The Cecil Whig., 1874-08-15
GYPSY LIFE IN AMERICA.

Away off here in the romantic Welsh
mountains, overlooking the beautiful val
ley of the Conestoga, about 125 miles west
of New York, your correspondent has
been spending the day with gypsy band.
The company is the largest that ever visit
ed this section. Mira, the daughter of the
chief, is said to be the fairest child of the
forest in America, and Londo, her father,
one Of the most intelligent of the family
Of Hernes, the leader of the north of Eng
land tribes. They are comparatively speak
/ ing rich, and their sorceresses and fortune
tellers the most accomplished on the CONT
nent
! l had desire to know all about this
singular strolling, vagabond, real gypsy
| life in America, to learn the habits, Gus
/ toms, rights, and religious ideas, of these
tawny skinned people of the woods, and
told d" Londo," the chief of the tribe, what
desired. After he had placed camp
stool at my service he excused himself to
make horse trade, and he sent his daugh-
ter, Mira, to answer whatever questions
the visitor might ask. She is a beautiful
girl. Not tall, nor coarse featured as her
mother, but medium in height, compactly
built, round, broad shoulders, full chest,
very regular features, very black hair,
black, dazzling eyes, and a soft, pure olive
skin. When she smiled she showed pref
! ty set of teeth, and when she spoke she
did so modestly and shyly. This was the
| fifteen year-old daughter Of the captain.
She was born in the woods of Yorkshire,
England, and had never slept night in
house. She was dressed in a pretty color
ed calico gown. A sash of scarlet tlanne!
was about her waist, and a string of pretty
| little shells formed necklace for her. A
large, beautiful topaz in heavy setting Or
namented her left fore finger, while several
smaller gold rings were on her right hand.
She had bracelets, and carried a money
pouch made of beautiful snake skin at her
left side. Her slippers were of red mo-
rocco, and her dress did not come down
near as far as those Of our city misses do.
She said that her father was very busy and
that if she could furnish the required in
formation she would be happy to do 50.
| 1 asked her about fortune telling. She
smiled and said, "Perhaps you think that
is about all the women folks know, or at
least that is the subject they are best infor
med one" Her English was very good.
and her Judgment in this instance still
better. She continued: "Well, mother
is the very best fortune teller in America
to-day; at least we think so. Her mother
was the queen of the tribe in which she
was born, and mother gained all her knowl-
edge from that source. She has received
as high as $50 to tell single fortune. 1t
was for lady living near the Catskill
mountains Mother uses signs, tokens,
herbs, roots, and various other mysterious
articles, and nobody knows why except
myself She has seven bone rings made to
fit her longest finger. Every day in the
week different ring is worn. Between
the skin of the finger and the ring she
carries a charm. There are SO many Of
them that forget them. A snakes tooth
is one. Probably you have heard of the
| witch's cauldron in Macbeth, and what
they put in to stew up? l have been told
about it, Well, mothers ring charms are
equally as mysterious"
At this the mother came from one of the
tents near by and approached. She was a
tall handsome woman, about fifty years of
age. Her gown was as colored as the wild
flowers she had daintily woven in hor dark,
coarse hair. She surveyed her visitor, then
looked inquiringly at her daughter, and
then spoke: "There is much to be learn
ed and much to be forgotten in this busy,
busy, weary life."
How she knew my mission is mystery.
Her name she said, was Deborah Herne,
and she was born in Spain. Her English
was only tolerable. She wore bone ring
on the third finger of the left hand, for it
was Tuesday. Under the ring was dried
lizards tail that had been wound round
the ring when it was yet pliable. l asked
her why she wore them. Her reply was,
''The only person in all this life that
shall ever tell will be little Mira" and she
clasped the beautiful gypsy girl in her
arms and kissed her over and over again.
These gypsies have a blind love for their
children. Then the mother went away and
commenced playing with and tossing
around four little ragged baby boys and
girls that were playing in pile of hay
and straw on the ground. Mira smiled
and said, 90 Yes, mother frequently assures
me that she will tell me all she knows
some time or other. She was told great
deal by grandmother on her death bed.
Probably l shall never know mothers
secrets until she comes to die. Well, l
hope | may never know, and then she will
always be with us. We have five women
folks in our camp who tell fortunes
Four of them are only ordinary folks who
deal with cards-they get twenty-five and
| fifty cents from females and one dollar
from the men. The reason women are
charged less is, they can't afford it. for it
| Is almost lulpOSSlOlc iOF WHO " suu Sic
dollar from her husband, whereas fifty
cents or quarter is not SO difficult. All
the money made on fortune telling is put
in the general treasury. 1t passes through
fathers hands, and then l get it." Mira
then reached back, caught hold Of her
snake skin satchel, and opened it. Several
hundred dollars thrown in loosely were
shown. 81 am fathers treasurer and
pay out money when he says l shall But
do so hate to part with it when they lose
on horse-racng bets. If l could break
papa of that bad habit, should consider
it splendid victory"
Londo then appeared and sat down. He
had finished business for the time, and he
handed his daughter a roll of money and
told her she might 60 to her tent. The
gypsy captain was a fine-looking, we'll
shaped man. standing fully SIX feet and
weighing 23O pounds. He said his band
consisted of himself, wife, only daughter,
| f.r, ,,,, ,pd tbair wiveS and Sayenteen