The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-10-16
AN ANCIENT RACE.


How tho G,p.y I'm Times Past Has
Raised Himself Above tho ynGab0n,i
Standard.
But the Gipsy became tinker for all
time, not only from the very force of
circumstances, but also from choice, rs
it was the only vocation. save horse
jockeying, suited to his shlftless habits,
and certainly the only one through
which he could secure an honest liveli-
hood when unfavorable regulations
forced him from the tent and bright
fields to the alleys and attics of the
town. There, as the tinker, the grinder
or the brazier. he defied adversely until
tho storm of persecution had passed
But outside of mere tinkering the Gipsy
seems to have put his knowledge of
iron-working conspicuously to good ac-
count. In 1896 the King of Hungary
issued an order to the effect THAT every
officer and subject of whatever rank or
condition do allow Thomas Polger.
leader of twenty-five tents of wandering
Gipsies, full residence everywhere, and
i, on no account to molest either him or
his people" because they prepared
musket-balls and ether military stores
for the Bishop Sigismund, at Funfkirch-
en-; while in 1865. when the Turk
lsh regent of Bosnia besered Crupa,
the Turks having expended their cam
non-balls, the Gipsies came to the res
cue and made the latter out of stone,
cased with, iron, and tho whole shcathed
with lead. Simson, who cites many in
stances of their manufacture of, and
work ngin iron, gives tho following us
their method of smelling: Tie tribe
erect on the open field small circle
built OF stone, turf and clay. for fur
mace. of about three feet in height and
eighteen inches in diameter. plastcred
closely around on the outside, up to the
top, with mortar made of clay. The
materials in the furnace are powerfully
heated by the blasts of large hand
bellows (generally wrought by women).
admitted at q small hole near the ground.
When the metal comes to state of
fusion il finds it way down to the
cinders and is poured into the different
sandmolds ready to receive it" so that
it is evident they were not only efficient
iron-workers. but were able, in rude
way, to manufacture the metal.
Nor is this the only manner in which
the Gypsy in times past has raised him
self above the vagabond standard.
They served the Turks against the Rus
slams on many occasions, both as SOL
diers and spies, proving themselves
possessed of u fair share of bravery and
q wonderful amount of shrewdness and
cunning. They were formerly exclu-
sivcly employed in the capacity of hang
mon in Hungary and Pennsylvania, and
history accredits them with having
possessed considerable talent in this
direction. In Spain many Gips.es at
tanned respect and notoriety from their
wealth and business standing. Borrow
tells of one he met Mt q Spanish fair who
had upward of $20,0 900 credit ut an cs-
tablishment where he had some deal
ings. Nor Is this an isolated case.
There have been instances in other parts
of Europe where Gipsies, forsaking
their vagabond ways. though never re-
nounclng their blood and lineage, have
devoted themselves to business pursuits
with very grent success. This was par
ticularly true in England and Scotland
at later day, whore many Gypsies be-
came wealthy, and in some instances are
known to have gained political iniln-
ence resulting in their securing certain
OF the less important political positions.