The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-29

fellow in his way; a veritable American
Gypsy John Runyan; and author of many
goodly Gypsy rhymes In my possession The
letter bore every evidence Of serious effort
greet rather than an unpleasant deception.
The entire matter was simply true express
sion of a universal Gypsy trait. Had they
met me at the theater according to agree
ment in a straightforward manner. that
would have been indubitable proof that
they were not Gipsies at all.
But in the homc-life of the camp. safe
and secure in the secluson of the sheltered
spot which holds all he owns and loves,
then it is that the Gypsy has happy heart,
radiant face. laughing eye, waggish
to ery earer many and shts uSan ways as
the birds. Nor would I be just
to this strange people did l not bring this
truth about them into the strongest light
and best relief. 10 know Gipsies-they are
SO rapidly increasing in numbers through
wonderful fecundity. care of their children.
that by the close of the present century
they will comprise from to 3 per cent of
tho entire population-and they must ere
long be we'll and wisely known we must be
large and generous enough to perceive and
appreciate their own hearth-side, heartful
life. We must see that they love and
treasure and hope, not just i'll our way, but
in way which, to their kind, is full of
the simple truthfulness, the patient aud
true affection, and the devoted loyalty,
which with us have been set as types
for the world to love by eloquent tongues
thrilled the heart of man. Hence, what
ever Gipsies are to you and the world
at large. while you may judge them
never SO harshly for what you may call vaR-
Alcoholism, there is behind what you con-
clude in your superior intelligence to be
wholly bad. condition you know nothing
about which must enter into any honest es-
innate of the race. This condition is one
which all Gypsy instinct resents your partic-
ipation in or your knowledge of. But 1t is
condition which, If fully known and rec
| ognized, would UNNECESSARILY redeem the
race from contumely and reproRch. And
because the world is narrowed and
fixed upon determined notion that Glpsies
are utterly worthless to society at large, the
task of conveying an adequate and true rev.
citation of the slightest good in them is a
woful one, indeed.
| Here is likeness to that which wish l
could convey fully: Take the average men
of the world, the business men, weighed
down by interminable duties ond response
bilities. which none but themselves realize.
| OF these how few are there who have not
gained reputation. among the most who
lock horns in business affairs with them.
| for cruelty, niggardliness hard heartedness
and, may be, downright meanness? And
yet these mems true natures are not that at
all. Within the circle of their chosen
friends. and in their homes, these mems
true natures are in the main of generosity.
fidelity, goodness. And it is in some way
like this the Gypsy should be made known.
Crafty, stupid, wary, hard. unworthy yaRa-
bond though you deem him, as he faces you
and mankind in his battle for life and those
he loves, he has another side a CHEEKY,
good, and manly one, too. which, without
one iota of the prompting all modern society
pc ssesses. CLOVIS with kindness, generosity,
helpfulness, good cheer, and spirit of pos
tive loneliness.
An ugly word is never heard in Gypsy
camp. A selfish act is never seen in a Gypsy
camp. The eternal goading of a mean wo.
man the brutal obscenity of bad man,
the hateful iealousies of neighbors, the con-
temptible rivalries of pretended friends
each and all are as unknown as poison in
the pure air of heaven they breathe. There
is quality of tenderness and sincerity
in their doin2s with each other that is ever
simple. childlike and beautiful Thei,
mirth, merrinsent and jollity are all consid-
crate. Raiilery is tolerant; wit never a
is not license; merry-making leaves no
sting: liberty never knows lewdness. Igno-
rant as they may be of your books; obsti-
nately as they refuse the civilization of
which We boast: secretly proud as
they are of the ostracism which
brands them as an outlaw race; heathen-
ish as yon will continue to call them
because they hold your creeds in contempt,
they are yet more than the peers of any liv-
ing people IN everything tender and true
and loyal grow ing into and out of the do
nestle relation. and in all of that which
yields, without law OF force, and as IN