Oxford eagle., 1890-08-21
THE GYPSIES.
Something About That Most Re-
markable People.

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 origin2
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 must have history.
To write the history of a people,
/ though IL be ever so concise, we must
| live in spirit, as it 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
cominrs; We must form 4 picture made
by the impression of cur researches in
the highways and the byways of the his
| tory those before us have written, for
whatever we can find upon the subject,
that We may trace it as clearly as possi-
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. a. has been
observed, with nothing 20 bind them
together but the indelible. unchangc-
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 rigid ex-
clusiyeness which is unparalleled
From one end OF the earth to the 9th
n. with few exceptions in language, in
physical peculiarities, in their social and
moral character. in their pursuits aud
their habits Of life they are every
where essentially the same. Difference
in climate appears 10 work but little
change in their color or complexion.
Changes in food and in outward eircum-
| stances work bat little variation in
their physical tyne They are no, in
iiuenced by the civilization or the bar
barism Of any people among whom they
may chance to sojourn-
The word gypsy is a corruption Of
Egyptian with the prevalent belief.
founded on their own assertion. that
they came from Egypt. though recent
evidence shows to the contrary.
| Some have supposed them to be the
descendants of lshmael, son Of Hagar
EthnOlogists, by careful investigation
of their language. have discovered i, TO
be the old Sanscrit mingled with words
Of other languages, added or discarded.
according 20 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
siS, IN some connection with the Tar
| tars of the Golden Horde. Before the
year 1880 their rowing bands seem to
have scattered through Moldavia, Wal
iachia and Bulgaria where many of
them were seized and reduced 10 a most
miserable state of slavery by the cruel
Bulgarian mobiles
| Outwardly as within, the Cypsies pre-
sent strong contrast. some being
strangely hideous. others very beauti-
ful- They are finely proportioned, of
medium stature, and light and sinewy.
insensible to both cold and wei. 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 tocoarse-
ness, Is often frizzled and does no. soou
turn gray Their complexion is 4 ,awny
olive Their teeth are of a dazzling
whiteness and of perfect regularity
Their eheek-bones high. and their aaui
line nose Is overhung by strongly
marked broWs. often knit in deep line.
OF thought But the most striking feat
ure Is the fall, dark eye. now listless
then changing ~ expression of myste-
rlous child-like SORROW. presently bIax
ing forth With sudden passion. The,
early develop and early fade.
The gypsy character Is a strange
mixture Of good and evil. and though
black and hateful 20 heoutside world. I.
the Romani il Is all that is fair and lov
able They are ligh.-heartei and court,
eous. but only 10 true and adopted mem
bers OF the tribe are their inmost heart,
revealed
Their principal faults are childish
vanity. professional cunning, indolenee
or i hot. passionate temper, but the,
are as ready TO forgive Is they are quici
To resent a wrong.
Their family affection is intenseI,
strong, parent never chastisiny !
younger child; but a grown-up sor
ekly takes thrashing from his faith
er- They are exceedingly generous q
such as are poorer than themselves
even though they are not Of their owr
race They love nature and dumb
creation They have gift Of tongues
readily adapting themselves to what
ever country they are in and convers.
ing in the language spoken There is
among them kind of wild. savage dig
mtg and indepe ndence of character. A
gypsy queen will sometimes display a
majesty of demeanor truly worthy of a
gypsy throne They have a passion for
rings, trinkets. and all kinds of orna,
ments. and frequently adorn them.
selves in the most heterogeneous man.
ner-
Their domestic utensils are few. con-
sisting usually of a pan. \ dish and a
silver cup Every gypsy camp has a
donkey or horse for the conveyance OF
their effects They are fond Of brandy.
and both sexes are addicted 70 the use
Of tobacco, which they regard as q great
luxury.
The only mechanical pursuit for which
they show auv aDtftude il that af i.