Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-06-03

folk; after which levce was held at the
royal palace, matched cottage with
a hard clay floor, and the night
was passed In all manner OF rustic
fevelries.
Queen Esther. whose life sized portrait
IN oil IS one Of my most priced OF Gypsy
relics, died at kelsu, dozen miles TO
the north Of ietholm, in July 1889.
Her curtegc from kelso TO Kirk Yet
holm where she was buried beside
hundreds OF her race, was a memorable
one. Thousands OF people came to
Netholm. Upon the coffin lay the royal
red cloak Of the Queen, and ~ enor.
nous white wreath OF roses, sent by
Lady John Scott. Of SpottiswoOd sur.
mounted this Both were Inferred with
the body Of the Queen. The Rev. Mr.
Davidson, for thirty.two yeats minister
OF the Kirk Neiholm church, tells me he
never Witnessed more remarkable
scene than al this burial. The services
were held at Kelso. but such vast crowds
massed about the grave at Yeiholm that
thou,l Mr. Davidson made effort To
reach II to say few words over the
body the grief OF the Gipsies and the
density Of the crowd prevented.
AZ the death OF Queen Esther. British
Gypsy royalty, in It's large, old.time
sense, came TO an esd. No one ever
aspired to her regal honors. Prince
Robert, her son, had become worth
less yagabond; and even old Princess
Helen, with whom | was once quite a
idyoritr, told me that she was 50 'Wcel
and fairly iickcr' IN the original contest
Tor succession that she had completely
lost all ambition for royal life -Four
years ago the pr sent summer a study IN
oil Of Queen Esthcr's face, done 10y
some yagrint artist, vas hanging IN a
tublcconists shop IN leith Walk, Edin-
bufgh. Attracted by the picture !
entered, secured permission TO examine
%, and. Just as was turning 10 depart,
! encountered about as i1rbidding a
looking tramp rs ever set eyes upon IN
Scotland Some similarity between his
poN pIttcd face and that of the dead
queens caused me to regard him In.
tcuty. Lccring at me as he followed
me into the street. he touched my
shoulder with one dirty paw and with
the thumb Of the other prodding back.
wards towards the shop asked me with
royal familiarity.
Dye ken me nooW
told him fatty that I did not wish to
ken him at all.
Then yer nae G0ygi0 ekak lGipsy's
friend that ye'rc famed" he replied as
blun,ly "Dinna be III to tholel" ldiil.
cult TO get along with he continued
whningly.
! was a little alarmed by his ufiianly
persistence, but he had given me
Gypsy challenge surely, and told him
To- Jaw the dum for a Romauy Choir,
which IN plain English meant he should
Get out for a Gypsy thief"
Mon, mon, he exclaimed as II cx-
pecting instant arrest "l'm nae cher.
I'm Prince Roberl-kung o. a. Nokkums
provincial Netnolm Romany for Gipsies)
It ! had my ainl'
IL was Prince Robert surely. Tenderly
enough now ! took him with me down
among the fishermen Of New Haven:
tcnderly still heard his maudlin tale OF a
beggarly tramps life and the earthwide
osiracism OF his own people: Of his
countless adventures ON the borderland
Of law; Of his familiarity with the iiiyibcg
or prison loaf OF every parish jail In
ScDtland-never for crime, but for end
less peccadillos In which he held hope
less pride, tendcrly still filed his paunch
with bitter ale, his tab jacket with sau.
sagcs and his trousers pockets with huge
English pennies; and lett him sleeping
sweetly on the murmuring beach, as his
wits aud the tide went out together.
Perhaps In the whole world this Is the
only instance where Gypsy royalty Is so
sadly enthroncd In witlcss wantonness.
The name Of Prince Robert Of Scotland
Is byword Of contempt in every Gypsy
camp or community in every land. All
other Gypsy rulers OF royal blood OF
those chosen TO power that ever knew
held absolute sway Their power Is
absolute because It is never exercised
save in essentials. They are beloved
because, strange as II may seem to those
who know not. their lives, from the
STANDPOINT Of Gypsy ethics, are LOFTY
good and true.
EDGAR /, WAKEAiAN.