the inhab-
itants Of the rural section Of our city were
startled by the advent Of large caravan Of
Gypsies. They came from the direction of
Baltimore, and their march was like that of
asmall army. The first party, consisting of
some eighty men, women and children,
with twenty wagons, came on the 9TH OF
June and pitched their encampment on the
large level lot. Of ground, situated on the
south side of Haverford street, between
Fifty-fifth and Flfty-sixth streets. The
second party, numbering the same humber
of people, but with sixteen wagons, arrived
two or three days later. Both parties ap-
peared to agree among themselves very
harmoni0usly.1 AS the weather was 80
very warm and pleasant during the nights,
they only pitched about five or six rents,
the rest sleeping in their wagons or around
on the grass. They had with them quite an
assortment Of fine horses, some Of which
they offered for sale to the farmers around,
and others they took down TO West Phila-
delphia to dispose of Their wagons were
fitted up in, good and comfortable style,
and In some cases quite elegant. One of
them,Y indeed, was fitted up in a manner
that would do credit TO any upholsterer, be-
ing extended over the sides and provided
with berths. This, we believe, was the one
occupied by the Queen and her family
They all appeared to be In good circumt
stances as far as money was concerned, and
acted in perfect good faith with alliwith
whom they had dealings except in regard
to fOrtune-telling, in which the traditional
roguery of the race would crop out.
The Queen of the Gypsies, Lydia Palm
er, was u tall and fine looking woman. She
appeared to be regarded with great respect,
although her authority among her subjects
was not very great She was considered
one Of the shTewdest Of the whole of them
in that line. On ceremonious occasions she
dressed very splendidly, as did many of
her subjects. She wore rich white satin
dress, heavily embroidered in the most ele-
CANT manner; beautiful loose circular or
saclS, also covered by embroidery, and q
straw hat, trimmed around with silken
rope. Among the men there were no dis
tinetive dresses, and there was nothing to
distinguish them from the citizens of the
neighDorhood, but their dark complexion
and Gypsyish black hair. On ordinary oc-
casions the women wore plain calico dress
es. with sacks of the same.
In their business transactions they were
open-handed and liberal. Everything was
paid for as it. was bought, without ques-
tion. The only drawback in this respect
was with the, women. They would go
around telling fortunes, and if the people
wo0ld not submit to be duped, they would
threaten them. There was one case in aues-
women went into house IN West Phila-i
delphia and asked to tell the fortuneof the,
mistress. She consented. at the same time
snesdld not intend TO pay the Gypsv for her
trouble. Alter finishing, the latter demand,
ed dollar as her fee, when the woman re-
fused tOpay. Nothing darmted, the Gypsy
snatcbedupa soup tureen lying near by, and
walked of with it. The next morning She
reappeared at the house with a lot Of dirty
clothes, and told the same woman that, the
tureen She took was not worth the service
she had rendered her, and that II she did
not wash the clothes, and have them dried
when she called for them, at 8 o'clock the
Afternoon Of the same day, she would puta
spell on her, The woman was SO trighten-
ed that she Immediately sent out and got a
washerwonan; and had them done in the
time specified. .-..-. e.,v.s..
Among themselves they appeared to be
constantly pickering and quarrelings al-s
though they did not Offer. any violence to
outsiders. Before the Fourth of July'they
agreed among themselves that there shOhld,
be no firing off of guns, pistols or crackers.
During the night Of the Sd, however, one
of the young men fired OF pistol oyer the
heads of the horses, who were corralled in
the encampment, causing great disturb
ance among them. This was the occasion
for asfight5 on the Fourth, which alarmed
the neighbors, and they sent word to the
peliee, who came and ordered them off.
They got their traps together on the 9th,
and lett peaceably, and went asfar as Six
ty-fifth and Vine streets on the county line.
Here they pitched their camp again.
For awhile things, went on smoothly
enough, but they could not keep from quar-
reling among themselves, and they were
finally compelled TO clear out of the city
limits altogether. Thay travelled westward,
and are now IN Chester 1odnty. Some Of
them say they are going to California.
Theyare true Gypsies, and have all the
mafihers and customs Of that singular peo
ple,a They are generally twell-tO-do, and
some Of them are said 90 possess fine farms;
but there seems to be a perfectly irresisti7
bic charm in their wild nomadic life. The
men, as q general thing. are fine looking,
bnt the women are decidedly homely In
their appearance. One, indeed, named Jes-
samine Palmer, was rather pretty, with
that dark type Of beauty 50 peculiar to her
Crlne, AZ .TIalpoC W6TgAfW