davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning times., 1895-08-18

Mrs. Harrison was the original Gypsy
queen. Since her death the office has
been vacant, and Madame Burnett says all
the other so-called queens are imposters
NOMADs OF ALL SORTS.
The records IN the camp show that there
are between 1000. and 5000 Gypsies in
this country, wandering from state to
state. Those in Berry's woods are typi-
cal lot, from the troops OF laughing chill
dren to the grizzled and gray old veterans
who assist locomotion with the aid of a
stout staff made from hickory sapliug.
The callers at the camp embrace many
swell people from Northwest Washington.
They go there principally TO have their
fortunes told. Whether they really believe
there is any virtue in the black art, or
whether they simply submit 10 the process
for the novelty OF the thing, is known only
TO themselves.
Last year Nine. Burnett had as one OF her
visitors a certain United States Senator,
whose name she would not divulge. She
outlined his future political career and
concluded by informing him that he was
q Presidential probability. The Seuator
was pleased and handed the sorceress a
crisp S5 bin as her fee.
The madame said that her power OF
foreteIling events was a natural gift.
Scientists" she added, "say IL is a
psychic power. Well, that may be another
name for it,"
HAS NEVER SLEPT INDOORS.
Nine. Brunett is thirty-five years old and
never slept in house in all that time.
The several Gypsy camps have 10 pay 81
rent each week for the ground they oc-
The morning times., 1895-08-18

as the reporter climbed into its interior
Yesterday. The wagon in the Bates Camp,
next to the Burnett, is also a model oil
neatness and great Improvement over the
old canvass covered rigs which were IN
vogue in years gone by.
The Gypsy of to-day is upto-date, as one
can readily see by inspecting their camps
out on the lexington and Soldiers Home
railroad.
DOGS OF EVERY DEGREE ANDCOLOR.
Another interesting feature of the Gypsy
camp is it's colony OF dogs They are OF
every breed, color and degree, from the
snarling little yellow cur to the noble
mastiff or st. Bernard. They are well
behaved animals during the daytime, but
their masters say they are veritable teTrors
after dark.
The Gypsy kitchen is out upon the
green sward. They use stoves now IN
lieu Of the lmpromptu Open-air fire-places
OF the olden time The dining table, too,
is spread out of doors under some great
spreading chestnut or oak tree. There
is a charm about this sort of nomad ex-
istence which makes iteself apparent as
soon as one enters the camp.
The Bates camp also presents pretty
scene. 1t is situated on a picturesque
slope, at the foot OF which is ripping
stream OF clear spring water, into which
the Gypsy children wade and paddle
during these sultry summer days.
MAD DOG IN THE CAMP.
There was an exciting episode in the
camp last Tuesday. A mad dog, frothing
at the mouth and swapping large pieces
OF bark off the trees, came galloping
through the woods The rabid animal
stopped long enough IN its uncertain
charge to engage in a combat with
bull terrier which belongs to the Barnett
camp. The terrier is now chained to an
oak tree, while its owners await develop
ments. Should the canine manifest any
symptoms OF hydrophobia two charges Of
bucksbot will be emptied into its body.
The shotgun is loaded and ready for the
execution.
This fall, probably next month, 1t is pro-
posed to hold a Gypsy's convention in
Berry's Woods, if Nine. Burnett can COM
plete her plans in time. 1t will be one OF
thenost novel conventions on record.
The Gypsy colonies are expected to ar
rive from every section OF the country.
In fact, 1.-THE woods will be full of 'em. ="
The sessions will be held in the wildwood i,
and many matters ofinterest to the wander
ing fraternity will be discus sed and acted
upon.
The morning times., 1895-08-18
WHERE THE GrPSIES LIVE
Their Picturesque Camps in the
Suburbs of Washington.
NOMADS OF BERRY'S WOODS
Interesting Talk With Madame Bur-
nett, the Prophecies, About Bad
Gypsies who Beg and Steal Chill
dren-Qusint Homes in the Wild
woods-Ida, the GYPSY Segress.

Berry's woods is a picturesque spot on
the lexington and Soldiers Home electric
railway, between the pretty village OF Eek
ington and the Catholic University.
Berry's woods have long been the camping
ground for the rowing bands OF Gypsies
who find their way 10 Washington and
vicinity in August and during the golden
autumn time. They spend the dreary win
tiers there, only to resume their perigrina'
tions in the spring.
There are three colonies OF the dark
skinned wanderers in camp there now, and
the woods presented picture of life and
nature when a Times man took a flying
trip there yesterday in an electric car.
The grove slopes TO The west, and then goes
downward, with its wealth OF blackberry
bushes, shrubbery, great oaks, and chest
nut trees, TO the Washington pike, SO rich
with traditions and famous in history.
PLACE OF NATURAL BEAUTY.
The Gypsies could not have selected pret-
tier spot for their campground any where
about Washington, not even splendid Rock
Creek Park The tents and red-painted
wagons which dot the green sward under
the wealth OF foliage from the big gnarled
trees can be plainly seen from the windows
of the electric cars as they go bowling
along with their changing gongs and
whirring sounds.
Immediately on the roadside is the camp
presided over by Madam Burnett and her
husband, a thrifty horse-trader. The mad
am is a tail, comma nding appearing woman
and an adept fortune teller She is ma
tive Egyptian, born on the Nile, near Cairo,
Egypt, but came to this country when a
child She talks English fluenuy, and is
thoroughly posted on ancient and current
Gypsy history. Her colony Of nomads con-
sists Of seven souls.
IDA, THE GYPSY NEGRESs
One Of the seven is colored girl, Ida
Ridgway, who was raised by Madam Bur-
nett from the time she was seven years OF
The morning times., 1895-08-18

Misses Marie Howe Claudia and Freda Fred
erick, Mamie Hamilton, Florence Hare and
Messrs. Mark Hamilton, Edward Sergeant,
Elliot Noy,r and John Hare.
The Bro1Aland Drum Corps held bust
ness ssmeetiugi in the town hall Friday evening,
after which Mr.. Gass, the drum major,
drilled the youthful soldiers in military
tactics The corps expects to receive its
uniforms in time for the next meeting,
August %.
The Sun1sy-school children Of the NJ
E Church ,r6 er the direction of DR.. Thos. Y.
Hull is making arrangements for picnic
In the Soldiers Home grounds on Septem-
Der g..
Miss Helen a. nd Jennie Johnston, of Phila
delphia, are visiting their graudparei!s s,
Mr. aud Mrs. Peter job uston, of Dover
street.
Mr.. T. G. Canuick and son Edward, who
have been spending some time in upper
Maryland returned yesterday afternoon.
Word has been received that Miss Brooks
and party are enjoying life along the coast
OF the Adriatic. Mrs. Carl Burg and Mr..
Edward Burg are in the Swiss Alps, and
Miss Antoinette Margot is in Geneva.
The morning times., 1895-08-18

Western and Southern editors take up
the reports for their respective sections.
They are familiar with the territory they
serve, and make such selections OF news
matter as will most interest the people re-
siding in particular localities. The tele-
graph operators send and receive all out
going and incoming Intelligence, and keep
the wires continually busy. The boys
make manifold copies of everything origi-
mating in Washington, aud distribute all
telegraphio matter received, hanging a
copy upon the hook of each paper served
locally by the office.
TELEPHONE HORRORS.
The telephone is quite a useful adjunct,
but, like all good things, has its commen-
surate drawbacks. Many valuable sug-
gestions are received IN this way as to hap
penings, and there be those who also take
hand for the qualification of their own
curiosity. Anybody that is within reaching
distance feels 1t incumbent upon himself
to answer when the telephone bell rings.
The queries are sometimes a trifle con-
fusing if not actually astoun ding. us
this Blanks undertaking establishments
Please send over a loaf OF Scotch bread"
Have you any good bottled beer?" Such
interrogations are by no means rare, and
are the result of caqeleSsness In asking for
numbers. ~
Questions more frequently propoun ded
| to the aspiring journalist are on this line:
ION what day and in what year was Car
| thage destroyed blythe Romans?" when
| did Abraham discover Mesopotamia?" us
| seining permitted under the laws of Alaskan
| us there queen of Spain sitting on the
| rock of Gibraltar waiting for the fortress
| TO be retaken from the British?"
A GENERAL CONVENIENCE.
| But 1t is on the night succeeding some
! great sporting event that the telephone
! is made to earn its salary. Every man
/. that can by hook or crook obtain access
to an instrument asks one or the other OF
| the press associations as to the result
| 1t may be said Incidentally that number
| of undoubtedly feminine voices are heare
| making similar inquiries. 1t is not only the
| pleasure but the duty of those In the OF
| fices to answer all interrogatorles politely
and a special effort is always made to fur
nish the information desired. The ar
| rival OF the great ocean liners is subjec
| of frequent inquiry. Occasionally an en-
thusiastic speculator calls up at d late hou
of the night and desires to know TIT
opening price of quicksilver on the London
| stock exchange.
Those who make freak calls in perso
! at the offices Of the press association
The morning times., 1895-08-18
TAKOMA PARK ITEMS.

Mrs. Wilbur, of New Orleans, is here
with her daughter, Mrs. E. Il. Booth. AS
soon as the little daughter Emma is able
to travel they all intend to return to New
Orleans.
Miss Jennie Doing, of Ammondale, was
the guest this week of Miss Cora Spinner.
The mother of Prof Coward is visiting
him this week
Mr.. and Mrs George Hopkins, recent
guests of Mrs W L. Follmer, left last
Tuesday for their home in Pennsylvania
Felix Holt returned this week from
long visit to friends on the Eastern Shore.
The residence of Mr.. H. A. Cady is re-
ported TO have been visited by burglars.
Mr H. R. P. Holt is at home again from a
trip to Europe.
Miss Susie Davis, of Rockville, is visit
ing friends in the park.
The Junior c. E. Society, held Friday
evening, was led by Miss Ethel Mooers, in
the absence of the president, Miss Mabel
Bailey.
The morning times., 1895-08-18

age She is now seventeen, and a ra ther
prepOsSeSsing mulatto. The girl was born
at Scranton, Pa. Her mother is dead, but
her father is stin in the land OF the living.
Ida" said the madam, 'is the only
Gypsy negress in the world As such she
is a real novelty. Don't you think SOP
Wherever this colony goes there is always
a great scramble to see the colored Gypsy
girl
The madam is quite a distinguished per-
son in Gypsy life and is regarded as a sort
Of sage or phrophetess 10y the tribes in this
country. There has been some talk OF
making her the Gypsy queen for the United
States There has been no queen since the
death Of Mrs Harrison, who was recog-
nized as such all over the world, wherever
a band Of the wanderers could be found.
The morning times., 1895-08-18

after 6 O'Clock in the evening constitute
a class peculiar to themselves Some of
them have solved the riddle involved In
the Prophet Daniels time, times, and half
q time, and hasten to enlighten the general
public Others have discovered the secret
OF perpetual motion, are going to trundle
wheelbarrow around the world for the
purpose of locating the equator, have ar
ranged to turn handspring down the
steps of the Capitol, or are preparing to
exist without eating for seven years-al
these and countless more with similar
easy undertakings on hand desire 10
thoroughly advertise the events in advance.
Many come to tell their troubles, for
getting that q policeman dra VS. his salary
for that very purpose. They range all
the way from being kicked out OF the house
by the red-headed cook to being chased up
an electric light pole by a mad dog. They
do not so much seek notorlety as sympathy,
but they fail to receive either
LITERARY SPECTATORS.
few visitors call with the object in
vie Of selling q story at the rate OF So
a column, and are surprised to learn that
the death of George Washington and the
discovery of America have already been
pretty well covered. They invariably leave
with the firm conviction that the rejected
article was of such intrinsic merit that
the editor desired to steal it, so that he
could derive for himself all the credit of
its origination.
Many cunningly devised specials come
floating in during the night and find a
comfortable resting place in the waste
| BASKET They are generally sent for the
purpose of obtaining the compensation
| that attaches TO the services of special
correspondent who really uuearths cred
| liable and unpublished bit of news. Some
! of the most stupendous and expensive
| canaTds have been started for no other
reason than TO obtain remittance be-
| fore the deception was discovered. The
| Bakersville lynching story of nearly three
| years ago, which was said TO have caused
| the death OF about twenty promine Mt
North Carolinians, was evolved from the
brain OF an irresponsible young man who
thought he could make a quick sale and
| secure the returns before discovery. His
false report cost the press associations
several hundred dollars in telegraph tolls,
and a man was finally sent there to
ascertain the exact facts.
A ROSY PICTURE.
To a man who desires TO work for press
association and at the same time be pleas
antly situated and feel that hisla bors contain
a largo percentage OF play the night shift
offers special inducements. The bright
lights, the air OF quiet prevailing outside
the fact of being comparatively alone, al
combiue TO serve as sort of mild stimulan
to brace up the nerves and act as toni
upon the whole system Under such eli
cumstauces and amid these surroundings
man, no matter how dyspeptic he is, feel
at his best aud is able to perform work Of {
superior character that would be beyout
his reach atany othertime. The daymay b
good enough for the aged, the infirm and tn
disgusted, but man whose blood has no
dried up can pull both feet out Of the gray
By taking service on the night force of {
press association.
The morning times., 1895-08-18

cupy IN Berrys woods. In the States the
farmers very rarely charge them for this
privilege.
Referring 10 the oft-repeated charge that
GypsicS go about from place TO place steal
ing children, Nine. Burnett said:
There are a number of vagrants who
start out every spring with rickety, one
horse wagons. This class would steal
anything from chicken TO q Child. They
are not Gypsies, but beggars and thieves,
and bring reproach upon the respectable
Gypsies. They steal children TO convert
them into beggars.
"I will mention a recent case right in
your own city. / refer to the family OF
Livelys, who stole little girl in East
washington and took her to their shacks
in the woods away beyond the insane asy-
lum. The Livelys have deaf and dumb
mother and beg, steal or borrow to sup
port her, thus bringing discredit upon the
real G!psies. They are dark-compIexioned
people and easily pass for the genuine
article. But 1 will tell you, sir, they are
shams-frauds Of the first water"
THEY ARE A PATRIOTIC LOT.
The Gypsies in Berry's woods are pa
triotic. Over several OF the grimy tents
The morning times., 1895-08-18

able to raise the stern by the weight on
the bow and she wPs slid over the dam
and proceeded on her way.
This and other incidents evidently set
the future Chief Executive to thinking,
for not very long after that he began to
work on the model. A man by the name
of Conant, an old chair factor, had a
shop in Springfield, and after the family
of Lincoln moved there he made the shop
his stamping ground
He went there very frequently, working
on little odds and ends which he rarely
ever completed, and in this shop, with the
old chairmakers tools, he fashioned the
model now on exhibition at the Patent
Office
WAS HIS OWN ATTORNEY.
Lincoln acted as his own attorney in
obtaining the patent, made his own draw
ings, and wrote his own specifications
The latter are still on file In his own hand
writing, duly signed, and witnessed by
o. G. obbins and H II. Sylvester The
model itself is very neat piece OF wood
work, little over a foot in length and
about four inches wide.
Attached to the miniature flatboat are
the tertight air chambers, through
which run poles that slide up and down
through holes in the side OF the deck,
| holding the chambers in position while
| being filled and emptied of air The rails
ing of the top of the bellows was accom-
| plished by ropes attached to their sides,
| to- be worked in some way from the inside
| of the vessel.
! ONE SINGULAR DEFECT.
| One very important feature OF his inven.
| ton is not clearly shown In the model
| The air chambers are attached to the
sides of the boat In such a manner as
not TO impede navigation. The poles slide
all right, and the ropes and pulleys seem
to be just the thing for the place, but there
is nothing 10 indicate how any wind is
| to be pumped into the chambers, They are
air and water tight all around, and con
tain no visible opening through which the
air, which is supposed to buoy up the
stranded vessel, can be gotten inside.
This little oversight on the part Of the
| inventor, who afterward became SO dis
tinguished in other ways, may have haC
something 10 do with the lack OF favol
With which the patent was received
Lincoln called his invention ''Camel
and Floating Dock and referred to it in
,he specifications as combination of ex
p8nsible, buoyant chambers, placed at the
J SIDES of vessels for the purpose of buoying
The morning times., 1895-08-18

hut only below. At the top he was polished.
1 have had that table made" he continued,
''as an emblem of his character, and the
lines which adorn the top We're written by
John G. Whittier in response to a letter
from me-"
The legs of the table are rough hewn, ano
fastened together with huge wrought iron
bolts. For the top, however, a square slab,
of beautifully marked Italian onyx is used.
The appropriate words penned by the
Quaker poet are engraved across the top
oft the slab, and are:
Let men be free! The mighty word
he spake were not his own;
The spirit of the high,sCsttrred
His mortal lips alone"
J.. E. O'BRIEN-
The morning times., 1895-08-18

the stars and stripes fluttered in the cool
breeZes.
Nine. Burnetts children, Pearl, aged
six years; Ethel, aged ten; and Willie,
who has seen seven summers, also pro-
duced miniature copies OF old glory and
proudly exhibited them to the reporter.
Some OF the wagons are models OF in
genuity and pictures OF beauty. The one in
the Burnett Camp is painted in bright red
and yellow colors and is rugged for two
sturdy horses TO haul it over rocky roads,
through the mud and across dell and wood
land. The little windows are Of colored
glass, while the interior is arranged as a
combination sitting and bed room. II pre-
sented cosy and comfortable appearance
The morning times., 1895-08-18
BROOKLAND ITEMS.

A delightful juvenile party was given Fri
day night Mr.. aud Mrs. s. NJ Hamilton at
their home on University Heights in honor
Uof their young daughter, Gertrude. The
Httleones were entertained on the lawn,
and enjoyed the games and refreshments
thoroughly. Among those present were
The morning times., 1895-08-18
He Knew All Right.

Teacher-Do you know what pedigree
means, Bobbie?
Bobby-Yes, sir. It means your father,
your grandfather, great grandfather, great
great t-grandfather, your mother, yuurgrand-
mother, great-grandnother, great-great-
grandmother, your cousin, your first cousin,
second cousin, third cOusin'-
Teacher-That's enough, Bobbie; I guesR
you know all right--New York World,
The morning times., 1895-08-18

detail of the business. They began at the
bottom aud have worked to the top by in
duStry, merit and perseverance. Mr.. De-
Graw is the younger man, aud is
said by many to be the best looking, but Col.
Boynton's admirers would doubtless resent
this allegation. These gentlemen are sup
posed to either directly or indirectly know
everything that transpires during each
minute OF the day ornight, and they struggle
hard to make this knowledge personal
one, but that being physical inpossibility
they do the next best thing. Telephones
are kept in their respective residences
where they may be consulted at moments
notice any time during the night. On
special occasions, or when business requires
it, they may be found with the gas burning
over their desks, and ready for anything
that may come along, be it good, bad or in
different.
THE NIGHT TURN.
When the hour of O'Clock arrives the
| day force let go all holds and the night
| shift makes its appearance. The boys
| are fresh-not in one acceptance OF the
term, but physically Ii is an undeniable
| fact that the hours of darkness are better
| adapted To mental exertion than cor
responding period OF daylight. The work
seems easier, the time passes more pleas
antly and rapidly, and the toiier does not
suffer from that tired feeling for which
so many remedies are suggested.
| a press association office at night simply
/ resembles piece of machinery in which
! every component part performs a certain
! portion OF work, and=the diff cent sections
constitute a harmonious whole. Every
/ body j 5 supposed to know his particular
duties, and attends to them without what
! is known as sIave-dIiving, and any cause
! of irritation seldom exists.
The night manager and the night editor
! keep track OF everything. that is or should
! be done. The reporters are sent out on
assignments to cover current events and
emergencies, go on 6eir errands and writ,
up the results upon their return. The
The morning times., 1895-08-18
Model of the Martyed Presi-
dents Invention Still Extant.
INTENDED TO BUOY A BOAT
No Record That 1t Was Ever Put
to Practical Use-He Drew His
own Specifications, Which Were
Defective, and Was His Own At
torney-His Skill Demonstrated.

Away back in the years when Abraham
Lincoln was living in the little town OF
Springfield, Ill, before the slumbers OF
the future President were disturbed by
dreams OF political greatness, and while
the hand that penned the proclamation or
emancipation was still accustomed to the
rough handle of the broad-ax and the splin
ters of newly split rails, he designed and
patented an invention. The model, made
with his own hands, is still in existence
in the model room OF the Patent Office, in
the Union building on G street, and the
specifications with drawings also executed
by him are in the Patent Office proper.
The invention wasa scheme forgetting Mis-
sissippi river flat-boats over sand bars when
such things were encountered, and is in
genious in design, elaborate in detail, but
| somewhat impracticable in execution. The
| patent, numbered G, 6,469, was granted May
%, 1S49, but there is no record Of the
scheme ever having been put to practical
| USE
TO BUOY THE BOAT.
The arrangement consists OF four bellows,
| two attached to each side OF the boat, near
the water line IL was intended to keep
Iese air chambers empty when in deep
water, but when sand bars were struck, or
| at any place in the river where the water
was particularly shallow, they were TO be
| pumped full of air, thus buoying the boat
| up over the distractions, and alowlng-ner
to float on her way triumphanty.
One of Lincoln's experiences In the
fIatboat line is recorded in some OF the
numerous histories of his life which have
been published. He had assisted in the
| building of boat a short distance above
New Salem, H., and she had been started
on her voyage TO New Orleans, fTeighted
with goods.
A short distance below the town, how
| ever, she ran up onto dam and got
stuck. The bow OF the boat ran up out of
the water, allowing the stern 10 sink
below the surface 1t sank so low that
the boat began to fil rapidly and was 10
danger of sinking.
Things looked rosgh for the newly-con'
structed flatboat, when young Lucoll
went to the rescue He had everything
movable taken to the bow of the boat, and
then going below he proceeded TO bore an
auger hole in her bottom very near the
front
Out of this hole, in some manner as gel
unexplained, the water was made to run
, the boat was nghtened SO the crew Were
The morning times., 1895-08-18
THEY ARE A PATRIOTIC LOT.

The Gypsies in Berrys woods are pa
triotic. Over several of the grimy tents