Evening star., 1895-08-20
THE GYPSY VISITORS
A Wandering Tribe on Their Annual Visi1
to Bladensburg.
Camp Scenes Which Are Observed
Curious Visitors From the City.


lage of Bladensburg. Maryland. which is
at present drawing large crowds Of people
from morning until night. 1t is a camp Of
gypsies numbering about thirty, with all
the emblems and paraphernalia Of gypsy
life and the customary Gordon Of children
lowering about the camp fires.
There are three or four old women in
the camp and about the same number of
men. Then there is younger generation
col sisting of two or three young girls
with their husbands, while the children
seem numberless. The latter are bright
and pretty. with regular features and beau
tiful. soft eyes that never are still. They sit
around their own little fire with the most
&C mical seriousness and pull at their pipes
with as much gusto and apparent liking
as their parents. Even the smallest of the
lot, little toddler scarcely two feet high,
lights his pipe from firebrand and inhales
the smoke in the most matter-of-fact fash
ion. When they cry, which is very seldom,
are tired. and then they stop. Such thing
as hushing them to sleep or giving them
wFat they cry for Is not known among the
gyIsies.
About the Camp Fire.
The older ones have a camp fire to them
selves, and yesterday evening about half
past seven engaged in a general conversa-
ticn about something which seemed to
have general interest to all. Judging
from the gestures and the tones Of the
voice, there was some differences of opin-
lon, but it was apparently settled in an
amicable manner, as the talk very shortly
settled down to commonplace utterances
At one time everybody started to talk at
once, and the general hubbub which fol-
lowed is indescribable. The men and older
Women all had pipes and used them con-
tinually, but the younger portion Of the
camp of the gentler sex contented them
selves by inhaling the smoke as it passed
before their nostrils.
Two very pretty young girls are with the
camp and these were the general object Of
attention from the beaux of Bladensburg.
Their long hair falls in masses over their
heck and shoulders, and their fine eyes look
out from beneath the tangle Of glossy, black
strands in manner that is pleasing and
much whittier than the other, but her fea-
lures betrayed the unmistakable gypsy
type.
Their belongings were all brought in three
horses. Several hurgry-looking dogs ac-
ccmpanied the party. A gypsy dog is one
of the most forlorn-looking objects in the
world. and the appearance of these par
ticular animals did rot belle this state
ment in the least. The kitchen utensils
consisted of the most simple and neces-
sary articles. The conventional iron pot,
with its three legs, was. Of course, among
knives and spoons no crockery or tinware
was visible.
Telling Fortunes.
The oldest member of the camp is a
woman, and she was kept busy all day
yesterday telling the fortunes OF the
curious ones who hocked around the camp
as they would around the side show to a
circus. She did quite little business and
materially increased her store of silver by
the contributions of the city folk who are
staying in the vicinity. Various comments
we're made by the crowd on the dress,
manners and language of the gypsies, but
everything was taken in good part. About
$50 the gypsies retired to their beds on the
ground and in the wagons for the night
the camp fires were allowed to burn low and
finally leave but pile Of smoking embers,
and the spectators of the strange little
village which had sprung up in their midst
vanished one by one until the place seemed
as deserted as it is on every ordinary night.
1t Is the same party that annually visits
Bladensburg, but this time they chose the
southern end of the little town for a rest
ing place rather the Spa woods. A high
fence and a locked gate around the same
woods had great deal to do with the
aforesaid decision. They will probably re-
main until they exhaust the small change
and patience of the villagers and the rails
ers Of crops and chickens in the vicinity,
when they will strike their tents and move
away as silently and as rapidly as they
came.