The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-04-11
WHO ARE THE GYPSIESg
THEIR ORIGIN rs STILL ONE OF
THE MYSTERIES.
Their FIRST Appearances in Europe and
How They Were Receised-Their
-. Home Now IL the Wide,
Wide World.

- -
In the course OF the numerous wars
which have rent the world into hostile
factions the dispersal OF nations has
been OF not infrequent occurrence; but
generally IL has happened that when
nation was scattered the members lose
their national identity. the men have
forgotten 20 what nation they belonged
and have become absorbed into other
peoples. Two or three notable i'm
stances 10 the contrary. however. have
happened. but OF the whole number
none is more singular than that Of the
gypsies. people who were once a
race. and although now scattered
bands OF wanderers. nevertheless pre-
serve many OF those characteristics
which are generally considered 20 in
dictate nationality. Although ,heir
national identity was ages ago so COM
pletely destroyed. and by some great
national movement they were sent
from their native land 10 become wan
dcrers up and down the earth, still the
families Of Migrants retain much OF
their original language. together with
not "A few peculiarities which COM
plctely separate them from all other
peoples.
The first appearance OF the gypsies
In Western Europe was in 1Il7. when
band numbering. according 10 differ
snt accounts. between 400 and 1 400.
appeared in Germany. This little host
u invaders soon separated into smaller
parties which soon found their way in
TO every part OF Germany. The first
band was rapidly succeeded by others.
and under the influence of some UNI
known agency the gypsies soon came
In swarms and found their way across
he Alps into Italy across the Rhine
into France, over the Pyrenees into
spain. across the channel into the
British Isles. A few of their leaders
were richly dressed. and assumed all
he style OF medieval noblemen; but
.he great part were poor, ill-clad and
worse fed. A singular feature OF this.
he first invasion, lay in the fact that a
.ypsy band then seems from all
accounts TO have been precisely the
same a. the gypsy band to-day. The
men were ON horseback or on foot the
women and children In wagons; the
gypsies were noted for their fast driv-
! ing, for their love OF horses and dogs
| They called themselves the Sicani. and
told various stories about their origin
and the country whence they had come
Some said they we're from India,
others claimed TO be from Egypt, and
underworld 10 excite popular sympathy
their behalf by various tales Of
heir sufferings. In one town they
detailed pathetic narrative of having
been driven out Of Egypt because they
Ibjured Christianity; in another they
claimed that the Saracens had expelled
hem from Asia because they refused
10 accept Mohammedanism In still
another they declared themselves 90
have been expelled from Asia by the
monster Tamerlane AT first their
stories were received with some degree
Of credit, but the gypsies themselves
soon fell into disfavor. They were
horse traders and horse thieves; they
were thinkers; they were petty pilfercrs
| of any small goods that could con
Geniently be stolen and secreted. Their
women were all fortune-tellers, and
tnculcated among the populace the
belief that "a gypsy woman could deal
! In the black art. In various countries
The people soon arose against them.
md. rs we are naively informed,
divers were slain for their evil
| deeds
This was their first appearance In
western Europe. but long before this
they were known In the east. though
how long Is uncertain. Two hundred
years before they appeared in Ger.
many they we're mentioned by an Aus.
trian monk. who saw them in Greece,
and Asia Minor. Writing "A paraphrass
on the book Of Genesis he pauses "a
incorporate In the margin bit OF hi,
experience concerning the gypsies
founding his remarks on the vers,
mentioning the birth OF Ishmael. "rhi,
Ishmael is the father Of these accursed
wanderers, who go up and down Tn,
earth trading horses and stealing. work
Ing In iron and making such employ
ment cover for their wickedness. Buy
nothing OF them for you are certain
never 70 get its full value. Glob,
| Democrat