The morning call., 1890-06-08
WAKEMAN AND
THE ROMANY.'
He Tells of the Peculiar NOmad
Race in the United States.
at the Evanston Camp-0vercoming the Dig
trust of the Gypsies-The Marriage Rsla-
tion-Bringing Up Children.
Special to THE SUNDAY CALL.

n Tx
10y have passed some portion of nearly every
- year in gypsy camp as guest and friend.
In that time hundreds OF gypsies have grown TO
the estate OF men and women from gypsy child
hood and youth. From the first, think, my best
friends among these piigriming people were the
little folks; and, at first, recall many an in
stance where the confidence aud trust so earn
estly sought from the elders was largely, il not
wholly, the result or the confidence and liking
1 was enabled 10 awaken In the lit
tie waits Of the camps. Indeed can
well date my secure place in the hearts
of the Romany folk to their interesting logic
about that very matter, and also the fact
that got along famously with their horses and
dogs, as well as with their children: for it is
universal gypsy notion that the Instinct OF chill
dren and animals is unfailing and true.
In 1868 l was lettering about large gypsy
camp located in the woods on the beautiful
shores OF Lake Michigan, about mile north OF
the Northwestern University grounds. at Evans
ton, III. My object was literary one wholly
| felt drawn TO these people; endeaV0red TO give
that feeling acceptable expression; but, while
they civil enough in general way, there
seemed TO exist an insurmOuntaDe wall Of dis
trust between us. talked plainly with one or
Two of the leading men and few Of the old
spae-wves about it. Their responses were mex
pressibly sodden and disappointing. Then i be
gan on the young men and chllden. | assisted
the former IN all manner OF mental tasks: Ile
principal of these was cleaning the animals, ana
occasionally giving them swim IN the lake. A
passing snofIing tug had so frightened the
horses that despite all the efforts OF the gypsies
the animals would neither drink from nor permit
themselves to be led into the waller. thought
my chance was here, for rs boy on The farm
and as an artillery position IN the army l had
swan horses i'll the lakes and rivers as often as
any gypsy OF my age; and succeeded
AT THE EVANSTON CAMP
BY simply inducing one OF The horses. after dusk,
to take TO the water like duck, and the next
day 1t seemed to have forgotten its fright, while
all Its companions followed US into the lake as
nicely as flock OF sheep VIII crowd over fence.
oJeuing after Il bell Wether, That evening was
honored by an invitation to stay all night and
occupy wagon with the bands tinker. The
next day l had small cart-lOad OF toys in the
hands OF the delighted children, and genuine
Toue swing for them underneath the great elm
trees. My reward for this was tent with the
son OF the chief. The next day the chief himself
invited me TO supper with his family, ana genu-
ine sllyerware, dug out OF the dingy recesses OF
shadowy wagon-beds, assisted In the resplend-
ence OF the occasion. Alter The meal the chief
took me out for 4 saunter along the ripping
shore, and. finally after much apparent embar-
rassment. aud with profuse though hating apollo
gies, explained with many fine gypsy preyarlca-
lions why as race they must put no trust IN the
white blood. but, that in my case "w'erehever
an 'owsOmdever hus comes up WI ye. any time
an Oft, hush aus gle ye odd fagOt an a heXtra
sup for welcome" He added as If TO clear him
self from error and fortify himself against accu-
SatioD OF dislcyalty TO his own Illus as no
learnin' WI books; but gypsies as luS Is, il the
chauyieS (childreD) and the dugals dogs an
gryes lhorses) takes kindly 10 the GOrglo mon
gypsy bus minds no longer 'owsomdeyer as lie
comes an goeS!'
TINS little lesson was never forgotten, and
though many, many years ago my standing was
SO well assured III gypsy camps that effort on
this line was unnecessary, l nave never ceased
to go literally loaded for little gypsies. And
what brave welcome do l ever get from these
little foxes. "G0rgio chal ~ "Gorg0 chal ~
Qhe gypsles friend is the merry sound that
rings IN my they scamper from tent,
wagon, covert and copse, with vocifetoIs greet
ings and eXpectant shouts; for, bless them They
all know that every sWarthy mite OF thing is TO
be somehow remembered. The endeariug term
is min by hill and In dale; by the meadow path
where we gather tile buttercups and daisies; by
shaded hooks where we fsh IN the clear waters
Of melodious streams; in Geep-woOd covert
where find the iace-like fern; in sunny hill
side openings where together We pant tile long
grass aud tiUd, where their real owners never
found red, ripe strawberries IN myriads 10 take
back TO camp IN Fush-woven baskets OF our own
making; by hazel eOpses, when The first FROST
fires tiame across the land, and tie dainty nuts
as brown as
MY LITTLE FRIENDS
Faces, are dropping from their wrinkled Sheaths;
IN the odorous woods where We gather the fr
and the tasselrd spruce for renewing the beds of
camp; and then, at morning, noon aud night, In
orgies with the dogs, al all manner OF games,
in The swings of vine branches or patched leather
straps and ropes, indeed DIT all sorts OF innocent
mischief of which am more than once the VIII
ing victim, until ofentimeS the old folks hustle
us all from sight; and again, and quainter ana
sweeter than all, when the SHADOWS fall softly
upon the camL-side and the CT essets or tent
fires flare, iii The songs they have taught me ana
the songs l have taught them; or, tlIinE OF
these, when tile ''stories'' must be told aud L
rack my brain for tales OF and laud that Will
make their dark eyes glisten and open, until the
night ana sleep close them from The best that
''6Orglo chal" can do. But that term of endear-
ment follows out into the other world OF labor,
struggle, endeayor; IL pursues into the hauDts OF
men where life RACES and activities roar; ; 1t calls
from striving and winning, from race and place,
as the sweetest of home sounds to me. 1t
comes across the hills and meadows when the
pen is tired aud the brain weary. "G0rgio ehal!"
ANrriA ala41ff Ia 2 IA nt I'M
mer melodies, OIL singing birds OF falling
waters, 10 him who all but faints In the wither-
ing city ways; 1t calls to me even IN dreams:
There is surely The gypsy taint In my blood. or l
am become gypsy altogether; aud | would not
resist ii II could. SO, like some Kris kringls
OF summer time, away 20, ii all else fail, while
All my heart seeks Natures ways,
All my soul goes gypSytng
Through the radiant tents OF spring
And scores Of lhle brown gypsy boys race for
the meeting, and "GOTgiO chal!" "GOrglo chal!"
rings from score OF bird-ltke throats, until the
thrill OF II all dims my eyes in my triumphant
way over which these little ones lead me TO the
Overwhelming gypsy camp.
When one has earnestly studied gypsy chill
dren he has gained deep knowledge OF the home
ways and practices OF the entire gypsy race. Be
ginning the subject behind the little ones, the
extraordinary physical temperance and virtue Of
the gypsy must be considered. certain kind
OF literature Is full OF romantic Incidents based
upon the Irregularities OF gypsy female character.
One and all they are conscenceeSs libelS upon
the purest race that exists. While gypsies are
without law know 1t, no people live who
more Vigorously follow, in fact and TO the ulti-
male OF spirit, The highest and purest code OF
physical and moral observance. They uniyers
ally revere
THE MARRIAGE RELATION.
say universally, and use that word unqualified
ly. There Is not an exception. The religious
faculty as we develop II, and dstCrt 1t, being
wholly lacking in these nomads. another seems
TO have taken its place. That is virtueworship.
All this begins back of the sucking babe at Its
mothers breast. IL Is bred and Inbred In pre-
natal assmated loyalty. The home govern
ment being universally absolute and unquestiOn-
ing. and surveillance beng ceaseless and almost
merclless, gypsy children grow unconscously,
hereditariiy, into ylTtuOuS lives and loves. Be-
lleye 1t or not, gypsy men and youths regard vir-
tue of as noble perfection ana heritage In men as
In sweetheart or wife; and some idea OF the aw-
ful saciedness of that requirement III woman may
be gained from the fact that inhdelity on her
part Is punished by the most uneDdurable tate
that can by any possibility come TO her In this
liie-utter and endless e&patriation. More than
once the lives OF such have been sac ihced with
The calm and unVaTying approval OF parents and
friends; While such a thing as dlsloyalty of wife
TO husband, or husband TO wife, after marriage,
has yet 10 be truly recorded OF gypsy on The Eu-
ropean or American continents.
Because the gypsy father and mother are them
selves types Ji good health and splrils healthy
ana spirited children are born to them. Because
every gypsv woman on earth Is loyal to her mate,
many children born TO them. Because the
instinct OF fatherhood, motherhood and partner
hood Is inviolable with husband and wife, gyp.
sles love This TO be so and The care OF and afec-
tion for children extraordinary indeed.
FROM the moment the cnlu Is DOru until IL Is
upon its own legs for good, 1t Is constantly
rubbed, stretched and kneaded that every muscle
may have proper action and DEVELOPMENT. The
same wise practice, have found by long obser-
walton, exists among the sensible Pennsyl-
yania Dutch. 1t began with the ancestors OF
the latter behind the Swiss mountains centuries
ago. and II would be an interesting research for
the student Of men TO ascertain II this precisely
identical gypsy and pennsylvania Dutch custom
had not at some remote time a common Oriental
origin behind the Himalayas. Gypsy women at
tend each other in childbirth, and that one who
should venture TO suggest the presence of phys
icIan would be mercilessly ridiculed out OF Ro-
many life and society. There are no marvellous
layettes, miracles IN fmy laces and stnffs await
Ing the arrival OF the gypsy. clean, warm rag
OF any handy texture Is quite sufficient. Indeed.
cleanliness, warmth and plenty OF sleep In the
pure, open air, are all
THE GYPSY MOTHER
Wishes; but she Will have these at any sacrifice.
There are no cradles, cribs, lace parachutes,
nurse.gfls with ffllls and fellows. Gypsy mothers
believe cradles are what Citizen Train regards
fat to be-death. ''They teeter and wobbie the
chauyles' brains" they say; and Everybody as
rocked, zlg-zags about what they alus does"