The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-17

under the Crcaklng carts There. lnuu-
merable odds and ends OF the real tinker's
craft There the camp-fires. which, low
as they may smolder, are never allowed
10 wholly 60 out, because they're represent
a lingering loyal trace ofolden Aryan fire
worship. There, crouching by cart, or
tent, or fire, or on launches, at the
camp entrance, as if sentineling the glad
eventide return of absent masters. were
the brave, loyal, gaunt and voiceless
Gypsy dogs. Here and there were the
kettle-sticks--nOt the stage tripods which
Durlesque Gypsy reality, but the strong,
sacredly priced, crooked iron kettle-sticks
with their sizzling pots beneath. While
here and there, but always facing each
other and the fires between, were the real
tents of the Romany; hoods rather than
tents; wooden blankets, like our grand
mothers stout old sheets, stretched over
bows of ash and fastened with polished
oaSen skewers; all so snug and strong
that no ordinary storm can wreck these
tiny Gypsy homes.
BY aud by as the shadows heightened
the camp gradually began to awaken with
returning life. The fires which had
smouldered 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
single or in groups to the tent I had been
allotted TO emphasize the welcome [ had
been given as the "Gorgio Chal" (the nom
Gypsy friend to the Gipsy) who was al
ready known for his wanderings with
their brothers and sisters in the far
off wonderland, America Nearly all
brought trophies of the days outing
Women who had been among the outlying
farms were laden with poultry, butter,
eggs and cheese knots of homespun yarn,
and many an article representing hours of
toll, which had been exchanged for bit
of gibberish and fortune"
While the camp was thus renewing its
eventide life and activity, a little com
motion near the roadside attracted my
attention. Gypsy men and women seemed
disputing eXcitedly. On going to the
group found a rough-looking fellow be-
ing pulled toward the camp by some,
while others were attempting to force
him back to the highway Earnest were
the prostestations for hospitable treat
ment, and shrill were the denunciations
and protests. The mans face was familiar
to me; but shaggy beard was an un-
usually woebegone and hang-dog
appearance for the moment prevented
a recognition. He looked at me appeal
ingly, and at the same moment one of the
Gypsy women screamed at him: "Yere
ma prince o. the NOkkums provincial
Yetholm Romany for Gipsies). Yere
gang . the dell a. t'githerW 1 knew him
then. 1t was Prince Robert, by royal
right king of all the Scottish Gipsies, but
so hopeless a tramp and vaga bond that he
had become permanent Outcast of this
outcast Romany race. The women were
the most implaCable; but I carried white
coin and kind words among them, and
soon had Prince Roberts admittance to
the camp assured. Then l made him
wash in the river; got some presenta BILE
Gypsy gear upon him; saw that he was
shorn and shaven by my own hands; and
brought him, penitent and comfortable,
If not an altogether welcome, guest to our
evening meal.
On the morning of the second day l
left my Gypsy friends by Annanside with
Prince Robert for a companion.
Some discourse among the Romany crew
upon Scottish Gypsy family lines
and their antiquity prompted the re-
mark from an old spae wife that outcast
Prince Roberts blood had the strain of
the Bruces in it, though his mother,
Esther Faa Blythe Rutherford, late
queen OF all the Scottish -GipsieS.
''Then We MIGHT weel gaze t. your for
bears, King Roberts, aud castle hame,
at Lochmaben, an TAX aries (pledge) T.
mend your ways; or yen ma ha' strae-
death "a natural death) at t. eendp'
replied another.
The within seized Prince Robert to do it.
had never seen the old castle ruins, and
It easily came about that we should 20
together; and we departed after many
solemn adiurations from the Gipsies that |
should refuse all pleadings of Prince |
Robert for liquor, or, in the event Of !
yielding to his certain demands for drink |
CHI 1,f i
Ockit in Lochmaben goal" rather than
TO permit him to return to the Annanside |
camp.
Less than an hours walk brought US to
the ancient royal burgh town of Lochma-
ben, beautifully situated on the shores of |
One of the nine tiny connecting lakes of |
the same name. Prince Robert told me
the name was Gaelic and meant lake of |
the fair women; and when | asked him
how he came to know Gaelic signifca-
ton he said with a shrug of his fine, ruff
ceilidh, y which means aud wives Cos
siping. But "the white clear lake, is
nearer the true Gaelic. The silence of
decay is upon Lochmaben burgh. Two
ong, struggling, silent streets intersect
each other at huge, plain crum bling
market cross. 1t is burgh of quaint old
granite homes, with matched roofs, in
udblJeu Dy quaint Dlu BFdQlbe-IdcGQ |
Scotch folk. Great square houses, great |
square doors and great square windows,
with great square blanched faces in them,
tell the story of olden opulence, older Dor
del prowess, and present incidence and
decay. The place was once full of hand
looms and thrift. To-day so deserted and
ifeless seems the burgh that your own
football on its ragged and uneven stones
mpels youonward with an almost startled
sense Of fear.
About a mile from the ancient town
On rongue-shaped peninsular which
extends into the lake called the Castle
och, we found the ruins of the grandest
fortress the Border ever knew The lake
upon the shores of which the ruins stand,
IS well as others of the pretty group, have
low, sedgy shores. In these are found the !
vendace fishes, from five to six inches in
ength, nowhere else discovered in Great
Britain, of brilliant silvery appear
lnce, and in anatomy and flavor much re-
sembling those famous American ciscoes,
which in June attract such hosts of an
glers to the shores of Lake Geneva, in
Wisconsin. They are the most deli |
cate fish known to the British gour-
nand. Their heads are extraordinarily |
and puce-colored transparent |
with the perfectly defined fig |
lre of heart, through which, when |
freshly caught the brain may easily |
De seen. Prince Robert disclosed a cur |
Gus bit of supersBitiOus folklore, con |
,eTnlnp this heart-ShDDp6 fipure in tho |