The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-08-30
THE GYPsIES.

THE GYPSIES.
Something About That Most Re-
markable People.
You who have seen these people, In
the country, tenting by the roadside or
camping in the woods, or, mayhap. on
the suburbs of city, have had these
questions arise in your minds: Who are
these people? Where did they come
from? What is their origin?
The gypsies fill no place and take no
part in the great movements of the
world; they are despised race OF vaga-
bonds; and yet they nsust have history.
To write the history Of people,
though it be ever 80 concise, we must
dive in spirit, as 1t were, among people
OF a by-gone age, to note their appear
ance, their manners and their general
condition. that we may form just esti-
mate OF their merits and their short
comings; we must form a picture made
by the impression Of our researches In
the highways and the byways Of the his
whatever we can find upon the subject,
that we may trace it as clearly as posi-
bic on the blank page for others to see.
The gypsies, all things considered,
must be regarded as the most singular
and most remarkable people on the
globe. They are without history or
tradition or religion; without literature
or written language, and, as has been
observed, ''with nothing to bind them
together but the indelible, unchange-
able strain Of their savage blood. and
displaying pertinacity of race surpass-
ing that of the Jews
Everywhere present, from Persia to
Ireland, from Siberia to Central Africa,
and from Australia to America, and
everywhere despised and oppressed out
casts, they have always kept their race
separate and distinct, with a rigid ex-
clusiveness which is unparalleled.
From one end of the earth to the 9th
or, with few exceptions in language, in
physical peculiarities, in their social and
moral character, in their pursuits and
their habits of life they are every
where essentially the same. Difference
An climate appears to work but little
change in their color or complexion.
Changes in food and in outward circum-
stances work but little variation in
their physical type. They are not in
nuenced by the civilization or the bar
barism OF any people among whom they
may chance TO sojourn.
The word gypsy is corruption Of
with % ,>ro vo hA lief
Rounded on their own assertion, thai
shey came from Egypt, though recen
evidence shows to the contrary.
Some have supposed them to be the
descendants Of Ishmael; son of Hagar.
Ethnologists, by careful Investigation
OF their language, have discovered it to
be the old Sanscrit mingled with words
of other languages, added or discarded,
according to the country in which they
lived. They are sprung from the lowest
class Of Indians; the degraded Pariahs
from the valley Of the Indus. ~
The indications are that the gypsies
entered Europe through southern Rus
sia, in some. connection with the Tar
tars Of the Golden Horde. Before the
year 1850 their rowing bands seem to
have scattered through Moldavia, Wal
aachia and Bulgaria where many of
Them were seized and reduced 10 most
miserable state Of slavery by the cruel
Bulgarian mobiles
Ontwardly as within, the gypsies pre-
sent strong contrast; some. being
strangely hideous, others very beauti-
full. They are finely proportional, of
medium stature, and light and sinewy,
snsensible to both cold and wet, sup
porting great fatigue. They pride
themselves on their small hands and
feet. Corpulence rarely occurs, and
only in the older women. Their hair is
black or dark brown, inclining to coarse
ness, is often frizzled and does not soon
turn gray. Their complexion is tawny
olive. Their teeth are of dazzling
whiteness and Of perfect regularity.
Their cheek-bones high, and their aqui-
line nose is overhung by strongly
marked brows, often knit in deep lines
Of thought But the most striking feat
ure is the full, dark eye, now listless,
then changing to a expression of mystic
rious child-lile sorrow, presently blaz-
Liz lOEbu WALL SuuO0n PdoSAcus Lucy
early develop and early fade.
The gypsy character is strange
mixture Of good and evil, and though
black and hateful to the outside world, to
she Romani it is all that is fair and low
able. They are Eighth hearted and court
eous, but only to true and adopted mem
bers of the tribe are their inmost hearts
revealed.
Their principal faults are childish
vanity, professional cunning, Incidence,
Or a hot, passionate temper; but they
are as ready to forgive as they are quick
to8resent a wrong.
Their family affection is intensely
strong, a parent never chastising a
younger child; but a grown-np son
meekly takes a thrashing from his faith
5 er. They are exceedingly generous to
such as. are poorer than themselves,
even though they are not Of their own
! race. They love nature and dumb
creation. They have 4 giftsof tongues,
readil ad pting themselves to VIII t.
ever 0onntry they are "a sand sconvers.
q lngs igl the lang spoken. There Is