The Osceola times., 1886-11-20
A SHY RACE.
Tho Effective Way in Which Gyp-
sizes Hide Themselves.
History ofthe Ancient Rnce--About Three
Quarter. of u Million Gypsie, in the
United stutes--"Dickcrers
aud Dukkerers."

TNo first gypsics that clme to Ameii-
ca were, like Bamfylde Moore Carcw,
sold here as slaves. They either cs-
capped and returned TO England or
Scotland. and in time returned here
with their families. or escaped from
savery and remained here, sending for
their Kin rs soon az they could
earn the money TO do so, as hundreds
Of thousands of other foreigners have
donr. Bad as were the old blue laws,
and illbcral as were many OF our early
provincial statutes. there has never
been persecution by law OF cypsies in
America. 4 larger number than has
been supposed originally came here
that way. have been frequently told
by gypsics of to-day that their fore
fathers had in this country as early as
1850 a Zincali society Of males NUMBER
ing over two thousand souls, and that
larger portion Of these were banished
here or sold into slavery here from
some part of Great Britain. Dur
ing the revolution fully as many
more came here as impressed
sailors or scamen; and, something rs a
goodly portion of the Pennsylvania
Dutch are supposed 10 owe their origin
to the lIcssan troops surrendered and
remaining in this country, 50 also our
gypsy population came to be largely
increased. From about 1900 Their I'M
migrat on was constant Their habit
OF secrecy always prevented their actual
race being known: and have no doubt,
from what | have learned from their
own lips, that. previous 10 the o'tab-
lishment OF the rural police IN Great
Britain toward the middle OF the pres
rnt century. there were already com
fortably living in America ,2Oo,VJl gyp-
sizes Within ten years from the latter
event England, Scotland and Ireland
were pract cllly deserted by them.
There life was intoierable. Here were
every privilege and opportunity. ANA
il would be a safe assertion that 10
the present time every cmigrant
ship sailing to America from
any foreign port has brought an
important number OF this ancient race
who have, in the hurry-skurry OF our
va immigration, been simply counted
rs foreigners and almost wholly over
looked as gypsics. What has been true
Of Great Britain has been true OF every
other foreign country. for the taWny,
skulking people believe all the Old
bloody statutes are in full force aga!ii'-
t1em TO the present day: and IN proper
ton to the number ofsgypses t. native
population in all European c untrieS,
gr> alter number of The former than me
latter have reached our shores. No
census of the gypsics in America Is posi-
bly, sccurable. Unless You 'orner Il
gypsy squarely and make him know you
know he is a Rommany, be WI he to
You with splendid face. He will tell you
he is an Englishman, a Scotchman' a
Spanard, or Hungarian. lie VIII
no! tell you he is,a gypsy; but rom
many years close study OF the race
and the best estimate that can pe
made. based upon much exact lniorma-
ton and careful obserN alton, | believe
that to-day the United states alone con-
tainS from three-quartcrs OF million 10
million souls Of this ancient race
Among those know personally can
any day make st of several hundfeu'
heads OF families and tribes. who WIN
their own families number several thou
sands of souls, and who, in material pos
sessions, know to be worth from 81
100000 to -, 900, 900. | know that th's
sounds strangely, but that is only re-
cause such facts have not previously
been publicly stated in this country.
The chief reasons why thew have no,
been more generally taken into accC UNI
are: Their nover-ending hiding OF lhelr
real origin; their slynesS and secrecy
IN movements; their silence and tlmi"lt.
as people when in the presence o'
ether people, and because. as l ions
ago discovered, two great natural d.
visions exist among them.