The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-11
ssYpsgEs I'M a EEgmANY.
SOW the Strange people First Engaanasea
Before the Gates of LanebtPgs
Temple Bari


Temple Bari
One day, $50 years ago, or thereabouts,
there knocked at the gates OF the city OF
Luneburg, on the Elbe, as strange d rabble-
rout as had ever been seen by German
burgher. There were 300 Of them, men and
number Of children. they were dusky Of
skin, with iet-biaek eyes; they wore strange
garments; they were unwashed end dirty
even beyond the liberal limits tolerated by
neburg. They had with them horses,
donkeys and carts; they we're. led by two
men whom they described as Duke and Count
These. two alone were, dressed with some kind
OF splendot, and rode richly cornpartsOned
| horses; they were most courteous Ia manner;
they seemed careful 10 conciliate; they talked
among themselves O. strange language, and
| they understood the language OF the country.
All they asked was permission TO camp few
days outside the gates. All the Luneburgers
| turned out TO gaze open-mouthed at these pill
| grims, while Che Duke and Count told the au-
| thoritfes their tale, which was wild and TO-
mantle; even had they invented q story to
suit their own objects, no other could so well
kindly, uncritieal 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 O
Christian community, living Ia orthodoxy,
and therefore, happiness, In q far-oF country
known as Egypt. The Luneburgers had heard
OF Egypt. Crusades had been out Of fashion
more than two hundred years, and the people
still told OF dreadful things done in Egypt, as
we'll as the Holy Land. Egypt indeed was
| 1t was to the 1sraelites under the Judges.
The strangers came from Egypt. It was the
land OF Phoenix. 1t was not far from the do
tninions OF Prester John II vas the country
then q happy Christian flock. 70 their valley
came the Baraeens an execrable race, wor-
Shipping Mahound. Yielding in al evil hour
| to Che threats and prosecutions OF their con-
and wept aloud-abjured Christ But there
after they had no rest or peace, and 9 remorse
so deep fell upon their souls that they were
fain to arise, leave their homes and journey
to Rome in hope Of getting reconciliation with
by the Pope, who promised to receive them
back into the fold after seven years OF peni-
tential wandering. They had letters Of credit
| from King Slgismund- would the Luneburg-
ers kindly loo at tamgEranting afe cor cor
| burg folk were touched at the recital OF SO
much suffering In q cause SO good; they
granted the request Of the, strangers. They
riosity while the black tents were pitched the
naked babies rolled out on the grass, the dom
| keys tethered. and the brass kettle sluug over
the newly klndled fire; then they went home.
| Inc next Gay the strangers VlSltSa the town.
| In the evening 81 good many things were
missed, especially those unc0nsidered trifiss
which housewife may leave about her door
way. Poultry became suddenly scarce; eggs
doubled in price, 1t was rumored that purses
| had been lost while the owners gazed at the
strangers; cherished cups Of silver were not to
be found. Could it be that these Chris
tisn penltents, these renorseful back
sliders, these seekers after holiness,
these interesting pilgrims, so gentle at
speech, so courteous and humble, were
eutpurses and thieves? The next day there
remained no longer any doubt about the mat
| ter at all, because the gentle strangers were
| taken In the act red-handed, While ths Lune
burgers took council in their leisurely way
how to meet q case 50 uncommon, the pill
grirns suddenly decamped, leaving nothing
behind them but the ashes of their fires and
the picked bones Of the purloined poultry
Then Dogberry called unto him his brother
verges. and they fell to thanking God that
| they were rid OF the knaVes. This was the
first historical appearance Of gypsies. 1t was
O. curious place to appear In. The mouth d
the Elba Is o long way from Egypt, even Il
you travel by sea- which does not appear tc
have been the case; and journey on land
would not only have been indefinitely more
fatiguing, but would, one would think, have
led TO some notice on the road before reaching
Luneburg. There however, the gypsies ar
first heard Of, and heneeforth history has
ulsDty to say about their dOiDps,