Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-24
THE BRITISH GYPSY.
Gypsy Blood Known to Course
Through the Veins of Many
Scottish NOblemen.
Traditions Of the Gypsies in Ireland
and Wales as Related by Mr..
Wakeman.
The Difference Between the British
and American Nomads is Only
Difference in Condition.

Having wandered among gypsies in
America for more than quarter of CEN
fury, and for the past FIVE years having
given much time and attention to study
of the gypsies as l have found them in
different parts of Ireland, Scotland and
England. | feel that something like a
survey of these British nomads, with few
points or contrast between them and their
American brethren would have interest to
many American readers.
At the outset am forced to confess that
my good friend, George Smith, of Coal
vile, is interested in gypsies in a vastly
broader, nobler and more evangelical way
than myself. He seeks them out and finds
them at their worst, and the worst of them,
unearthing the horrors of their lives in
and near large cities; and then, burning
with desire and determination that they
shall be good citizens rouses all England
with his rugged elOquence, insisting that
the very world stand still until laws are
passed for their complete sanitation and
civilization.
| am not worthy to live in the same
country with this hero philanthropist,
when motive and labor for gypsies are
measured. | am theirs and they are mine
in America, because with them | have
found such rest and peace as the world has
elsewhere never given. Because with
them the warm heart beat of nature has
come tenderly near. Because among them
there has been condolences earnest, friend
ship true and loyalty sacred Because
wherever | go, by hill OF dale, by town
or city, the love word they gave me long
ago, 'Gorgio Chali' goes with me as the
seal and reminder of ten thousand endear-
ing experiences, and thrills me that have
a place in many hearts, hearts of wander
ers though they be. And because, per-
haps there is faint of gypsy blood in my
own veins that brings me to my own.
| am theirs and they are mine in this
land, because rough and uncouth men have
received me everywhere as a brother and
an honored guest; haegish spae-wives,
with heads awry, as if to catch every syl-
able uttered, have listened with kindling
eyes to word | have brought them from
kindred across the sea; great hulking
youths, hearing with open-eyed wonder,
have been nerved with hope for a better
land and life; blooming gypsy lasses, with
arms across their mother shoulders, and
y
hood, have stolen chances at c.le stranger,
seeming to look beyond him with yearning
eyes 70 his fair, far country, where gypsies
ride IN wagons ike palaces and eat from
plates of silver; while trustful gypsy child
rem, Juggling at my knees, have searched
my scant pockets, climbed into my arms
and fallen asleep-their instinct IS TO the
stranger proving, after all, the truest
sesame to The gypsIes hearts at hoyoe. 1t
is always in this selfish, unevangelical way
that | have known IN all lands the outcast
Romany race, and because of 1T have not
overmuch evil to record of them.
There are not all told-and this includes
skulking city Romany, unknown in their
town vocations as members of the gypsy
race-upward of 5000 gypsies in Ireland,
of whom barely 900 follow the precarious
out romantic life of the road.
Let gypsy spae-wife Or fortune teller
once slip into an Irish cabin ard begin any
Of her black art conjurings, the smoke of
war will at once rise above that spot. Call
ing On all the category Of saints In one
shrill and mighty breath of appeal, the
Irish mother will greet this gypsy cheat to
such a whirlwind Of eviction as may be
heard for half league away. The very
matching would be pulled from the roof,
if necessary, to speed and force the battle
for the home against the grewsome wiles.
And my gypsy friends the world over
know this fact so well and bitterly that
universally with their race Ireland is
termed, in recognition of its barrehess for
their purposes, sallah lodlie, or the unlucky
and accursed territory.
There is a marked difference In Scotland.
In proportion to its population there are
more gypsies in the land O cakes than in
England. Scottish traditions and litera-
ture, especially the ballad poetry of Scot
and, are full of gypsy countryside lore and
supe1stitions which have been the out
growth of very genial and close relation
between gypsies and Scottish peasantry.
Gypsy blood is known to course In The
veins of many Of the Scottish nobility.
These people actually secured the counte-
nance, if not the favor, Of James ~.
James v entered into league with John
Faw, lord and earl of little Egypt, in
1910, directing all in authority in his
realm to compel the return to Flaws sub
mission all those Egyptians who had re-
belled against him, aud that all officers
should assist in OBTAINING and Furnishing
these people sin conformity with his
laws" so that, as the edict read, ''the said
John have no cause of complaint in time
coming"
This Faw. whose shrewdness stampe
the genuine gypsy upon his ch aracter, wa
the progenitor of the many tribes of Flaws,
Faas or Falls, who, with the Baillies, have
been the most noted and numerous of
Scottish gypsies, whose descendants |
have found in respectable numbers and
condition throughout the United States.
The environs of Edinburgh and Glas-
gov are full of gypsies who are superior in
physique to their English brethren about
London, Birmingham, Manchester and
Liverpool. In TweeddaIe, Anapdale, and
Nithsdale are many families Of gypsies
whose responsibility and Individual means,
although they lead to a rowing life,
would compare favorably with those Of the
small farmers of the same regions. The
gypsies whom | have met in Aberdeershire
and Perthshire are not so we'll OFF, but are
much liked and always welcomed among
the peasantry.
The largest aggregation of Scottish gyp-
sizes, now sadly dwindled, is at the border
Teviotdale town of Yetholm. These might
De called the house gypsies, IS they occupy
matched cabins in Kirk 1etholm, the
property of the l.Iarquis of Tweeddale,
held under the curious tenure Of nineteen
times nineteen years" at a nominal rent.
But few families remain. Nearly all
the old stock has died off or emigrated to
America, though no longer ago than 1847
they mustered from round about over 500
souls and 800 asses to escort the remains
o. their old king, canny "Wull (WilD
Faa," from Coldstream TO the burying
ground at Kirk Yetholm. It was here,
tnn thai nv Iata friend Tn. hri ohtast wit