Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-05-30
QUEEN MARY.
THE FEMALE zInaARI RULER.

A Oueon OF tho 6ypsIes Encsmped With .
Trioe of ber People-Picturesque
Sketch of Notable Character.
A tribe of gypsies is at present encamp.
ed on the grounds of an old race course on
the Lamb tavern road, near its intersec-
tion with Glenwood avenue, at Eighteenth
and Cumberland streets, Philadelphia,
among whom is an aged woman who
claims to be tho recognized queen of tho
gypsies.
On Monday night the queen, whose
name is Mrs. Mary Lowell, and who is the
mother of the chief of the band. arrived at
the camp and was duly installed as a
permanent resident. "Queen Mary" it
is stated, had only arrived from Europe
last week, her visit to America being for
the purpose of looking after the welfare
of her subjects in the new world.
A representative of the Public Ledger
visited the camp yesterday afternoon, and
was courteously received by William
Lowell, the chief, and shown about the
place. From the Lamb tavern road not a
sign of the campis visib,s, the entrance
to the race course being through the car
riage yard of the old Lamb Tavern I"
| itself. Once inside the entrance tho
newspaper man found himself in the
presence of group of men, clad in plain
garb, who were gathered around the re-
| mains of what was once a jud res stand,
and conversing lazily. Far off to the right
| a number Of tents and wagons were visi-
| able, in front of which several camp fires
could be seen. Inside the railing which
had once marked the track we're two or
| three horses grazing, and many times
as many moro dogs of various breeds
frolicked in the grass. The feat
ures of the chief were tanned by
long exposure to the sun, but beamed
with good nature. He readily consented
to tell about his people, their Queen, his
mother, and about their plans for the
future. His band. he said, consisted of
eight families-about 60 persons, who
travel in fourteen wagons, and who possess
about 30 horses. The principal business
Of the men, ne said, Was horse trading,
and that of the women, of course, was that
| of foretelling the future. The band, Lowell
said, has come from Pittsburgh, although
two of the families, who had become sepa-
rated last winter and had been in tine
South since then, rejoined their fellows
now in Philadelphia. An additional tri be
or band, Lowell said, consisting of about
SO people, having % wagons. are expected
to arrive here soon from Dayton, Ohio,
which will increase the encampment.
Referring to Queen Mary, the Gypsy
chief declared that she was now 7G years
old and had succeeded to the rule of the
gypsies on the death of her mother, whose
name was Anne, and whose homo, like
that of the present sovereign, was in Rou-
mania. Lowell was very sure that his
mother was recognized by all the wander,
ing tribes of his race as their queen, al.
though there were queens Of lower sta.
tion. He asserted, also, that with bis
mother the band proposed to journey to
Utica, New York, where there is to be, in
July next, a gathering of all the ROuma-
nian gypsies in this country to do honor to
her majesty. In September. he said, the
queen expects to return to Europe.
Ample opportunity was afforded to
watch the gypsies, as nearly all of them
were either engaged at some work or sit
ting about at tho doors of the tents. A
number of vigorous children scampered
about over the grass, playing with each
other or with their canine companions.
The women were clad in calico dresses,
| with shawls and head dresses of bri2ht
colored material. All wero dark theil
black hair hanging over their shoulders.
In one of the tents were seated several
women, one of whom was said to be the
queen of all the gypsies. There was
nothing about her attire outward appear
ance which would indicate her claim to
the position. She, like others of her sex
in the tribe, is an inveterate smoker. The
queen speaks English fairly, as do all the
tribe.