Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-01-18
RETURN OF THE GYPSlES.
Dickering with Unfortunate Farmers
Laying by n Winters stock of Hay.

Dfckering with Unfortunate FarmcrA
Laying by n Winters Stock Of Hay.
Thus many return to the cities to then
actual habitations, which may have stood
idle the summer through. Numbers trail
along the highways until their farm homes
are reached, where, if they be rented, as
they usually are to some less thrifty far
mer, they have reserved a few months
housing. Thousands wander into the
central south for all winter dickering and
trading there. Many return TO their viii
hge homes, over or alongside mammoth
barns, where a winters gypsy ~jockeying
b done. Great crowds of them, not yet
q well along as their brethren in gain
hgs, straggle into the cities. In the COM
moner quarters these turn their bands to
bird training, basket weaving, training
and trading in valuable cats and dogs,
while hundreds Of gypsy youths secure
ready employment under gentlemen's
igrooms, and particularly at he care OF
horses being fitted for the net years
events of the turf. Still Others. and these
comprise the larger number, come troop.
ing into thousands of little villages and
countryside places throughout the south.
sn portions of northern states and in tho
northern tier Of southern states, arriving
% early as the last October days. The
movements OF these provide a genuine
gypsy study.
Their arrival is hardly noticed, as they
never come in a large body, but in twos
and thress, and it IL often weeks before
the little gypsy community is at its best.
The vanguard has quietly rented some
deserted roadside inn at the outskirts Of
the village, or Sc me former spacious home
long gone to decay. This is always got
for a song. However much house room
itmay have, it must invariably possess the
requisite Of a great ramshackle barn and
outlying sheds. For a little time the gyp-
Ges seem 10 merely exist here. But eve.y
day their women folk may lie seen miles
sway, spinning in light buggies over the
autumn roads in every direction. Not
only are they found on the well Travelled
highways, but every grass grown wagon
road leading to secluded and remotest
farms has been hunted and haunted. At
this home and that; there tarrying I'M
der pretense of admiring some animal;
there making a trifing purchase Of
vegetables and poultry; over yonder bar
earring for, but never buying, grain and
hay; again telling a fortune or two il
appealed to; but seldom urging such
profitable vocation-in a little time these
eanniest and most indomitable of all hui
man detectives have at their tongues
0d, for home reference, every possible
Item Of information regarding the finan-
eial standing and condition Of every
farmer for half a county round.
Then of a sudden some luckless wight,
under terror Of an overdue note or re-
lentless mortgage, has sold his cornfield
Gin the shock to the gypsies. Another's
weather Drowned stacks Of hay have
com into their possession. Then begins,
and 10 continue the whole winter through,
Q ceaseless procession of young stock.
horses and mules, toward the gypsies'
temporary domicile. Drunken farmer,
unfortunate farmer, thriftless farmer, in
all dire tons, pays the penalties of i'll
doing o, i'll luck to these superb jockeys,
who. buying for pittances, and for
months selling at excellent prices or net
at all, at their improvised market. make
large profits; and the sprins finds them
ready for greedy city buyers with great
numbers Of stock transformed from
dhaggy, ambling beasts 10 animals Of
Gch splendid form and spirit as do even
Acity gypsy traders eyes good TO look
npon. The amount Of live stock thus
gathered ~ every winter throughout the
country Is tremendous; the profits are
fnconceivably great, and these wizards
Il the stable must eventually largely con-
eol the entire horse trade Of the country.
Edgar L. Wakeman's Letter.