Connecticut western news., 1873-06-27
:. The American Gypsie.
A Reporter Passes Night with a Cam
 of ZinHari.

A Reporter Passes Night with a Camp
 of ZinSari.
 Perhaps there is no more beautiful
 scenery in the world than that which is to be found in the Lehigh Valley, in Pennsylvania. A journey from Allen town to Wilkesbarreis is the most delight full one imaginable, presenting as it does so many features of enjoyment which in other parts of the country are wholly unknown. The scenery is at once wild and beautiful, rugged and sublime. On either side mountains lift their everlast- ing tops to heaven, while in the valley beneath the Lehigh flows in uninter- rupted beauty, it's sides dotted with fer tile fields, smiling orchards and happy farm houses. The Valley of Wyoming, immortalized by Campbell, the noblest of lyrics, in his celebrated poem, spreads its wide expanse of pasture land before the eyes of the traveller in its eternal freshness, the frowning mountains loom ing grandly down upon the peaceful scene. No wonder that the Valley of the Lehigh has been made famous in verse and story. It stands unrivalled in it's peculiar attractions and has well been called the, Garden of the East.
 In this charming abode of nature Nomadic tribe of gypsies have for the past few weeks had their habitation. This strange and wandering race, of whose origin nothing authentic is known, of whose customs much has been written, are true lovers of the pie turesque, and with the instincts of painters or poets they are always to be found where the grass is greenest, the water purest and the air most fresh. The gypsies have furnished many fertile theme for the novelist, the stories of their lawlessness, their thefts, their TO- mantle qualities and their generosity being innumerable. Who they are and what they are have never been ascer- tained but one thing is certain-for generations they have lived as separate and distinct race in every land where they happened to be located, their hand against every man and every mans hand against them. One of the amiable traits of character for which they have long. been noted is the strange affection which they have invariably displayed for chil- dren not their own. The annals of many a noble family in England and France tell of heirs who spent their infancy and childhood in gypsy camps, only coming into their rightful patrimony through accident or the revelations of some outcast member of the tribe to which they had been attached.
 These legends are generally looked upon as possible stories of the past possible 200 years ago, but utterly inn possible now. People who hold this opinion would be greatly astonished if they were told that in the present year of grace, and within half days jour- ney from New York, the kidnapping of children has been frequently practiced by band of gypsies, who, with their headquarters in the Lehigh Valley, have been securing the surrounding country, picking up stray children or stray hor- ses as opportunity offered. Such, how ever, is the fact, only within the past month a case having occurred near Easton.
 The child stolen was of very tender years, and, in company with it's nurse, had been out among the hills with which Easton is surrounded. While here 8 swarthy gypsy woman with a rather at tractive countenance approached the nurse and asked permission to tell the latter her fortune. Her nurse, with the natural credulity and superstition which is common to persons of her class, con- sented, and giving the woman some money, asked her to proceed, laying the child upon the grass. The gypsy poured out string of meaningless nonsense, mingled with the usual allusions to dark men and light men.
 The servant girl listened entranced while the woman was speaking, and when she had concluded, turning round to look for the child, she was mortified to find it gone. She had seen no one approach while the gypsy was talking, but as the road suddenly turned near where her fortune was told, it would have been easy for one to have crept cautiously along without having been perceived. She returned to Easton sor- rowful and sad, and her tale plunged the household to which she belonged into deepest distress. Rewards were offered, the police were set to work, the gypsy camps were searched, but for some days without avail, as no trace of the little one could be procured. The child was eventually recovered, but not until large sum of money had been ex- pended and hope almost lost. The affair has been kept very secret, the local pa- pers only dimly alluding to it. Your correspondent, hearing of the circum- stance, determined to visit the gypsy camp and find out for his own informa- tion and that of the public how far the appearance and names of the gypsies corresponded with the stories told of them. A tragedy which, it was ru- mored, had occurred in. the camp hast ened my movements, and took the first train to Allentown, arriving there as night was beginning to fall.
 l inquired of various people whom I met about the gypsies, but could obtain no authnetic information about them further than that they were quartered in some woods, about fifteen miles from Allentown, in southeasterly dir ction. The night threatened to be wild and stormy, and the rain was falling in fitful torrents but I determined, if possible, to proceed and reach the camp before midnight. After some trouble Penn sylvania Dutchman was induced to accompany me, and about eight o'clock we started for the camp. The roads had been greatly cut up with the rain, the horses sinking almost to their knees at every step they took. Progress un- der the circumstances was slow, and it was near twelve o'clock when we sight ed the woods. When we came to the outskirts the Dutchman refused to pro- ceed further, and, having no resource left, I determined to proceed alone. The driver drew his horses up to sequestered spot in the woods, and, having given me directions as to the way should take, got under the shelter of hewagon. The rain was still con- ing down in torrents and the night was pitch dark !; enly now and then the gloom would be dispersed,by occasional flashes of lightning. began to think l was in rather awkward position, but as had gone so far I thought I might as well proceed as turn back, knowing 4bot 1f r would I,a