The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-29

The only living American who has
any intimate knowledge of the language,
history and customs of the mysterious
gypsy is Charles Godfrey Leland, the
distinguished author, of this city.
Although Hans Breitm2nn'' has spent
many years of his life in Philadelphia,
his personal appearance is not generally
known. Apparently, he is about fifty
years of age. He wears q full, long,
flowing iron-grav beard. His gray
hair is closely cut. The forehead is
broad and full. His dark, restless, and
sharp eyes glisten from under high
arched eyebrows. Mr.. Lelards manner
is free and kind. tie is nervous and
his hands are forever in motion.
80 yes do know considerable about
the gvpsies, - he said in the course of
conversation. i was with them con-
stantly for several years in England, and
even now, in America, see some of
that queer folk nearly every week.
The way | came to know them was
through my studying philology. For
months l spent entire days in their tents,
using only the Romany language. BY
the by. their language is the best
index of their origin. The gypsy is
unquestionably Hindoo. The Euro
pean gypsies of to-day have retained
much of their race characteristics. But
they are matchmaking more or less
with other races. They thrive better
in America than elsewhere. In
England the passage Of the Enclosure
act virtually abolished all commons,
apd so the gypsy has now no place to
pitch his tent unless he becomes tres
passer. The fact is that the great
increase of population there Of 26,OO0,-
600 OF people in that small country nee
essarily put stop to gypsy encamp-
ments. Now very many live i'll cities
during winter season. In summer they
resume their nOmadic career.
Their avocation for the most part is
horse-trading and fortune-telling. They
have the reputation of stealing horses.
They don't deserve it. | regard the
gypsy as very much more honest char
acter than many Christian folks of 4
superior standing and higher culture.
| Many people think they steal household
articles. am sure they don't. Why,
if an article is missed within five miles
of gypsy tent, the entire neighborhood
| for miles around makes raid on the
| tent. If they ever did steal this would
prevent it. Besides, there is no need.
| All gypsies are rich. The men are very
shrewd horse-traders, and they earn
considerable money at the business.
| The women always find superstitious
| people from whom to extract money fol
| telling their fortunes. Their habits are
economical, and their mode of life very
inexpensive. The gypsy never cares
| about personal surroundings. Ever
the old taste for fancy costumes il
disappearing, if it has mot entirely dis
| appeared.
Chow many gypsies there are Cal
not say. l was only able to trace abou
one hundred family names in England
Most of those have representatives il
| America There are a few Spanist
| ggpsies here also, but the great bulk arr
| OF English stock. Most of the Older
folks in America now were born il
England. Only theyounger generation
are natives. The Scotch gypsies are o
higher class; but they are not numeT
Gus now. Irish gypsies? Yes, ther'
are some few.
They are for the most part tinker
or thinkers. They have dialect of thei
own, which | am the first physiological
iiscoverer of. The only mention Of
It in literature is by Shakespeare. who
makes King Hal say: j can talk will
the tinker in his own dialect TIL,
dialect is called the Shelta. Some tim,
ago /. saw an Irishman tink
ering in the back yard of my house
| / went up and addressed him il
Romanv. He replied in that tongu
without showing the least surprise
then addressed him in the Shelta. IL
at once exhibited unfeigned surprise
The fellow told me he knew very fey
who spoke the dialect, and that he wa
surprised to find me use it. From hin
learned much more of the dialect tina
had known. | made his instruction
to me the basis of a chapter in wor
on the gypsies. A London journals
said that the Irishman had poked off q
ancient Irish dialect on me. lokngl
reproved my instructor in the Sheita
BE dad, said he with q strong Irish &C
cent, If there was but one language
as you think, would | have been afte
4 learning two?' The Irish gypsy is
half-breed. They are all tinkers.
y H'Ihe religion of the gypsy was pur
atheism Thev ore the only ahsOlut