The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-04-12

The Baltimore Sun, in recent issue,
says: A gypsy woman was arrested in the
southern district on Saturday for going
about iortune-teling. She gave her name
as Leyina Small, and said She belonged to a
baud which had encamped on the Wash.
ington road. Justice Talbot imposed a
fine Of IS. the smallest penalty of the law,
which was promptly paid.
Yesterday a Sun reporter visited the
camp. Ii is In woods on the Washington
road, near Mslden Choice lane. about two
miles from the city. There are twenty
wagons, arranged In semtcirole, all fac
ing the same way. These are virtually the
dwellings, of the gypsies, though they do
not occupy them NJ all during the day, but
spend their time in tents. The wagons are
OF tine workmanship, painted In iiaring
co.0rs and upholstered in costly
manner. There are, AS rule, the length
OF common express wagon, but are SO
constructed with bulge ut the sides that
al ordinary sized man can lie across the
floor with ease. The end and sides are pan
eled with little stalned-glass windows. The
wagons are padded on the inside with cot
ton, covered with silk of unique design.
hNsOoo WV NlhtiA VI u NhkuIi 10 u Dtu-
stead, which fits so tightly in its place that
no rocking or jolting can oycrturn it. The
bed 10 as soft as down, the sheets white as
snow aud in marked contrast to the cloth
ing OF the gypsies. The quilts are splendid
specimens OF crochet work. Alongside the
bed, on each end, between ii and the front
OF the wagon, are Two stands which serve as
wa drobes. When travelling, the family
remain in this little bedroom
during the entire journey, excepting
when they alight to kindle fire and
take their meals by the road. When ia
camp however, some of the children pre-.
Ter sleeping beneath the wagon. 70 graf
ity them the father takes q large blanket,
fastens the four corners with ropes, which
he ties to the aales thus forming ham
mock. Into this two or three little fellows
are thrown and couple Of blankets placed
over them, They fall asleep in few min
utes, and rest as contentcdiy as il on bed
OIL roses. There is no fear of any intruder
harming them, as every wagon has two, if
not more, large, feroolous,looking dogs,
which crouch near the wheels oithe wagon,
and at the least sound Of unusual noise,
commence barking furiously. The father
is very easily aroused. II Is seldom he takes
oil all his clothing, He quickly seizes II
loaded gun standing beside his bed, and be-
the night air he is DOWN at the hammock on
the lookout. In the center of the camp,
between the wagons, is queer looking ar
rangemsnt where all the cooking and loaf
ing OF the tribe is done. The cOmponents
OF the structure are young saplings from
six to ten feet long and old tune army
blankets. The poles are bent and the ends
driven into the ground. They ARE then
covered with the blankets, which are held
together by skewers. This gives the tent a
rounded appearance. The top is covered,
with the exception OF space three feet
wide n the center, which Is left open to
allow tn. smoke to escape. In the center
burned a brushwood fire. Suspended
above 1t on spit was large
tea'keitle. Yesterday the women of
the tribe were sitting cross-legged
around the fire, smoking their
pipes and talking chcerily to each other.
The group was remarkable one in looks.
Bent almost double, with her hands on her
knees and her face in the circling wreath
of binding smoke, was an old woman, who
looked like veritable witch. Her dress
was queer mixture OF gaudy calico and
common silk handkcrchieis, and she wore
Immense finger and earrings. Her dark
tresses were streak ID with gray, her face
was deeply marked with wrinkles, but her
glance was keen and inquisitive. When a
stranger approached she would quickly
change her position to more erect one,
and with her cold piercing gaze bent on
him, inquire, in grating voice "D'ye
want yer iertin toleP" Sitting opposite her,
in bold contrast, was 1.-the and beautiful
creature Is years Old, the daughter of one
of the tribe-eyes black us sioes, a com
plexion like walnut.stain, hair black as "a
crow, and features and form u model
of symmetry. All of the women
and their children as well, were plump and
healthy-looking. Their dresses were not
mike that Of the old woman. Red and
bine seemed TO be the iavorite colors. They
wore no headgear whatever, nor had they
any wrapplngs around them, though the
ar was sharp. Some Of them had their
fingers literally covered with rings varying
from narrow bands to one an inch wide.
Each had pipe in her mouth. The facility
with which IT was loaded end smoked
seened surprising. They as well as the
men spoke with strong English accent.
Some OF the children were neatly dressed,
but wore no caps. Some were baretooted,
but did not seem to mind IL in the leest,
They scampered around the camp, over
broken sticks and between the legs of the
horses. One queer little chap, years old.
was miniature Falstaif in build.
The mothers devote the greater portion
OF their time TO fortune telling and the
fathers TO trading horses. Just outside the
camp were corraled twenty draft horses, the
property of the tribe, which they sell or ex-
change, as the case may be. Sunday seems
TO be their best day for work. There was
great animation and hustle in the camp
yesterday afternoon. The men were stand.
Ing in knots around the horses, explaining
the qualities OF the animals to purchasers
(Vnt thu gitu aud 10, -.
Others were swapping horses, while few of
the younger ones mixed in with the crowd
OF visitors and offered TO dance liz If re.
warded with cigars or tobacco, The
women were busy soliciting patrons
OF their magic art. There were
number OF ladies among the many per-
sons having driven to the camp in car.
rages. The queen of the tribe is looked
upon as the wise woman Of the tribe, and
the ono most enlightened in the secrets of
the craft. She proiessed TO tell the past,
present and the future without any mis-.
take. she Is tolerably good.looking
woman WIN captivating smile and teeth
that shone like pearl, Her seductive tones
induced number of girls Yesterday to in
vest fifty cents and have their future des-
tiny made known. AS soon as the queen
pocketed the money, she took the inquirer
luto her tent, anu, examining the lines of
the hand, battered out q vague, incoherent
yarn about what had been and would be.
IL was quite noticeable that the person who
paid TO have fortune told always came
out Of the tent looking rather sheepish.
With tins band OF gypsies are two colored
men who act as grooms The men gypsies,
with tho exception of the chief, arc short
snd Stout IN STATURE, swarthy complexion,
largo black eyes. They dress comfortably. |
and SQpm In havp nnnatiaro bln