The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-12
teorYmolrrD. lsa2, BY rDoArL- wArrnAyl

something inexpressibly pathetic in
tho unvarying good humor aud
kind henrtedncss OF English Gyp-
Ges when their hard and bitter,
though self.chosen, mode OF life is con.
sidered. And this is nowhere on earth
made so plain and emphatic as when
YOU find them in and about London, all
tho brightness OF the summer roads
and lanes but memory, and the cruel
deprivations oil winier-generally
winters battle for existence with mil.
lion other lowIy-staring them square
Is in their stoical faces.
Crafty, wary, hard, unworthy vaga-
bond though you deem him, as he
conironts you and mankind in this
battle for life and those he loves, he
truly has another side, CHEEKY, good
and manly one, 100, that, without one
leila oil the prompting TO which all
mo,!orn society stands indebted, often
rlnws with kindness, generosity, help
iuincs., good cheer, anu a spirit oil posi-
tive lovelincss.
An ugly word is never heard in =
Gypsy camp or band. A selfish act is
never seen. The eternal gOadIng oil II
mean woman, The brutal obscenity OF
bad man, the hateful iealousies Of
ncghbors, the contemplate rivalries OF
pretended fri Grds, Gacn and all are AS
unknown a. poison in the pure air oil
heaven they prealhe in ten: or upon
the road
There is a quality OF sincerity and
tendorress in their doings with each
other that Is ever simple, chiid!ike aud
beautiful. Their mirtiI, merriment and
iollity arc al considerable. Eaillerv is
tolerant; wit never murderous
weapon. With them good cheer is sci.
dom license; merry-making leaves little
sting; liberty never knows lewdness.
Ignorant az they may be OF your
books; ubstinately as they refuse the
''civilization" oil which VIC boast; Sc
crrtly proud ~ they arc OF the ostra.
Cism which brands them rs an outlaw
race; heathenish as YOU must consist
entity cali them because they hold your
ereeds in contempt; they are yet more
the peers OF any living people in every
thing tender and true and loyal grow
ing into and out oil the domestic rela.
ton, and in all that which yield without
law or force, and rs il unconsciously,
the helpful goodness which ever
prompts and always exceeds exact jua-
tice 70 ones fellows.
Gypsy GROUND.
There are undoubtedly hundreds Of
localities which may be termed "Gipsy
ground" in London and its far.reaching
suburbs. have visited nearly three
score OF these places within the past
few years. In some instances they are
in the most densely and folornly popu-
lated sections oil the metropolis. Horo
in perhaps the stable yard oil some
ancient historic inn, among the sheds
and outbuildings OF an abandoned
warehouse or mandatory, in the
mouldy, cobwebbed precincts OF some
habitation which has got into chancery
and inevitable decay, and even in
Whitechapel purlieus, and upon the
roofs OF houses at the edge OF the huge
masonary sustaining some OF the rail.
ways, many OF which pass out oil the
city above instead Of through or be-
meath it, will be found single families or
little communities OF the Romany folk.
All are working in their way rs il for
dear life TO sustain lie until the spring.
time exodus shall free them from their
hateful prisonment; and contrary TO
general belief, or what any one may
say, none OF them are idle.
Following up the trail and traits OF
Ginsies while in tlieir London winter
quarters, brought me originally among
the almost as curious costermonger
folk; and / found that there were hum
dreds OF Gipsy families owning kindred
tics to costers who sought quarters
among the class and at once fell into
their manner OF work and ways. Ac.
quaintance and confidence soon brought
mo to many OF these almost un known
Gypsy and costor communities in the
very hoart OF London.
Two OF them are, very interesting
and historic. II you IRE wandering
about London up Holborn way, and
should come to ancient Furnival's Inn,
you might motto that its decrepit back
hangs over tho entrance to narrow
lanc. This is Leather Lane. Scarcely
wiie enough beneath the back win
dows a. Furnivals Inn to permit the
entrance OF donkey and cart, it grad.
ually widens towardS Theobold's Row,
and tv the east and west is itself en-
tered by almost numberless closes and
courts. No casual frequenter OF Hol-
born would notice it, but the locality is
one OF tho densost in London in point
Of population Among the Thousands
OF lowly humans living here are July
500 costermongers, and in the winter
time half as many Gipsiel. The great
resort Of all these folk is the Leather
Bottle" public house within the
shadoWy precinct.
There are many odd places and stud.
les here. Tho former class rather pride
themselves OH their utter reciilessness
in the matter OF gambling, carousing
aud drinking. While they live in en-
tire harmony with their RonalIg friends
and posscaS 4 certain respect for their
Wintog companions which permits OF no
trihing, il was easy TO see that from the
coster standpoint OF ethics the tawny
folk are not considered fairly progress.
sivc. Fhcy are too quiet. They attend
closely 10 work and miniraize the i'll
effects oil poverty in London.
"Gor bill mol" said friendly costcr,
COW can We ave comfort bout o yer
neighborS, less 70 can 'elp carry em
'ome now an agin from tho Leather
Bottlo'2" Strike mo lucky II Hi doAn't
believe they'd rather heat whites than
lick pewtorl Clicking pewter" it must
De known, is costor for guszling "tour
alo''). Gods truth, but We awsE one on
'em for tho loan o bob (shillinE) for a
few pots at tn Bottle an their bloody
ln,nn nAirL hn,,L likn hlaAhin rnmRclns