The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-11-04
a Gypsy WEDDING.
The Part Which the Broom-Stick PIA.e
I'm the Ceremonies,

The Part which the BroOm-StIck Played
I'm the Ceremonies
Few things are more simple than ?
marriage ceremony among the Gypsies,
and description of a wedding as re
Gently witnessed blythe writer, viii not.
we believe, prove uninteresting. There
were more than a score of tents at the
encampment, where we were tempOr-
ary guests, and at the opening Of each
a fire was burning. cracking and blaz-
ing away as early as six O'Clock IN the
morning of the day which was to wit
ness the marriage of one of the fayorite
young girls of the camp. In hour
afterward, and an old Gypsy man with
silvery hair and bronzed. wrinkled face.
with but one eye, stepped on a little
mound and began playing the violin,
which has but two strings on it. Ihe
players opening piece was the well
known tune, '.IIaste to the Wedding,
to which the younger gyps ies were soon
dancing with great hilarity. While
some of the older women were watcG
ing the dancers, others. were engaged
in culinary preparations. At the
opening of one of the tents stood the
swarthy-looking masculine Gypsy
chief, with mis- hands in ms pockets,
steadfastly gazing upon the dancers.
At a given signal from the chef, the
music and dancing ceased. Two rows
of Gypsies, with about. twelve or
fifteen in each row., were formed.
standing face 20 face, being between
four and six feet apart. HALFWAY
down between these rows two Gypsic:
held up a broOmstick about eighteen
inches above the ground. All being
thus far in readiness. the chief called
out the name OF the bridegroom, who
was very handsome Gypsy man abOuy
twenty-five years Of age. His hair and
eyes were very dark, and the conforma-
ton OF his face strongly Indicated the
race to which he Belonged He wore
an olive-colored velveteen coat. red
waistcoat, and a glaring-cOlored hand
kerchief round his neck. In person
he was tall, muscular and well made:
In obedience 10 the chiefs command
he came from a tent at one side OF the
cncampment. walked between the rows
of Gypsies, stepped over the broom
stick, turned round, and then stood
with his arms akimbO waiting the
arrival Of his intended wife.
The chief then called out the
name of the bride, who came from
tent at the opposite side of the
wears of are, rather short of stature,
apparently of = healthy and hardy con-
stitution, while the pearlY luster Of her
eyes and long. dark, glossy hair seemed
t. identify her with the pureSt remnant
OF the Gypsy race. She also walked
between the two rows of Gypsies,
tripped very lightly over the broom
stick, which she had no sooner done
than the young Gypsym man, in the most
gentle and gallant manner imaginable.
took her in his arms and completed the
ceremony by giving his new-made wife
some of the loadcst kisses we ever
heard in our life. Then the music and !
dancing were resumed; the whole of
the members of the encampment had
suspended business: preparations for a
good feast were going on; every face
looked bright and every heart seemed
Joyous. The men smoked. the women
talked volumes, the children shouted |
and frolicked; the old horses grazed
by the sides Of the banks, the donkeys |
nibbled their coarse food with self
satisfied air, and looked As if conscious
that they were TO havethat day 5 respite
from their weary tolls; even the two
or three dogs that were there wagged
their tails as if in anticipation of an
extra feed or of better and a larger
quantity of rations than usual, even
without the trouble of having to hunt
before any dinner could be allowed
them. -BrOOkLun MaqGzine.