St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-17
GYPSY QUEEN AT BREAKFAST
The Unusual Sight Witnessed on
the Banks of the Mississippi.

In quest of a young duck to crafty
sick friend, GlObe-DemOcrat reporter
arose before dawn recently and pro-
ceeded to the head of Long lake. op-
posite the confluence of the Missouri
and Mississippi rivers. While seated on
the leYee watching the faint golden sum
beams mount over the bluffs beyond
Wet Prairie, the reporter noticed q curl
ing column of blue smoke ascending
from a cluster of trees OH the lake bank
beside the country road. Having a
small glass, the hunter trained it on the
spot and deserted a Gypsy camp, con-
sisting of three wagons. Suddenly a
1.-THE female form emerged from the
central van in her bare feet and went to
the waters edge. There, loosenlng a
wealth of luXuriant dark hair, she COM
menced her morning additions, after a
slight survey of the surroundings. She
appeared to be about eighteen years of
age, about five and half feet in stature,
shapely i'll form, with well nodded
arms, rather heavy wrists and hands,
and according to measurement of her
tracks in the sand her feet would re-
quIre No. shoes. Keeping his dogs
close to his heels, the hunter crept up a
canyon or ravine to point favorable
for minute observation of the camp and
closely noted the peculiar habits of these
nomadic people at their matutinal meal.
The stately maiden, VINO was evident
Iy a true daughter of Romany, returned
from the water with her treSSes in a
negligent roll thrown over her left
shoulder and wild flower in her hand.
Her bed had been drawn from the wagon
and spread on the grass to the windward
from the fire. She threw herself grace
T llIy upon the couch. and languidly
watched the preparations for break
fast. A pink and white cloth was
spread on the grass, on which dewdropS
glistened like gems against the rays of
the rising snn. A bright copper kettle
was suspended on tripod over a
bright fire. At one end of the long
cloth another was placed, and on it a
service of fine chinawaIe. the de-
signs on which were cabaliStic, inter-
spersed with dragons and golden but
terflies.
The dusky beauty, who seemed to be
an object of special attention from each
and all others of the band, was handed
a bright metal or silver flask, from
which she took tea and made her own
beverage. the teapot being placed over
a vessel of hot water, while she sliced a
ripe and misunderstanding tomato into a
china dish aud dressed it from a eruet
of silver and shining glass, evidently
containing pepper, salt, vinegar and
olive oil. This, with some kind Of
game or young chicken, formed her re-
past. She used cut-loaf sugar i'll her
tea, which was placed in the cup with
silver tongs, and, instead Of cream,
a small slice of lemon was substituted.
The position occupied while eating
was exactly like that of the Indian, and
no conversation was noted during the
meal. When the queen rose it was with
an easy grace. She stood moment in
majestic dignity, made a sinuous of
waving motion of the right hand, and
then, using Overhanging leaves in place
of a napkin, moved toward the tethered
horses, one of which she petted while
the camp was being broken. Then
leaping into her saddle, she led the way
south toward Venice. 1t afterward
transpired that this tawny Hebe was a
Gypsy queen on a tour of inspection
among the tribes.