Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-11-20

bloody sword. Laws have been en-
acted in England and other coun-
tries against them, but all to no
purpose. They still exist unchang-
ed in character and actions. The
laws are dead letter as to their ref
ormation or expulsion. They are
allowed by sufferance to remain a
privileged people, and they and
their mode of life are connived at
by way of necessity.
In Hungary, the middle and
poorer subjects are very much op-
pressed, but there are two classes
exempt from oppression and allow
ed to do almost as they please-the
nobility and the Gipsies. The for
mer are above the law, and the lat
ter below it.
The habits OF the Gipsies are abom-
Unable. Most of them, especially
in Spain, live in ahject poverty and
filth. Their food is loathsome, for
they are not remarkable for cleaali-
ness in cooking. They love vegeta-
bles, especially onions ard garlic.
They will eat most any kind of
meat, and in any form, even carbon
they are very partial 10 rye whis-
key, and prefer it to all others.
With them tobacco is a great lux
ury. Both men and women smoke
and chew. They are so much ex-
posed and accustomed to all kinds
OF weather that they can endure the
extremes of heat and cold without
any manifestations of discomfort or
inconvenience. They encamp in
the midst Of snow, in slight canvass
tents, in tie severest weather.
They support themselves by
traf1cklng in horses, in which bust
ness they are well versed, mending
Tin and china ware, chiromarcy,
fortune-telling, theft and brigandage.
Dabbling in sorcery seems to be the
province particularly of women. They
pretend to fortell the future happen
ings as to the conditions and cir
cumstances in the life of those who
apply TO and consult them for q
small consideration. They furnish
philters by means of which love can
be awakened in any individual to-
wards any particular person. And
such is the credulity Of many per.
sons, even in this enlightened nine
tenth century, that they will go
miles TO have their fortunes told and
listen with more eagerness to the
sinful diyinations OF Gypsy bag,
than to sermon.
Next to their vagabond propensi-
ties, they are most arrant thieves.
They are born thieves they are
taught to steal they study to steal.
The love and practice of pilfering is
with them constitutional malady
which elings to them till death.
They practice child.stealing when
they have an opportunity. This
they do more Tor the sake of re-
ward for restitution than adding to
their family, for they generally have
enough of their own.
They have no particular govern
ment except certain rules to which
they strictly adhere. Each band or
family, especially in Spain, has its
captain or head. To ill this office
they choose the most valiant and
courageous individual amongst
them. He must, at the same time,
be crafty and sagacious and adapted
in every respect to govern. He set
ties their differences and disputes
without recourse to the law. He
heads them at night when they go
cut to plumber, and the booty is di-
vided amongst them, the captain BY
virtue of his Office and service re-
ceiving the larger share.
We find no traces of religion
among them, nor have we any clew
to their ever having held any par.
ticular system. Coming from India,
as seems most probable, they must
have been followers at one time eth
er of Budah or Bramah, those ire.
mendous phantoms which lead ths
souls Of millions to destruction
But they are now ignorant ever
| Of the names Of these deities. They