Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-12-10
A PROSECUTED RACE.
TORTURED AT THE STAKE FOR
CRIMES CONFESSED.
An English Law Authorizing Thclr Muir
der when Three We're Found To-
gether--The suffering of
thu Gypsies.

appearance in Asia Minor early In tho
middle ages, Their first appearance
in western Europe was in lil7 when
several hundred appeared in Germany
and rapidly spread over II In small
bands or companies. Through some
unknow cause others quickly followed
until great swarms Of them found their
way across the Alps into Italy, across
the Rhine into France, over the Pyre-
noes into Spain, and across the English
Channel Into England
Tho first appearance OF tho strange
wandering people created considerable
speculation. Thoy were always led
by Duke or Count" who was
richly dressed, carrying lotters from
kings and omperors They travelled
In bands. tho men on horseback and
tho women and children IN wagons.
They told various tales of suffering
and persecution, and excited the SYM
pathy Of tho Europeans. But thoir
stories did not agree, says the Epoch,
and their actions were no loss consist
emit than their words. They became
horse thieves and petty robbers and
their fortune tolling women soon gave
the simple folk OF Europe tho impress
sion that thoy were dealers In tho
''blnck art
They were quick and apt TO learn
and were handy craftsmen, generally
more skillful than tho native work.
mon. They were courteous and ana
bic, and shortly became famous as
nddlers In Italy, ~ guitar players In
Spain, and as harpists in Wales ana
Ireland Their wonderful adaptability
soon won for thom good living and
fair ronown In all Europe and many
privileges were granted thom. They
became good artists and ougrnvers
which led thom TO tho art OF counter
foiting; thoy became good musicians
only to generate into beggars and
mendicants; they became good takers
In order tho better TO choat ut IA bar
gain; and IN short they cultivated
every art, trade and science only To
degrade and abuse t. Under such
circumstances tho gypsies soon fell
into discredit Many OF their number
wore arrested and punished for their
crimes, but the others continued 10
practice unlawful trades. A strong
feeling of dislike then roso up against
them, and they were accused OF rob-
bling graves or killing children TO ont
thom, and OF numbering men to drink
their blood.
A general persecution followed all
over Europe. Tho hated wanderers
were tortured on the rack, burnt and
imprisoned They were supposed TO
be witches and cannibuIs, and tho peo-
Pic began to fear them as VOL as 10
hate them. They were ordered out OF
several countries on pain of death but
they persisted in returning on staying
where they were when tho pc socu-
tons began Many OF the dark stories
cone rning their lifo which are mixed
up with folk-lorc tales, superstitions
aud fairy stories, were started during
this period. At first they seemed TO
have religion Of their own, but they
soon adopted the practice OF embrace
ing tho religion Of the people with
whom they dwelt. Along with this,
however they observed many secret
ceremonies OF thoir own which were
surrounded with so much mystery that
now fuel was added to tho flames,
| When tortured at tho stake thoy con
fcssod many crimes OF which they were
accused. such as being witches, deal
ors In the black art and prophets.
These confessions made tho simple
country people dread them so that
| they were often afraid TO complain TO
the authorities OF any act Of doprcda-
ton performed by the hated people.
Matters, however, reached n culmina-
ton IN time, and the gypsics were
| killed and hung by the hundreds for
no other reason than being members
Of the hated race. They finally fed
| from tho scenes OF their worst persecu-
ton and sought tho rural districts OF
less populOus countries. In England
this was brought about by tho peculiar
adventure OF James V. who came near
losing his life at the hands OF tho wan
derlng people. This monarch entered
one Of their camps at night in disguise,
and soon became great fuyorlte; but
when he assaulted one OF the gypsies he
had TO reveal his identity TO save his
life
He was kept prisoner several days
aud released only upon the promise
that no would not punish his captors;
but the king issued II proclamation. In
revenge, making IL lawful TO kill a
gypsy whenever three were found to-
gelher. Tho gypsios fed to Scotland
after this. whore they mingled with
the natives and adopted their clannish
institutions in peculiar way. The
bands became separate clans, ruled by
chieftains, whosbecame as hostile as
any set OF clans IN the highlands.
They had many private battles and
auarrols, but In the wars with Scot
land many OF the Scottish gypsy chiefs
were men OF undaunted courage. The
majority OF the Scottish gypsies have
emiqratcd to America whore they
have spread over vast tract OF coun.
try. Here they have gradually be-
come lost to view as distinctive race.
In Europe they are found in the
greatest number to-day in Hungary
and WallaGhia where there are about
100000 From their first appearance
down to the present tho gypsie5 have
been great players and second-rate ac-
tors, and it is asserted by one writer
that there is not theater or music
hall in England or America that does
not include one or more persons OF
gypsy descent In this country many
OF them conduct small circuses or tray
cling shows, which they erect in tho
woods where they pitch their camps
and charge nominal sum for admis-
sion. The gypsies of to-day are divid-
I'd into the full blooded or tent gypsies
aud the Kairengroes or house-dwell-
ers who keep their gypsy blood Sc
cret. This division OF the race shows
| that thav nra UrudualIy Vialdinp ~