Wichita eagle., 1888-01-08
THE TENT AND KETTLE STICK.
The Gypsy's Race Feeling of Attach
ment to His Tented Home

The Gypsy's Race Feeling OF Attacn- ]
ment to His Tented Home
But around the tent and the kettle stick
cluster by far the most that is priced in
gypsy lore, sentiment and superstition.
The tent is the yypsy's home, as lsluchEas
your own habitationis yours, The race
feeling OF attachment to it's wonderful TO
US who see in it only a ragged temporary
covering. But it has ever been his home
from an earlier time than you have RECORD
of your own progenitors' habitauons. IL
is unGiscoverable why it is SO, but these
tents here in this lovely camp on the Pre-
sulnpscot nearly all face.south. You VIII
find thnt true OF any gypsy camp in any
part Of the world. Possibly there is trace
able in it an unconscious relic of ancient
sun worshiping. Possibly your reason
that It's lazy occupants love the sun IKE
any other animals would held good
''Firrn as a rounded hill are the tents Of
my people, breathed Some gypsy poet "a
thousand wears ago, and the roadside wan
derer OF todsy will pFidefully give you the
same sentence in Romany. Ny loves
breasts are as .hilIocks of amber, or as
bright tents FURNISHED by the sun, I"
sang some Rcmany Solomon in the jnnSles
of India. and the gypsy lover of today
r =
my people as are orlr tents against the
sand wiMd:'' 'tI.will cling to'my Rpm tthe
first, the head, the hrsband) like the PAN
Their skin to the crooked Wood -. G., Rs
closely as the pRntllers hide TO the tent
bows; 'sOnr tents shall guard from the
storm darts as shields OF brass make
powerless great SPEARS sAs the Crouch
ing hare is ,yaulted by the raging lion,
shall our earth colored tents remain bid
den from the pUrsucr;' AS still us the
red stars asleep, shah nestle our tents in
\ the valIeys;'' s'As the heart hol(Lcth the
warm blood and giyeth strength, SO my
tent holdeth all my ife'-are a few Of
the innumerable poetic imageries attach
\ ing to the tent, while the rough and unc-
tu0us fancies crvstalizing motive and
character are countless.
| The skewer is the sharp hickory peg
with which tile Wpolen coverings are
| pinned to the tents. Consequently a
virago has san evil eye and al skewer
tongue" a wastefRl gypsy is as a coy
erlcss tent; q spiritless one as o rotten
| tent bow "A Iewt Woman is as 10 fallen
i tent, and good one s'as sung as aproper
tent" There are also many quaint and
tender love and gypsy home songs, in
which the tent stands for all that shuts
/ harm ont and good BIN; while there arc
certain Unwritten and inviolable laws and
customs about the tent which are very in.
teresting to observe and study. The rule
isuniyefsal preventing .gypsies occupying
the tents inner compartments isaVG al
night, or when driven inside byI storms
In case of quarrels, involving serious trou
n BILE and possibly epdangering Of Life, NJ
gypsy who is defending himself may b'
pursued within the tent Gypstes cling t.
an old tent until the last moment 1t can bI
spliced and patched together oft Of pur'
affection for it. IAN Old tcntfs an oil
friend, y is one of Itheir proud Sayings
Any gypsy born under tent preserves I
piece Of it's bows or swoclen covering unit
his dying day and it is then buried witt
his effects 10 be born in the tent carrie
pride as does o good strain of blood Thos
born under a roof ARE regarded as nn
fortunate. These are often derisivel,
termed in Romany aiEir rajahs, or fhous
lords. Edgar L. NVakeman's Letter.