The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-09-10
GypsieS in Europe.

The gypsy is a thorough aud irreclaim-
able yagabond but has many good points
about him. His notions of honesty, cs-
pecialy when u fowl or a horse is in ques-
ton, do not exactly correspond with our
own. and he cannot be brought to under
stand the game laws but he compares IA
yorably in most of these respects with the
tramps and beggars, aud even with the
rustic laborers aud lower classes in towns.
The road is literally his walk in life, and
he practices such trades as tinkering,
chair mending, cutting clothes pegs, aud
the like, with assiduity and industry.
When the weather makes out-of-door life
unbearahlo, gypsies settle down after Il
fashion those who have covered wagons,
with the sight Of which we are So familiar,
halt with them in some convenient spot
aud live in small communities, others hire
an empty cottage aud simply camp down
in it. requiring 10 furniture but the few
articles of bedding and cooking utensils
which served them iD their tents. But
the English Rommanies do not affect 4
town life: they keep strictly to their old
nomad conditions Kirk Yctholm, ia
Scotland, is the only place in the British
Isles where settled colony Of gypsies ex-
lists. for even their haGnts in the west of
London are deserted as the summer comes
round, and the country holds forth its ir-
resis,ible charms. Elsewhere, especially
Turkey and the pauubiau Prineipali,ies,
there are many villages inhabited entirely
by sypsies.
Strange to say. these people are very
little understood, and, among other tirtlons
in vogue concerning them, the most pop,
ular one, that they have a king, is totally
without foundation \ member of the
trib, who has reached an advanced age,
and become the head OF numerous fami.
" Of children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren, is, Of course, visited By them
at any spot where be or she may have set
tied down aud as the travels of the clan
are regulated by the seasons, fairs, mar
kcis, and 50 on, the gatherings naturally
become periodical aud greatly exercise
the Gentle mind OF the curiosity thus
excited the Gypsics themselves are not
slow 10 take advantage, aud the ancient
one is dubbed a Gypsy King or Queen,
FOR 20 other purpose than to attract visits
and offerings from the gorgios.
Gypsies are not BY any means the out
casts of society they lead a rowing life
because their instincts aud traditions all
iuduce them 10 do 50. The sserncst laws
have been promulgated against them with
out bringing about the least sigu of re-
form 10 their habits, aud they are now
only slowly yielding 10 the influence Of
the Inclosurc acts, which crowd them Ous
and force them, no, 20 become absorbed
ia the rest Of the population, bat 70 seek
for free space and fresh air IN sho far
West. Siuoe Mr. Borrow frs; told how
interesting \ race they we're, with Ian.
guase, traditions and customs oF their own
liffering 80 entirely from the peasaHiry
among whom they live, many have made
thea their study, aud s0ms very amusing
and learned works have beeu written upon
their habits aal speech, among the most
rcecn, or sach books those Of Hans Brett
nam ard Dr. Smart are the best The
gypsy laagaage is very quaiat and ex-
prcssivc. and, although in this country ai
least, they have but limited vocabulary
left, they manage, BY Ingenious compounds,
to say al they want in H. The orisia Of
ihc gypsies Is problem which has never
been entirely solved
The appearance Of the gypsies in vest
eru Europe vas ia the year lli7, when :
baud Of three hundred, under the guidance
Of three shrrwi aud intelligent leaders,
asked and obtained from the Emperor
Sigismusd, the Pope and other soyereigus,
leave TO travel 10 theirs domains They
gave out that they were emieran,s from
Little Egypt, that they bad relsPscd
from Christianity inio hestheBism, aud
had been conquered by the King Of Hun-
gary, who had imposed upon them 4 pen
anee Of 6lly ycars wandering Is pilgrims
before returning 10 their native laad. Il
IS needless to say that the story had not
woTd Of truth 10 il, bus the name "EgyP-
tian has elung 70 them ever since in his
eouAiry, though they are elsewhere known
to Geutiles as Tehiasiane, Zingari, or
some modification Of the name. They
first made al appearance in England
about the year 1850, in bands Of from
thirty to = hundred families, travelling in
light carts aud camping by night wherever
= Convenient spot presented itself. The
women told fortunes, pilfeTei coins from
,radesmen's counters, and "drabbed bau-
loFs that Is, poisoned pigs, jast as they
do at the present day, while the men
worked at tinkeTing, matchmaking aud
the like, aud occasionally varied the mo
uotouy Of their existence By stealing a
horse aud taking TO the highway. Their
lawless, uomad life soon brought them
under the suspicion Of the authorities, and
they were accused Of aud punished for
these crimes, aud for many Others which
they never thought Of committing. Dur
ing the reign Of Elizabeth they were per
secuted with exceptional rigor, and moth
ing but their persistent nationality aud
healthy vagrant habits could have saved
them from determination London Staa-
dlrd.