The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-08-05
Welded A GYPSY BELLE.
Romantic Bridal in q PICTURESQUE Jersey
Forest.

NEWARK. n. j., August 1.-Just as the
sun began to shoot spears of silver and
crimson light above the Staten Island hills
this morning a gypsy wedding was cele-
brated in a little grove in East Orange
Township. A tribe of gypsies own house
and several acres of land near Emwood,
and they also have a burial plot in Rose
dale cemetery, at Orange.
Forty years ago the king of the tribe,
whose name was Lee, came here after Sc
cretly marrying Nina Boswellin Shropshire,
England. He purchased the house and farm
at Elmwood and the burial plot in Rose
dale cemetery. He pretended to be a true
gypsy. But when he lay dying in a cara
vansary. or house wagon. at ElmwOod, he
expressed desire to die in the faith of his
!. childhood, and he sent for the Rev. DR..
Bishop, rector Of the Episcopal Church in
East Orange.
One evening, year after the old Kings
death, his nephew and a young woman OF
his tribe called at the Rev. D. Bishops res
idence to be married. They were accom-
panied by the mother of the girl and q score
OF gypsies in gay attire. Much amusement
was occasioned by the groom's awkward
attempts to put the ring On the brides
finger, and Mr.. Bishop had to show him
the right finger. Hesaid his uncle made him
promise to be married by minister The
old man also willed that his grandchildren
should be married in the same way, but the
granddaughter, who became a wife this
morning. disregarded his Injunction.
Ellen Oldfeld, grand-aunt OF the bride,
and the head OF the remnant OF the tribe,
led the procession to the grove this morn
ing. She was followed by William Heath,
who is IL ''house-liver" in Philadelphia
where the gypsy's have a home for their
old people. He is S4 years old. Four
young people preceded the bride and groom,
who were followed by thirteen men, women
and children. Everybody in the party
carried tiny branches OF an old elm, and
the brides head was crowned with a wreath
of elm leaves. She had II bouquet of
daisies.
Under an elm tree Ellen Oldknow.
withered old woman, solemnly placed the
right hand of the bride on the right handy
OF Robert Maynes Boswell, the groom,
sturdy young fellow with black eyes and
hair and a swarthy lace. He is % years
old and the bride 10. She wore brown
dress and had crimson handkerchief about
her neck and pinned low on her bosom.
William Heath asked a number OF ques-
tions in strange language, and the young
couple answered afirmativcly to all except
the promise not to become 'house-iivers,"
" HACu CAttU
of the woods. There was some
scowling over this by the old gypsies, but
the ceremony was finished without dis
turbance. All the old people then kissed
the bride and the young people followed
suit afterwards. A breakfast was then
served.
Boswell said that he was going to Phila-
delphia in the afternoon and a magistrate
would perform civil marriage there, as he
(BoswelD has home in that city. After
wards there would be a marriage by cler-
lyman, for he and his wife intended to for
sake gypsy life. Mrs. Boswell said she did
not recognize the ceremony just performed
as legal, and she would not consider herself
! wife until minister had read the proper |
service.
After enjoying good dinner the bridal !
couple and all but four of the tribe left the |
amp. Some went to Philadelphia, Others
20 East New ark and the remainder started |
or Adrian, Michigan, their summer head
quarters.