The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-18
A GYPSY PARTY.
Life Among n Mysterious People Who En-
joy "A Perfect Government.


The makeup of the usual party of
Gypsies for the road is the same wher-
ever you come upon any considerable
number. There will always be found
the sedate and quiet Gypsy of past the
middle age, with wife who is far more
active and assertive than himself.
They are usually reserved and quiet,
and eat, drink and live their quiet, con
tented lives apparently little apart
from the hey-dey of the boisterous life
of the band. You will find three or
four or more families that know these
two for the parent stock, and the elder
ly man and wife possess that air of
contentment and repose which come
from unquestioned station worthily
won. They will travel in fine car
riage in easy comfort, may be, and
such are oftentimes discovered to be
the king and queen" of this partic-
ular band, though you would never
know it from any airs of authority or
manner of dress. Yet their decisions
the man S upon the affairs of the men, the
woman's upon the affairs of the women
are absolute. A Gypsy would as soon
think of becoming Gorgio outright as
to have even an impulse to question
them. Indeed it is worthy of remark
here that Gypsy civil government, if it
may be given so dignied term, would
seem to have always and almost uncon-
-sciously been the very ideal of ade-
quateness, perfection and simplicity.
Here. as nowhere else on earth, law is
the perfect will of q people expressed
through designated authority. This
people by direct vote elect their rulers
Authority no more dare an abuse of
power than dare the most insignificant
integral of the concrete power-creating
source question that power. So that
here, with what your political and social
philosophers would be pleased to call a
semi-civilized people. is found govern
ment of people by people for people,
infinitely more perfect in theory, and
exact and true to theory in permanent
practice, than was ever even formulated
by sunniest dreamer in all repablcs of
benelicent oratoric symmetry rather
than actual liberty and equality under
hard tests of friction and use There
are also found dozen other families,
may be. Of these one or two may
travel in wagons which alone have cost
small fortunes. But in the daily lives
and manner of their owners there can
never be found vanity and caste because
of superior possession, nor envy among
less fortunate Romany. who seem proud
rather than chagrined that their fellows
can show the gentjles such respectable
belongings. Of these dozen or more
families every man and every woman
Is a master of horse lore, horse care and
of hOrs amanship. A lad of twelve or a
lass of fifteen is a trader, Jockey and
veterinarian. A number of animals
besides those in actual use always &C
company the band. These are traded,
sold or added to at moments notice.
This summer, in Connecticut, young
Gypsy with whom l was pilgrim
ing on being bantered to sell
the one nag which drew our little
democrat wagon, sold him on the spot
to some overwise farmers coming
from the town hilarious with drink, and
cody invited me to assist in dragging
the vehicle into camp, some four miles
greeted with cheers; but | half suspect
it was not so much from the camps
ecognGion of my Gypsy companions
thrift as it was from the entire bands
enjoyment in seeing the ''Gorgio chal,"
as they call me, transformed into a
nimble and tractable grye (horse).
The band always has three or four old
spae-wives--old old WON N that remind
one of the grewsome Norma of SCOTS
creation. Heaven only knows how
old these venerable and lively relies
are. But their virlity, activity and
wisdom are marvellous, To penetrate
the caution, deceit, canniness and dab
lerie of these blessed witches is match
less work. For months | have
exercised my widest arts upon some of
them, and am just able to discover they
are part human. / am allowed by one
to occasionally come of an evening to
her tent and tell her of some of the
pleasant things of Gorgio life; and I'M
der frequent severe protest, to calmly
urge that all mankind are one. To
another, born before the century, |
have made Il poem, and am not blight
ed, so that | feel progress is making.
The camp smile on me, though, and
shake their heads betimes. If there be
aught in Gvpsyism allied to the ancient
being (deviD himself. these auld raun-
les possess it all and communicate it in
their presence and influence. But that
sort of witcherv is fading slowly out of
the Gypsy people. Litt, by little the
younger blood, tenderly enough, but
surely and stubbornly, refuses its mys-
ticism, dreaI and fetch glamour. -