The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-16
Language, Traditions and Habits
Discussed by Archduke Joseph
Of Austria.
No Belief In Future Life, No
Word for Paradise OF
Heaven.
They Arc not Superstition M Popularity
gupposed-Their Form Of Govern
m~ent-Iamily Life.

4NANA ~ oA AAN 4at -
Hungarian Honvsd army, and Is known for
his writings upon METEOROLOGICAL topics.
He has long made the languages, tradi-
tions and habits Of the gypsiss his special
study, says the New York Sun. The litera-
ture relating to this strange and Interest,"
ing people ia already extensive, but Arch
duke Joseph has brought to light several
unknown features and has corrected many
existing errors in regard to ths gypsies.
He has had unusual opportunities for max
ing = study of this people. No fewer than
$4,000 gypsies live in Hungary, and about
200. 600 of them are found in Roumania,
The Arohduke has spent man months Wis
iting their settlements, ono after another.
II il we'll known that the gypsiss have de-
liberately deceived not q few s%AvAnts, but
owing to the fact that Archduke Joseph il
Thoroughly acquainted with their lam
guagc, and also, perhaps, on account OF hia
high rank, they have revealed some Of their
secrets to him without hesitation.
Some time ago he published the first re-
suits Of his studies. II was the most som-
plete grammar and dictionary Of the gypsy
language that has yet appeared. Lator he
wrote q paper which was read before the
Ethnographioal society Of Buda Pesth ON
Tho origin and habits Of the gypsies. The
arohduke supports the theory of Grellman,
that all gypsiss ars OF Hindustani origin.
He bases this theory upon a comparison Of
he two languages. Al instances Of the re-
narkably large number of resemblancss
between these languages may be mentioned
The word for snow which in Hindustani ID
'hima" and in the gypsy language is ''him;''
The word for carrier in the one language ID
'laya," and in the other is 'lel,'' and means
he bearer Of snow. Hs gives many other
instances Of the same sort, and it IL NO
onger doubted that the slopes Of this
1imalaya mountains were the home of all
The .gypsies at present in Europe. whittier
their first appearance Ia traced to the year
l4l7.
In their opinion the world has existed
from eternity and is the origin Of every
hing that ia good. God they call "Dsyil'
md the devil they call Beng" The
archduke says they fear both, and curse
.ase Of the death of one Of their Number.
They believe also in evil spirits, which can
be chased away by throwing brandy or
water upon tho body or upon the grave
.henever they PASS II. They do mot be-
ieve in q life after death. They have NO
WOIO 1OE PdIAulb0 duO uOU0 lOT u6kVo1s
They often profess religion either for con-
F%enience sake or under compulsion, but II
las no real hold upon them. They ON
brace the religion of the people who allow
Fhen TO settle among them, and they call
themselves Christians. though they remain
\ reality. heathen, chsrishinr the tradi-
ions Of the fire worshipers, which they
eem once to have been.
The archduke says that the baptism Of a
bhild, a. performed by the priest, has NO
cal value for them until the eldest of the
blan has held the babe over Z large open
ire. This il the babes real reception into
he community. whatever outward religion
hey may profess. The archduks rays that
pr the Rypsies in Hungary there are "a, 200
orthodox, $4,000 Greek Catholics, 10000
roman Catholics and 5000 Protsstants of
he Hslvetian confession, which CORE
ponds pretty we'll with the proportion Of
breeds in the districts which tolerate them.
nit them to remain in their vicinity.
Gypsies are generally held up all over the
World as examples of superstition, witch
raft and similar failings. In this respect
he archduke says that they are wronged,
nd that their accussrs are the supersti-
Efter aeeoing them. One day ths arohduKs
sked several gypsy women to toll him his
ortune, which they readily did. As soon.
however, as he addressed them in their
Pwn Language they declared they would not
heat ''one Of their own and being sx-
Plicitly asked whether they believed in
ards as means of telling fortunes, they
aid: mo; that is good enough for nom
Eypsies." y
Each of their colonies il ruled by an
ylder, who in Hungary, Roumania and
Bohemia is called veivadu. The elder
las the power of Furnishing, and he usually
ses the stick for more serious crimes,
eaorting for lesser ones to boxing the oars
# the culprit. His authority is supreme,
nd it need not be the eldest man who ID
aised to the dignity OF a vsjvadu, but, in
hungary at least, it must be one who can
cad and write, in order to defend his peo-
lie before the authorities. The vsjvadu
faptizes after the gypsy fashion. az already
Mentioned. and OF course he performs the
marriage ceremony and the burial rites.
Family life is very simple, and, as a rule,
cry happy. The father ID absolute master
+ his house, and where c~ommunistic ideas
}revail, namely, whore several familiss live
ogether, tho magistrate they elect has the
anne absolute authority over zach member
I the community. He ia called the vaida
nd sometimes the ''uncle'' or the first
riend," aud his insignia are a dolman,
kith big silver buttons, and a staff with a
liver knob. He, too, must be able to read
nd write, and he must keep to the tradi-
hons and ceremonies Of old.