Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-27

ceen content TO remain in .beir own land
In 1867, while in England, had means OF
knowing from personal observation
that almost universal squalor ana wretch
edness were characteristic Of Irish and
English, and particularly OF London,
Gipsies. No one can make a Gypsy
anything but Gypsy, but generation
OF change here has effected more
marked advancement 10 a rugged sor,
of prosperity with this than iyah rey
other lowly class. lyiilit
II has not seized the Gypsy bodily and
in moment, or year, or decade, put
fine clothing upon him and made him a
man Of affairs; but, something as with
the destitute Italians who have landed
upon American shores, whom we directly
find as hawkcrs, willing labofers, res,au.
rant keepers, newsboys, bootblacks,
controllers OF retail and wholesale fruit
aud nut trades, and on the high road TO
prosperity because they are quick wi,ted
and willing to labor--ihc British Gypsy
has found, along with old makeshilts Tor
a livelihood, many new though rude
occupations and means Of getting on 10
the world, all after his own mind and
heart.
With the race characteristics OF
these folk will require many genera.
tons In which TO undergo radical change
their conditions and environment are IA
the main entirely different from those IN
which Crabbe, Hoyland, Borrow and
Simson found them and of which thew
wrote. In other words, there Is today
little or nothing In book literature alto.
gether true OF British Gipsics. OF thi
four standard authors named Borrow
was the most romantic; Simson the most
inexorably true. Yet both write OF 4
time and merripcn or Gypsy life which,
with few exceptions, have wholly passed
away. These exceptions comprise tht
poorest English aud Scottish Cipsies q
today; some families IN the north q
England whose members have continu
ed almost literally the old form d
wandering life BY the roadside-the
tinkenng, the dickering, the dukkerink
or fortune telling and often the tiny sales
Of imperfect dSDl and iinware, content
with "whummeled" or uptuned cartl
for roof In summer, and any sort OF Al
town tenement in winter; the tiny, strag.l
Cling bands in Dcvonshire and Corn.
wall, where there has been little change
IN all social conditions for the past fifty
years: the few remaining Gipsies Of
Perihshire, Aherdeenshire and the Hight
land districts OF Scotland; and the Gip1
sizes OF Wales, where Is found the most
primitive and idyllc form OF Gypsy life
yet remaining in Britain. The Welsh
Gipsies rarely leave Wales. All Welsh,
people are fond Of them; and they are
almost as much an integral part OF the \
concrete rural social structure as are the
Welsh people themselves.
The fact is that British Gipses, as well
as our American GipsIes, hundreds OF
whom could name. who are worth from
$4,000 to 500 900 IN landed property,
have, during the past quarter OF CEN
tury developed a remarkable ability for
certain lowly kinds OF trade. These
have been natural ouigrowth, In most
instances, OF the petty waysidc dicker- |
ing OF less fortunate times, but they are
still pursuits requiring the exercise Of
good thrift and Judgment and OF a |
genuine probity that make the Gipsy |
mlddleman welcome both where occas-
lonal credit is necessary, and among
his countryside customers. In the main
they are van-dwelcrs. in the summer
time, as with us, travelling certain well.
defined routes and purveying in villages
and even In the outskirts OF towns and
cities, articles whose annual aggregate
value mount TO a stupendouS sum.
Their cavalcades nj the outset NAV
comprise one or more vans. These are.
briefly described, tiny houses upon |
wheels. They are drawn by donkeys, |
or often by broken down city tram |
horses which the Gipsies get in the
cities for a song, and which with care
are finally transformed into excellent
cattle. Following these may be three |
or four, or half dozen. little donkey
carts, after the fashion Of the cos,er
mongers' city carts. These will hold |
the real resources of the band. An eN.
animation OF the latter would reveal
almost enough material in quantity
certainly enough in variety, to stock
little country store.
This stock In trade has not been
picked up at random. In the London
district there are great
storehouses Of Travellers Goods
Their owners, who | find include
wealthy Gipsies, could not continue In
business without the Gipsies' trade. The
goods handled are somewhat similar 10
Our American bargain counter" odds
and ends, especially In tinware. and
metal goods, hardware, crockery. cheap
oilcloihs and household nicknacks.
with The coafsest beads and qilded
ewelry. II would be revelation TO
ordinary English ,radesmen to realize
he enormous quantities OF stuff annu.
ally disposed OF in this manner through.
out England, Scotland and Wales and
he integrity OF these Gypsy wanderers
ghere they ask and receive credit
or their supplies, as they
,ften do. Smaller Travellers
Goods" stores may be found near
he Bull Ring In Birmingham, where
arts may be reflled in the lazy journey.
ngs; but small shipments from time to
ime are forwarded by rail from
.ondon.
have friends in the fruit and nut
rade in the Drury Lane quarter Of
-ondon who have supplied Gipsies in all
ARTS OF the provinces for the past twenty
leaIs. Hall Of this trade Is done on
,redi', and the iruiterers all inform me
hey have never lost penny at the
lands OF their thousands OF Gypsy small
customers. All these goods, fruits and
rus are hawked in little villages and
olu AT iairs and on maikct.days. Indeed
Nv Nh,sh country lair OF today would
ose an US picturesqueness and most of
y attractions for younger people were
men withdrawn. '''' $50"
ABOUT NE middle Of the century when
ne BRUSH Rural Police Act, which Was
hIeetya against Gipsies and all wander.
~ '2ik oil me road, came in force. we
ia borrow lamenling that the Gypsy
az nowhere to lay his head" The
p n'nr;sa g measure undoubtedly sent