The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-06
WAKEMAN'SW ANDERINGS
THE GYPSIEs OF LONDON AND
ROUNDABOUT.

Picture of the Annual Return of the
London Romany Bands by the High
est living Authority Upon Gypsies.
Rise of the English Gypsy-Gypsy
Ever, But Travelling Tradesmen"
Now, Rathar Than Wandering Rogue
and MendicAnt.
Copyright
LONDON, Oct. 24.-To me there is no one
thing more picturosquely suggestive of the
dying year than the scurrying toward win
ter quarters in any land by innumerable
bands Of pilgriuiing folk, my tawny friends,
the gypsies.
With your own fancy's eyes you may see
I the farthest southern flights of song-birds
which have deserted your 10 wering skies for
lands of endless summer balms, and feel its
certain premolition of frozen days to come,
or contemplate tie myriads Of brown leaves
whipped along the ways and fences by ad-
vance picket lines of winters resstless
II hosts, and posse SIS all the tender, mournful
mu>ngs of the changeful autumn time.
but this fastening OF the whole people
Il ltom out the summer heart OF the country
SIDE; this reluctant, driven, hurried human
4 scattering from hedgeside home beneath the
sun and STARS to the miserable makeshifts Of
CITY housing; has in it far more impressive
q Winters coming tran ell the autumn
lights of birds and wind whipped beatings
OF bare branches and bedraggled brown
leaves.
Hus gifts old, doa'nt husan
his from tinker Zeke, the other morning
where | had remained over night with a
gypsy caravan beside dreary down on the
old stage road to Bath. Bareheaded and
Dareiooted he had clambered outside OF
! MS tiny roadside habi alton to look
Ger the day. | could see him through the
frowsy tent mouth, looking anxiously for
onlens 10 the still half darkened sky, the
crisp wind tossing his CRAVING locks and
mapping the unbottoned corners OF his
WOODEN shirt front across his shaggy breast.
lie looked again and again at the sky, and
over to the satfron-tinted east. Then, with
Doth hands deep in his trousers pockets, he
gave his old body sort OF shuddering rub
anu twist, and vouchsafed dejectedly:
Illus gifts old, doa'nt hus" ..--.
"Ho IS that, Ecker | answered merrily
enough, cete mined to provoke continue
uon OF his strain of gypsey philosophy II
possible "Gl psies never get old. And be-
adeS, you're too brave an old rascal, Zeke,
little" =.
III tells ye, bus all gifts old"' This We
nemently. Hi never quits the country
thout mndin' me Of hit. Hits like moulain
Hylng), leastwise fur me to jaw vree the
IRON Ito leave the road. Gan'sa sturdie
VIe towns a prison..
Here was a genuine exhibition of gypsy
%'ument. Zeke pumped himself down
d ngside the moldering campfire, with biz
SLOWS upon his knees and bis fine old head
y. !. his hands, and apparently gave way tc
1ue most gloomy reflections. Catching G
gypsy off his guard is not a common thing
sal felt like probing him little.
Turn gorgio mon gypsy then, Zeke
sll'y every day Of life with happy, per
mAnent home over your head; go TO heaven,
Were there won't be any rough winters"
lie looked at me first in blank amaze
Hent A fine scorn came in.o his swarthy
LAce, Then in tone of mingled reproof
disbelief and almost pathetic longing, h'
SAD with ridiculous solemnity: AYE, N
ma turn gorgio, nor even ka r rajah (Jowt
or fase gypsy, the most contemplate of al
Oeings III he estimation of road gyesies) ful
q lhat-made suren
Az, honest Zeke! and who would notf
here were perhaps two score vans, with
vi their ramshackle belongings, their DO les
asses and dogs, their crocsery, cocoan Il
ana oil cloths, their skewers, pegs, rusf