The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-08

NUS. ~
The religious faculty as We develop it,
being wholly lacking in these nomads,
another seems to have taken its place. That
is virtue worship.
All this begins back of the sucking babe
at it's mothers breast. It is bred and in
bred in prenatal Rssimilated loyalty. The
home government being universally abso-
Lutte and unQuestioning, and surveillance be-
ing ceaseless and almost merciless, Gypsy
children grow unconsciously, hereditarily,
into virtuous lives and loves. Believe it or
not, Gypsy men and youth regard virtue Of
as noble perfection and heritage In men al In
sweetheart or wife; and some idea of the aw-
full sacredness of that requirement in wo-
man may be gained from the fact that inf
betty on her part is punished by the most
uncomfortable fate that can by any POSSIBLE
ity come to her in this hfe-utter and end
less expatriation. More than once the lives
of such have been sacrificed with the calm
and unvarying approval Of parents and
friends; while such thing as disloyalty of
wife to husband, or husband to wife, after
marriage, has yet to be truly recorded of
Gypsy on the European or American oonti-
nents.
Because the Gypsy father and mother are
themselves types of good health and spirits,
healthy and spirited children are born to
them. Because, every Gypsy woman on
are born to them. Because the instinct of
fatherhood, motherhood and partnerhood
is inviolable with husband and wife, Clip
sizes love this to be SO; and the care of and
affection for children are extraordinary in
deed.
it is upon its own legs for good it is con-
stantly rubbed, stretched and kneaded, that
Developments. The same wise practice. I
have found by long observation, exists
among the sensible Pennsylvania Dutch.
It began with the ancestors of the latter be-
hind the Swiss mountains centuries ago;
and it would be an interesting research for
the student Of men to ascertain if this pre-
ciscly identical Gypsy and Pennsylvania
Dutch custom had not, at some remote
time, common oriental origin behind the
other in child-birth; and that one who
should venture to suggest the presence of a
physician would be mercilessly ridiculed
out of Romany life and society. There are
no marvellous layettes, miracles in ilmy
laces and stuffs awaiting the arrival of the
texture is quite sufficient. Indeed cleanli-
ness, warmth and plenty of sleep in the
pure open air are all the Gypsy mother
wishes: but she will have these at any sac
rihce. There are no cradles, cribs, lace
parachutes, nurse girls with frills and fell
lows. Gypsy mothers believe cradles are
what Citizen Train regards fat to be-
death. "They teeter and wobble the chauv-
les brains," they say; and Everybody as is
rocked, zig-zags abo1t what thay allus
does" Considerable roysteriAg occurs oyer
the gypsy baby by the time it can hold up
its head. Gipsies of English and Scotch
although they attach no ethical or spir-
itual value to the Office whatever. But
they like the significance and importance
attaching to the ceremony. The higher the
dignitary, the more interesting the COCA
sion. Rt. Rev. Bishop Coleman, of Whining
ton, Del, was last june called from his car
was passing their camp between Whining
ton and Stanton, to baptize a two-year-
whelmea Tie good bishop with blessings ef for
his kindness, but had much fun at his ex-
pense after his departure. All other Gipsies
fashion which provides the most frolic and
merriment. Occasionally this is carried to
such excess, as with Gipsy marriage festiv-
tiles, especially if the babe happens to be
the first born and male child, that the
proud father and mother are literally i'm
poverished before the merry-making is at
an end.
But these festivities. to which the subject
is an unconscious participant, may be re-
garded as the one occasion in the Gypsy
child's life, where it attracts general or
even special attention. There are no "toot-
sy-wootsies" among Gypsy children. The
babe is nursed and laid upon the bed of
blankets and leaves within the tent. 1t sell
dom ails. and there is always an herb tea for
any particular ailment. If it is spunky and
cries, it cries until it tires of an occupation
which yields no more gratifying Ietura
than a thorough spanking. It il not per-
mitted in any particular to occupy the en-
ally grows into . consciousness that there
are other affairs in the world besides it's
own. When it begins to crawl. it has a.
ready precautionary procliyities. It ID al
lowed to crawl into the fire and burn its
fingers, if it wishes, Nobody has Mysteries
over this, and it seldom does any Of these
things the second time. Indeed, the entire
practice of child-training among Gipsies, If
any may be said TO exist, is that the child
shall itself learn by its own experience.
And one of its most rugged experiences of
learning is that it is about worth its life to
disobey an elder, superior, or parent.
The vigor and directness with which a
startling as that child's humble submits
sion to the same is ever dumb and re-
sentless, and often, to most ridiculous de- |
gree. . matter of apparent relish and graft |
tude On the part of the suffering subject |
enough this applies to child of |
sixty as well as Of six; for many time l |
have seen weakened old Gypsy men and wo-
men of eighty or ninety, deliberately |
though feebly fog son or q daughter Of |
fifty or sixty vino thanked the parent for
such aifectionate attention in the most re-
Bpectful and grateful terms.
The moment Gypsy children have got be- |
yond infancy, dogs, horses, and the water |
have their most undivided attention. The |
grave. wise, voiceless Gypsy dogs wallow |
them about bravely but with marvellous eau
ton and tenderness of fellowship. The first |
real view of life Ia taken from the back Of a |
horse. and the hereditary instinct of horse |
love and care is so wonderful and acute in |
both boys and girls, that will defy You to |
find on earth drem rajah chauyie, that is,
a genuine road-l0rd (Gipsy) child of ten who |
is not more competent Veterinarian, barring |
surgery, than any non Gypsy veterinarian. |
Gypsy camps are universally beside living /
waters, always beside running streams, il |
possible. and the young Gipsies are more in |
the water than SO many ducks. striking |
popularity abe ut these little waits il their |
wnndaPful v,OWer of ainiuv I'D