The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-18

assiZes under the statutes which were en-
acted concerning the!n IN the reign OF
numb Of them We're transported TO Nor
way. where a few are still to be found.
REFUGE IN SCOTLAND.
During their sojourn in England the gyp-
sizes devised among themselves a language
which they termed "canting" This was
made up of a small number of English
WORDS and great many of their own coin
ing. jumbled together without order or rea-
son and ineligible to none but themselves.
It's originator was hanged by the neck.
Many of them went to Scotland when or
dered to leave England. and although they
were regarded from the first as a species of
banditti the Scottish Kings gave them some
degree of protection. Toward the end of
the last century that country was oVerrun
with them but they are steadily declining
in numbers, circumstance which may be
partially accounted for by the severity Of
the climate. The few who remain still
claim proficiency in palmistry.
The sovereigns of Germany made laud-
able efforts to reclaim the gypsies, and in
1868 the Empress Maria Theresa ordered
that the numerous bands throughout the
kingdom should be gathered into settled
homes, practice various trades and educate
their children. They did not take kindly to
the new mode of living, and sterner meas
ures in regard to them were adopted by the
successor of the great Empress: 49,
The gvpSies were not slow in hnding their
way to the new world. They may be said
to have been in America almost from its
first settlement. Many were banished to
this country from the British Isles in colo
NAL times; and during the Revolution a
goodly number were brought here by i'm
pressment in the British army and navy
MANY too came as volunteers for the bene-
fit of the bounty and passage. On arriving
here finding a field in which they were not
known to be gyps1es. ana We're therefore
confronted by no prejudices many of them
betook themselves to the usual occupations
of immigrants, and thus lost, IN no small
measure their prediction for vagabond-
ism Systematically hunted and oppressed in
other countries, the gypsies have f1ounshed
in the Western world, but as race they
are dying out. Their gradual extinction, or
ABSORPTION into other races, is the result
of a constantly increasing standard of civ
iGZatiOn against Which no form Oh barpar-
Aside from this only death has thinned
their ranks. Having given little cause for
men still boast a smattering of medicine
and surgery, tinkering and sleight of hand
and the women. dance. sing, make baskets
and tell fortunes as of old. 1t is SAID that
the foundation of the American broom
trade was laid by the gypsles
THEY ARE CLANNISH.
Taught by their experience in other coun-
tries. they are here distant, reserved and
clannish to the highest degree. 1t is diff
cult to obtain definite information as to
their customs at death, burial and mar
riage, but they formerly walked" their
corpses, buried them under water, and
burned their clothing and other effects.
Marriage is solemnized by the chief of each
tribe, and portion of his duty is the break
ing of flower crowned pitcher from the
pieces of which he foretells the fortunes of
the neWly-Wedded pair
While they have little or no religious be-
lief and are said to have in their language
no words to signify the Deity, the soul or
Immortality, they have among themselves a
form of government, the laws of which are
of King. duke earl" etc. were borne
by the chiefs and the chiefs of the various
bands. Their titles of nobility are fewer
now, the chiefs of the American bands be-
ing frequently known as president" Their
rulers are elected by voting, the voters be-
ing guided by the positions of the planets,
the state of the atmosphere and other
phases of nature.
In New England a colony of gypsies has
existed for more than a century, and, hav-
ing been always regarded with suspicion,
its blood remains almost unmiXed Many
of the German and Hungarian gypsies set
tied in Pennsylvania and Maryland, where
they own farms, which they leave in charge
of hired hands during the summer and turn
their attention to the delights of life under
the greenwood tree" Tented gypsies have
been seen in the neghborhood of BaltimC re
for full century, and they once maintained
tlourishing band of music in that city.
They still have SaWmillS on the banks of
one of the most picturesque rivers of the
keystone State, and among the spurs of the
Allegheny mountains the original customs
of the race have not yet been thrown aside.
One of the most powerful gypsy tribes in
the United States has its stronghold in
Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. This tribe
goes into winter quarters at Pittsburg,
where it's members own considerable prop
erty. Over this tribe ruled, with consum-
mate ability and discretion, the famous
queen, Matilda Stanley. She died in 1878,
and was buried with much pomp at Day
ton, O.
The sleek, fat horses, the strongly-built
wagons, the suspicious dogs beneath them,
and the acknowledgement and still more
suspicious occupants of the wagons We're IA
miliar sights in the summer days of the
not far-distant past. But passing away
and fewer brown hands each year are out
stretched to receive the silver pieces of the
unWary.