The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-21

! Jean Gordon, gypsy woman of this very
| Kirk Yetholm; and / have many times
| broken bread with her descendants here as
well as during my wanderlngs among the
gypses in America. Scott himself said of
| Jean Gordon: "She was quite Meg Mer-
rifles, aud possessed the savage virtue of
| fidelity in the same perfection"
The interest in Kirk Yetholm as haunt
of the Scottish gypsies lies rather in what
they once were here, than in what they
footing in the place through bravery in
battle as adherents of Scottish border
lords. That was fully 200 years ago. The
feu leases of many OF their hOmes-and at
one. TIME nearly 100 cottages, were In
their possession-were remarkable as il
Illustrating the friendship existing between
the DOmads and the successive lords of the
manor. These were either for q" nineteen
times nineteen years" or, as with some OF
the more favored ones, las long as grass
hele undoubtedly reached its climax at
about the middle of the preseLt century.
Over four hundred gypsles then had
their homes in Kirk Yetholm; and at the
death of their chief, William Faa: IN 1917,
they mustered from Yetholm, and its imme-
diate neighborhood 500 gypsies and 800
asses as an escort for his remains from Cold
stream to the parish burying-ground at Yet
helm. This Faa was the acknowledged
King of the Scottish gypsies Shortly after
Blythe. King Williams immediate
successor, remarkable contest took place
between the late Faa's two daughters,
Princess Esther and Princess He'en--the
latter a hale old woman still living here
alone in her cottage at the side of Tinker's
Green, Yetholm.
These FaaS were the pick of the Scottish
gypsy race, and by their Sagacity, address
and physical proves were able for nearly
800 years 10 exercise
ROYAL SUPREMACY.
The Blythe line was extinct in Scotland;
and no one could be found to dispute the royal
line reverting TO one or the other of the two
Faa princeSSeS. Helen. the younger, urged
her claims on the ground of the well-known
and Often-eXpTeSSed wish of the dead king
that she should eventually succeed him.
Esther, the elder, claimed the sue
ity. For months the liveliest magin-
able political canvass was waged through
out the gypsy camps of Scotland the sisters
often taking secret and rapid journeys
| hundreds of miles to further their respective
interests. At last the contest waged so bit
ter that these sisters of royal blood came TO
| blows. the first and last breach of the peace
ever accredited to gypsleS in Ieth0lm.
| They were both women of powerful build,
over six feet in height, and the encounter
eyewitness now living here as of the
most savage and ferociOus character.
Esther was victorious, and Helen. or black
bearded Nell, as she is called by the vii
| layers, got herSef weel lickit." This atfray
| appaI entity decided the contest; for when
1T, sting day or Shrove Tuesday. on which
| the famous Bowmont games are still notably
celebrated, Princess Helen and her followers
offered no objection 10 Princess Esther's
election and coronation.
The GROWING of Queen Esther-whose
full name was Esther Faa Blythe Ruther-
ford, the Blythe and Rutherford addenda
coming from marriages with worthless
men OF her race-WaS an affair OF great
note at YethOlm. Her Majesty was at
tended by q royal brother, several princes
and princesses of the blood, Prince Henry,
her son, now worthless vagabond, many
grandchildren and a great retlnue OF over
800 gypSes with as many toWnspeople and
gentry OF the surrounding country. The
cayalcade proceeded TO the Yetholm Cross.
a jolly old blacksmith named George Glad
stone, who had performed like office for
Charles Blythe, and thus assumed the
title Of Archbishop of Yetholm,"
wrought respondent cOronet of tin, suS-
tanning a tremendous Scotch thistle. In
presence of the great multitude lie made
proclamation of his right TO exercise the
high office, and, having in the most sol
emn fashion, set the emblem of royalty uD-
on her head, proclaimed the Swarthy heroine
Her Royal Majesty, Esther Faa Blythe
Rutherford, Sovereign and Queen of all the
GypSieS in the Kingdom of Scotland-Chal-
lenge who darew Addresses of congratu-
latiOn were read from loyal subjects in the
different shres, from the citizens of kelso
and other near cities aud villages. and from
Yetholm townsfolk after which levee was
held at the royal palace"
A THATCHED COTTAGE
With hard clay floor, and the night was
yassed in all manner Of rustic revelrleS. At
her death, in July, 1888, gypsy royalty in
Scotland came to an end. No one ever as
pired to the enjoyment of gypsy hOnorS; and
even old Princess Helen, with whom l am
quite a favorite, tells me that she was SO
"weel and fairly Ticket" that she COM
pletely lost all her ambition for royal life.
Queen Esther died at kelso. Her cortege
from Kelso 10 Kirk Ietholm, where she
was memorable one. Thousands OF people
came to Yeth0lm. Upon the coffin lay the
royal red cloak of the Queen, and an enOr-
nous white wreath Of roses. sent by Lady
John Scott, of SpOttiswood, surmounted
this. Both were Inferred with the body of
the Queen. The Rev. Mr.. Davidson, for
twenty-nine years minister of the parish
church here, tells me he never witnessed 4
more remarkable scene than at this burial.
The services were held at kelso; but such
vast crowds massed about the grave at Yet
holm that though Mr.. Davidson made effort
to reach it 10 say few words over the
body, the grief of the gypsIes and the density
of:the crowd prevented. He also tells me
OlNeE InuRS Sdlleu lTOm MS ministry
among these strange people which may
interest many WHO believe gypsies no bet
ter than wolves. Among these were the
statements that a no more honorable folk in
all their business dealings ever lived
in Scotland. They never wonld pay
Their rent at fixed lime; but they always
paid it. Their word in ali matters could be
absolutely depended upon. For over sew
enty-five years no Yeth0lm gypsy has ever
been accused of crime. Their home and
family relations have always been singu-
larly free from unfai;hfulness and unhappi-
ness. And, in short, lie believes that in all
things upon which estimate of character
! may be based they have even exceled the
non-gypsy townSpeOple about them.
Notwithstanding this, gypsydom has so
declined here that it is but a wrath of its
former self. When here a year since |
found but fourteen families, comprising no
more than eighty souls. At that time l pre-
dicted that | should yet live 10 wander with
| the tawny Yetholm crew in my own loved
| land. Three Of those families are already
with the roadside pilgrims in America.
Those remaining are held to the spot by
the old, old folk who beg to be allowed the
last privilege of laying their bones along
side of those of their kin in the little church.
yard behind the manse. When that is done,
gypsydom at Yetholm will be no more. 1t
will all have been transplanted to that
grand and wOndrous land across the Sc a,
the gypsy's haven and heaven OF oppor-
tunity and delight.
'CopyrtgAt 1890 EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.