The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-26
ABOUT GYPSIES.
A Word in Their Favor by a Student of the
Race.


Charles G. Leland, in Philadelphia Press.
'"Their avocation, for the most part, is horse
dealing and fortune telling They have the rep
utation of stealing horses They don't deserve
it. regard the gypsy as very much more hon
est character than many Christian folks of a SUI
perior standing and higher culture. Many peo-
pie think they steal household articles. 1 am
sure they don't. Why, if article is missed
within five miles of a gypsy tent, the entire
neighborhood for miles around makes raid on
the tent. If they ever did steal, this would pre-
vent it, Besides, there is no need. All gypsies
are rich. The men are very shrewd horse trad
ers, and they earn considerable money at the
business The women always find superstitious
people from whom to extract money for telling
their fortunes. Their habits are economical and
their mode of life very inexpensive The gypsy
never cares about personal surroundings. Even
the old taste for fancy costumes is disappearing,
if it has not entirely disappeared.
How many gypses there are | cannot say.
was only able to trace about 100 family names in
England Most of those have representatives in
America There are a few Spanish gypsies here
also, but the great bulk are of English stock.
Most of the older folks in America now were
born in England. Only theyounger generations
are natives The Scotch gypsies are of higher
class but they are not numerous now. Irish
gypsiesl Yes, there are some few.
They are for the most part thinkers or thinkers.
They have dialect of their own. which / am
the first pathological discoverer of. The only
mention of it in literature is by Shakespeare,
who makes Prince Hal say 4 can talk with the
tinker in his own dialect The dialect is called
the Shelta. Some time ago l saw an Irshman
tinkering in the back yard of my
house. I went up and addressed him
in Romany. He replied in that tongue without
showing the least surprise l then addressed
him in the Shelta He at once exhibited
feigned surprise. The fellow told me he knew
very few who spoke the dialect and that he was
surprised to find me use it. From him learned
much more of the dialect than | had known.
l made his instructions to me the basis of
journalist said that the Irishman had poked off
an ancient Irish dialect on me. l jokingly
proved my instructor i'll the Shelta BE dad,
said he, with strong Irish accent, If there
was but one language, as you think, would be
after learning two The Irish Gypsy is half
breed They are all thinkers.
"The religion of tho gypsy was pure atheism.
They are the only absolute atheists | ever met.
But now, however, in England, they are be
ginning to practice formal religion, Some
of them have the babies baptized,
and others affect legal marriage With
this change, may come a love of civilized and
cultured pursuits. AS far as l can trace, no
gypsy has risen in literature, art, or science.
However, if he should, it would be difficult to
prove for pride would hide the origin. 1t is said
that Daniel Webster and Hannibal Hamlin were
of gypsy descent. do not believe the assertion
had good foundation President Lincoln GER
tainly did look like a gypsy, and yet | know no
reason to assert that he sprang from those
strange people. With these amalgamations
with gentiles comes along a desire to settle
down. There are the Coopers in Boston and
Harrsons in Washington; they are rich and, as
far us [ know, they never 90 on the road. |
tent life, and who now permanently reside in
houses"