Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-08-02
gtlistellaueons &eadimg,
GYPSIES.

European land, over the greater part OF Asia,
in Northern Africa, and later, to much
more limited extent, in North and South
America, while Australia and New Zealand
have recently been visited by them. lsh-
maelites since the first misty notice of them
in a few obscure chronicles Of the Middle
Ages, their hand has been against every
man and every mans hand against them.
Their first appearance in European history
is supposed by some to have dated back to
the year 81, when strange band of INA
gicians, soothsayers, and serpent charmers''
appeared about Constantinople. A few OBJ
scure pages in the writings of various chron-
iclers between that time and early in the tif-
teenth century, are supposed, with more or
less reason, to refer to this strange race, but
it was not till 1920 that they became at all
noteworthy. Then several bands, or sever
al divisions of the same band, appeared in
different parts ofE2rope, some protesting
to be prosecuted eXiles from Egypt; others
declaring they were wanderers from India,
Persia or other remote lands, while some
that visited France said they had lately
come from Bohemia, and hence the race is
still known by the name of Bohemians in
France; by that of Gypsies among English
speaking people, and by a large number of
other names in other countries. Whatever
the name by (which thepeoplemay be known,
however, all belong to one distinct race,
whose ori gin is very doubtful, though it is
probable that Northeastern India was its
original home. 1t is difficult to form any
thing like correct estimate of the total
number of Gypsies. The number in Eu-
rope is variously estimated at 100000 to Il
100000, of whom about 900 are in Tur-
KEY, 100000 in Roumania, 100000 in Hun
gary, 10000 in Spain, $4,000 in Russia and
smaller numbers in other countries. In 1878
the number in England had dWindled down
to less than 10000, the falling off being at
tributed to emigration to this country. Be
sides those from the United Kingdom, the
United States have also received some Gyp-
sizes from several Continental countries,
while considerable number from Spain
and Italy have made their way to Mexico
and South America.
The language of Gypsies, though every
where preserving enough uniformity show
that all use the self-same speech, differs
greatly in the various countries in which it
is spoken. The Gypsies generally call them
selves Rom and their language Romani,
and in Europe alone there are thirteen diff
ferent dialects. In all ages, and in all cOun-
tries, the Gypsies have been a vagabond
race. Although in Eastern Europe a con-
siderable number of them have become
house-dwellers, within the last century, the
vast bulk of them are tent-dWellers, seldom
staying any considerable length of time IN
one place. Everywhere they ply an endless
variety of trades, but among the men there
are three chief callings-Workers in metal,
horse-dealers and musicians The Gypsy's
favorite instrument is the violin, but few
are the instruments he has not successfully
handled.
AS race, the Gypsies are of middle stat
ure and well proportioned, with taWny com
cheek bones, and fine white teeth, which,
with their light and agile figures, cause
some Of the young women to be considered
as beauties. They have no distinctive dress,
but readily adopt that of the vagabond class
of the country in which they may be sOjourn-
ing. ,
The Gypsy character is strange medley
of evil and good, blackhnd hateful, to the
"Gentile" world, but fair and lOvable to the
Romani race. At war with the rest of man.
kind for centuries, the Gypsy thinks he is
justified in plundering and beguiling his OPP
posers, so long as he is not caught. Faithful
and affectionate toward each other, to all
others the gypsies are treacherOuS, coward
ly, revengeful and cruel. They have no re-
ligious belief and no word in their language
to signify God, the soul of immortality.
Marriage is only a temporary form, and III
it the limits of consanguinity are not re-
spected. On the whole, they are lazy, i'm
moral, thievish race, whose presence in any
country is not desirable.
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE RAILROAD
AND TELEGRAPII.-In the summer of 1881,
the great railway system of America was
inaugurated by the completion and opening
of two or three short rOads-Charleston,
New Orleans and Albany-each claiming to
have been first in the field. The point of
precedence, however, has been settled IN
favor of Albany, a portion of whose road
was then opened, and the first steam car
placed upon the "MOhawk and Hudson'
track, being propelled by a locomotive from
the summit of the hill at Albany TO tne
summit of the hill which descends into
Schenectady. At either end of the route
was a stationary engine, by means of which
cars were drawn up and down the inclined
plane. But even with these drawbacks,
which show how much has been done since
to perfect the system, an hour was gained
upon the time required by stages between
the two cities. The cars were extemporiZed
by placing the body of the stage-cOach then
in use on simple four-wheeled platform
car.
1t was my fortune, therefore, to witness
the advent Of the two great material forces
which have contributed so largely to the de-
veopment and civilization of this continent.
| witnessed, in 1907, from an island in the
Hudson river, as has been heretofore stated,
the passage of the first vessel ever propelled
by steam and was a passenger, in 1881, IN
the first car propelled by steam in the state
of New York.
l was witness also, at a later period, of
Professor Morse's first demonstration before
Congress of the working Of his telegraphic
invention.
A communication was made Tor the wires
through the wall which divided two COM
mittee rooms, in each of which members OF
Congress and invited guests were gathered.
Professor Morse was himself the operator,
with an assistant in the opposite room to re-
ceive the message. Members of Congress
were requested to communicate with each
other, thus preventing the possibility OF col
lusion. The experiment was complete
success, Occasioning equal astonlshment ana
qualification and from that beginning the
whole civilized world has been spanned
with wires, through which Egypt, India,
China and Japan are in daily and hourly
From the "AMobiOWdphy Of 1h'uFo" Ieed."
AWAY TO CURE SLEEpLEsSNEs Ess.-There
is a form of wakefulness which is a some
what frequent experience with persons en-
gagged in active work, especially OF the
brain. A man who has been busily engaged
during the day in his usual avocation re-
tires, let US say at about ten or eleven
O'Clock, feeling quite sleepy. After peri
cd of slumber perhaps two or three hours,
he finds himself wide awake at about two
o'clock in the morning. There is nothing
particularly burdensome on his NINA no