The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-10-12
THE GIPSIEs.
ShortsHistory of the Peculiar People.

One day, $50 years ago or thereabouts,
there knocked at the gates of the city of
Luneburg, on the Elbe, as strange a
rabble as had ever been seen. There
were 800 of them, men and women, ac-
companied by an extraordinary number
of children. They were dusky of skin,
with jet black hair and eyes they wore
| strange garments they were unwashed
and dirty even beyond the liberal limits
tolerated by the cold water fearing citi-
zens of Luneburg /; they had with them
horses, donkeys and carts; they were led
by two men whom they described as
| duke and count. These two alone were
| dressed in some kind of splendor, and
| rode richly caparisoned horses they
were most courteous in manner; they
seemed careful to conciIiate; they talked
among themselves strange language,
and they understand the language of the
country. ALI they asked was permission
to camp few days outside the gates
All the Luneburgers turned out to gaze
open -mouthed at the pilgrim ms, while
the duke and the count told the authori-
ties their tale, which was wild and ro-
mantle even had they invented story
to suit their own objects, no other could
have SO we'll enlisted the sympathies of
crdulous, kindly, uncriticaI and soft
hearted folk.
Many years before, they explained.
while the tears Of penitence stood in the
eyes of all but the youngest children,
they had been a Christian community,
living in orthodoxy and therefore happi-
ness, in far off country known as Egypt.
The Luneburgers had heard of Egypt
CrIIsades had not been out of fashion
more than 200 years. The people still
told of dreadful thirgs done in Egypt as
well as in the Holy Land. Egypt, in
deed, was about as we'll known to me-
dieval Europe as it was to the Isrelites
under the Judges. The strangers came
from Egypt Il was the land of the phe-
nix. It was not far from the dominions
of PreSter John. 1t was the land of the
Saracen and the infdel. They were then
a happy Christian flock. To their valley
came the Saracens, an execrable race
worshipping Mahound. Yielding in an
evil hour to the threats and prosecutions
of their conquerors they-here they turn
ed their faces and wept aloud-they alb
jured Christ. But thereafter they had
no rest or peace, and q remorse SO deep
fell upon their souls that they We're fain
to arise, leave their homes and Journey
to Rome in hope OF getting reconciliation
with the Church. They were graciously
received by the Pope, who promised to
admit them back into the fold after sew
en- years of penitential wandering. They
had letters of credit from King Sigis-
mund-would the Luneburgers kindly
look at them ?-granting safe conduct
and recommending them to the sole pro-
lection of all honest people. The Lune-
burg folks were touched at the recital of
SO much suffering in cause SO good
they granted the request of the strangers.
They allowed them to encamp they
watched in curiosity while the black
tents were pitched, and naked babies
rolled out on the grass, and donkeys
tethered, and the brass kettle sung over
the newly kindled fire then they went
home. The next day the strangers visit
town n
many things were missing, especially
those unconsidered trifies which a house
wife may have about her doorway.
Poultry became suddenly scarce; eggs
doubled in price; it was rumored that
purses had been lost while their owners
gazed at the strangers /; cherished cups
of silver were not to be found. Could it
be that these Christian penitents, these
remorseful backsliders, these seekers af-
ter holiness, these interesting pilgrims,
So gentle of speech, so courteous and
humble, were cut-purses and thieves.
The next day there remained no longer
any doubt about the matter at all ber
cause the gentle strangers we're taken in
the act red-handed. While the Lune-
burgers took counsel in their leisurely
way, how to meet case 50 uncommon,
the pilgrims suddenly decamped, leaving
nothing behind them but the ashes of
their fires and the picked bones of the
purloined poultry. Then Dogberry call
ed unto him his brother Verges, and they
fell to thanking God that they were rid
of knaves. This was the first historical
appearance of gypsies. Ii was curious
place to appear in. The mouth of the
Elbe is long way from Egypt, even if
you travel by sea which does not ap-
pear to have been the case and q jour
ney on land not only would have been
infinitely more fatigueing, but would,
one would think, have led to some no
tice on the road before reaching Lune-
burg. There, however, the gypsies are
certainly first heard of, and henceforth
history has plenty to say about their do
ings.
A WIFE FOR FIVE CENTs.-A young
man of this city who had been waging
his matrimonial interests under parental
interferences, brought his suit to hap
Joe