, 1890-03-06

ultlpn vi BINfiiru RipNi'r ~ .V7''G
as were learned from Pancho Tomas
and the graver members OF his band
A oIpsy CENSUS.
Under their better fortunes, and
what IL of more account their better
morals, for the last quarter of a
century the Spanish gipsies have
lost greatly in picturesqueness and
gained as greatly In character and
numbers. This fact would not be
admitted perhaps by the single
casual Spanish observer In Barcelo'
ma, Madrid or Seville; but II can not
be galnsald. The question Of num-
bers Ii fortunately easily arrived at,
Two years ago, the subject Of general
immigration was seriously discussed.
Paucho Tomas and IA few other i'm
portant heads of clans took steps to
secure something like a gipsy CEN
sus. II was taken on one day
throughout all Spain. Where wan
derlng tribes could not be reached
they were accounted for. Rude as
was the syetem measurably cor
Ittt ItSuit Wtr rtNttiOos Aht fOhAcV
ing II the classi Il cation:
DREW rajahs (road lords), or row
Kali rsjahs (town lortls), or city -
gipsies. .........,....,. fO,oOO
Total gipsies In Spain ,..., i2o, 500
The rowing gipsies include all
wandering bands, whether or not
they have temporary city or town
habitati0n, with all gipsies or
whatever occupation, outside of
those permanently living In cities.
Those having, In occupation, appar-
emily blended with the rural popu-
lation comprise surprising number.
Diligence drivers and guards, stable
men, male scullions, often walters
at country inns, and many of the
guartiia civile, are now gipsies. y
no mean number are farmers In the
northern provinces, and are getting
on famously In breeding cattle,
donkeys and ponies. At least one
half of the muleteers of all Spanisl,
territory north of Madrid are Ripslos,
and the AIarngatos, of Celtibcrian
descent, whom travellers describe so
piciuesquely rs controlling all that
class of labor, have had to give way
to this singular encroachment. A
large number OF guides are now gip-
sies, while even the Gallagan peas-
antry who formerly exclusively
reaped in the harvest fields of CASTLE
and Portugal, have now important
rivals in this harder, DETER and
more agile race.
The kair rljnhs, or town glpsies,
who ARE always held In the greatest
contempt by members of rowing
bands, are now in Spain, as in
America, developing aptitude for
labor In many of the Iowly callings
of the town. The street harpist, the
public guitar-players, she with the
tamborine Or castinets, are gipsies.
The ballets have them. Those who
travel from door to door selling gew-
gaws and relies are gipsies. The
tinker In Spain, many of the
catcher, the bird trainer and many
of the sellers OF swee,s, the dulceros,
are gipsles. The. "show gipsies' of
Granada and Seville, thousands in
number, are genuine members Of the
race, but are held in greater
loathing by the better class of
their own race than by the
Spaniards themselves. Another vo-
cation, always most popular In this
country, has attracted the attention
of Spanish gipsies. There are
thousands all told engaged In varl-
Gus capacities about the hundreds
of bull rings of Spain. They are
the expcrtest known ohulos, bande-
rilleros, picadors and even matapors
and espadas, of the present day.
GITASI DEvILrRY.
/ inquired searchingly concerning
the old gipsy tricks-the buena
ventura, or fortune-telling; chiving
the drao or animal-poIsoning; the
hukni, or great trick of swindlibg
supersiitious folk of large sums Of
money by changing packages con-
tanning the same while incantations
were being said, or "spells" were
being worked; the querelar nasula,
or casting the ''evil cye;n ustilar
pastesas or Stealing with the hands"
by Juggling with money received in
change at shops; and that most de-
testable of female gipsy dcviltry, the
dealing in love philters and similar
vile charms. The answers We're
honest, humiliatlng and hopeful.
They demonstrated Improvement.
Yes, all these things were still prac-
ticcd; but TO surprisingly less extent.
Respectable gipsies had foresworn
these things absolutely. To Illus
trate, no woman in this band had
told fortune in u dozen years.
Swindllng through all forms OF
gipsy jugglery was now confined
almost wholly to the town gipsies,
and to limited number of these,
They confessed this might he less a
moral than selfish evolution. The
great mass of Spanish gipsies were
beginning to emulate those who like
Pancho (whose credit with mer-
chants and bankers here at BARGE
Iona l find exceeds 500, 900 had
became traders, and, in Al way, busi-
ness men. Their ambition to be-
come other than Gypsy dogs"
had been aroused through gypsy
example. Precisely as In Ameri.
ga, Spanish gipsies within the
past fifty years have become the
middlemen between the raisers oi
cattle, horses and mules, and the
city markets. Books We're still un-
known To them; but the friction of
affairs and the dignity of ownership
and responsibility brought increased
morality and Intelligence. have
had more ways than through gypsy
friends to prove the truth of this.