The record-union., 1891-06-06
Wakeman's Wanderings in an In
teresting District.
The ssGorcio ChaI'' Again Among His
Gypsy Friends Another Master
piece in Word Painting From His
Gifted Pen-A Region Famous
Among English Sportsmen.
Especial Correspondence of the RECORD
UNION. Copyright, 1911
THE BRoADs, Eng, MAY 25. 1891

given me with Gypsy friends, from the
accident of crossing Furness Fells from
Ruskin's home at Brentwood, and
stumbling upon their picturesque camp
at the fellside edge of Dalepark, where, in
the late afternoon l found only the
old men and women, the sentineling
Gypsy dogs, and the very young Gypsy
chauvies or children in possession of the
lovely glen which formed their temporary
home.
By and by as the shadows heightened
the camp gradually began to awaken
with returning life. The fires which had
smoldered the day through were re-
newed by the now bustling old Gypsy
women, and the pots and kettles sung
merrily of good things to come. Gypsy
men and women began coming into camp
from all directions, and nearly all came
singly or in groups to the tent had been
given, to emphasize my welcome as the
"GOrgio ChaP' (the non-Gypsy friend
10 the Gypsy who was already known
for his wanderings with their brothers
and sisters'' in the far-off wonderland,
America.
All, you who read these words will
never know the thrill that gladstone
welcoming term has brought to me in all
lands for a quarter of a century past.
"Gorgio chal v'-"Gorgio chal ~ Those
words of Gypsy trust and endearment
follow me ever out into the other world
OF labor, struggle, endeavor. They pur-
sue into the haunts of men where life
RACES and activities roar. They call from
striving and winning, from race and
place, almost as the sweetest of all home
sounds to me. They come across invis-
able hills and meadows when the brain
is tired and the pen weary. "Gorgio
chal r'-"Gorgio chal!" They are as the
sound of summer melodies, of singing
birds, of falling waters, when one all but
faintS in the whitening city's ways. They
call to me even in dreams. There is
surely the Gypsy taint III my blood or
am become Gypsy vagabond altogether.
would not resist the spell If / could.
They are my own, these tawny folk, who
press around to thrill my heart and moist
my eyes with the heartiest, truest, sweet
est welcomes ever knew or can know
in all the wide, wide world
Nearly all brought trophies of the days
outing. Women who had been among
the Umbrian "statesmen's' farms Were
laden with poultry, butter, eggs, cheese,
knots OF homespun yarn, and many an
article representing hours of toll, which
had been exchanged for bit of gibber-
ish and fortune" while those from
the villages of Ambleside, Bowness or
Windermere, and some who had even
wandered to far-off Kendall, chartered
gaily over trifling purchases and gew-
gaws of worthless tinsel and color. Now
and then Gypsy appeared in the lively
condition Of spirits indicating that con-
siderable liquor had entered into the
days jockeying among the wise yollels
of the remoter hamlets, but while some
general sport was had with the fellow. it
was not difficult TO see that his weakness
was the subject of "A general disapproval.
Indeed, there is an universal unwritten
law among Gypsies that all men may
profit from. The adage runs in this
wise: only Gypsy fool letteth his wits
fly away through drink, when he hath
aaght to do" And there is a world of
wisdom in that little sentence. if these
rude people did make it.
But soon the camp was everywhere
filled with life and activity. Horses
neighed; donkeys brayed; dogs charged
and tumbled over children and between
horses heels; while old men and women
seemed TO renew their youth and smiled
and gabbled upon and with home-comers,
with each other, and as if with the empty
air. Snatches of song begun by Gypsies
at one extremity of the camp were taken
up and finished with a flourish at the
other. Here are single stanZas from three
OF them, called respectively, "By Day
and Night" 1.-The Night ha' Come" and
''Chee !-Cheer' (Silence BE stillD y:
Be as sly as cat,
or the bing tdeviD will pull out his harro
(sword)
With a wink, through the hedge,
Or from OF some near ledge,
He will spring out and chop off your sherro
(head)l
The night ha' come the stars are out,
The campfires twinkle il the hedge;
But sure as I'm a Gypsy lout,
II hobbies" sneak this camp about
The stones VIII rattle from the ledge,
An heads VIII break, my word pledge
My word pledge, my word pledge!
On the drom roadJ there is much that is try
ing;
Make dickering do for thy buying.
BE wise as an OWL
But if ''bobbieS" should prow!,
just give them fine lesson in lying,
Look them square in the yak (eye)
II they warn We;
Hit them plump in the max nose),
II they ScoTn yc;-
come:
Then it's ''Cheel checr' when the "bobbies''
come:
For it's better to be lying than crying!
Mingled with the lusty notes of these
English Gypsy songs were merry "tally-
yo-hos ~ rung out on the evening air by
returning horsemen to the campside
singers. Now and then some daredevil
of a fellow land often GYPSY woman,
who is as much the horses master as her
Rommany lord), would come pell-mell,
full gallop into camp, with whoop and
halloa, and, dashing through the brush to
tether, make the tree-limbs rattle and
clatter in passage, while approving shouts
or half-serious yellS and objurgations fol-
lowed with the laughing children and ec-
static dogs. Soon came the supper-the
really one great universal home-meal OF
the Gypsy day. They were a long time
at it, as they always are, and as much fun
as food was taken. Then with the CHEEKY
camp-nres brightly burning, here and
there lantern hung from elevated cart
thlll or swaylng copsewood, and with
blazing cressetS in honor of the stranger
first came my own tales of all the won
drous good fortune of their own kind in
America; then childreR's games and all
manner of campside iollity. followed by
singing and dancing after marvellous igs
and reels upon "raal OF Cremonys," ;" un-
til at last sleep and silence settled upon
N'Gorglo Chal' within II, with that ampli-
tude of rest which so comes with loving
touch TO no other people on earth as u
this outcast Rommany race.
The outcome of my visit to my Gypsy
friends was making the acquaintance of 9
curious and interesting corner of Eng
land, of which had never before heard
and which must also be to most Ameri-
cans quite an unknown region. It is
Variously known in Great Britain as the
Norfolk and Suffolk Fens,'' the 'Broads
of East Anglia" and, provincially and by
fowlers and sportSmen, as "The Broads." ]"
One of the families of this Gypsy Park
dale community annually visits the
Broads. lives in punt boat as a floating
camp home, and while the women dicke
and QUICKER among the lowly peasant
families, the men, often with the women
and children's assistance, make a good
deal of money by weaving and selling all
n n m Il gci..,