The Springfield herald., 1897-01-22
1e1and's Gypsies.


lies In the fact that it is not in books
and must be learned from the gypsieS
themselves, and the gypsies the world
over make II a kind of secret aud will
speak 1t or teach it only when they are
very good friends with You. They like
to have it as mystery just as chill
dren like to make up gibberlsh that
they talk with their chums and out
siders don't understand.
Charles G. Leland. the author of the
Hans Breitman ballads, knows more
of these people and their language
than any other American; and there
are very few people in the world that
know so much. and gypsies in America
and England and Austria and Russia
know him and love him and call him
the Romany Rye, that is, gypsy gen
.tleman. because they think no one can
understand them so well who is not
partly Il gypsy himself.
Mr.. Leland loves to meet strange
gypSies and speak to them in Romany
Just to see their astonishment and de-
light, and he has had a great many
funny experiences in that way.
MoII of the Roads.
One time he was making walking
tour in Wales with Prof. Palmer of
Cambridge university, and as they
lunched by the roadside there came by
the decentcst and poorest of old
women; she acted rs If she were going
to pass them. but they spoke to her
and asked her about herself she said
she was walking to town. twenty
miles away, to see her daughter VINO
was dying in the hospital there; she
seemed very sad but quiet and resign
ed, for she was very religious; she was
a Methodist, she said, and had Il letter
L., it,l l,nt.
she had been Il waSherwoman for forty
years. The gentlemen asked her if she
had any money. and she said no, but
she did rot beg; of course their hands
started for their pockets, but just then
Mr. Leland. looking up suddenly,
caught a very .gypsy-like CLEAN in her
eyes. and he paused with dawning
wonder in his mind. He said suddenly:
Can tute rakker Romanes. miri
dye?" which, being Interpreted, means
Can you speak Romany. my mothers!
and she answered bewildcrinEly:
THE Lord forbid, sir. that l should
speak any of them wicked languages"
Prof. Palmer is great Romany
scholar himself. and he now drew his
hand out of his pocket and waited
with Frightening eyes. Mr.. Leland now
said in Romnny:
You needn't be afraid; I've been
upon the road myself
la sir, you be upon the road now,'
exclaimed the old woman in confusion,
whercupon Prof. Palmer cried out:
1T seems to me-, old lady that you
understand Romany remarkably well
for such Il devout Methodist"
The simple old Christian looked from
one to the other. specchless, and then
Mr. Leland took out one penny and
said: "rhere, I'll give you this because
you are such very poor person. but
I'll give you n pockctfull if you'll rak-
ker.'' that is talk Romany.
When the gypsy saw she was not
going to get into trouble. but that the
gentlemen We're ready to enjoy the
whole trick, her face frightened with
witch-like fun, and she put hand on
her hip and said in Romany:
Gentlemen, I'll have you know that
when you talk to me you talk to a reg
ular shrewd old trickstcr." and then
she turned to Mr.. Leland and cried
joyously. Il know who you are now;
you're the baro Romany Rye CHE tall
gypsy gentlcmam I've heard about.
have wanted to see you, and now you
can 90 your way and brag about 1t in
your house that Old AIoll of the Roads
couldn't take you in, that you found
her out; and well you may brag, for
never anotncf rye VIII say as nucn.
Never" And after she had played at
telling their fortunes. because she did
not try to make gentlemen who knew
so much believe in such doings, she
danced away backward in the sun
shine rlttling her money in her hands,
as agile and happy rs a deer in the
forest.
Little Gypsy Thief
But though gypsies never believe in
their own fortune telling, and will
never try to palm off their prophecies
on those who know their tongue and
their ways, they always think there is
such a thing as true fortune telling.
and sometimes when they find that
Mr.. Leland knows more Romany than
they do. and more about gypsies the
world over. they will beg him to tell
their fortunes-and he will look ut
their palms studiously and do it! His
friends tell him that this is the height
of all cheek-to start in to tell gypsy
girls their fortunes!
Leland delights in playing many
tricks that are very gypsy-like in
spirit. Wood is scarce in England, and
every twig is looked upon as property,
and to take one is to steal. One even
ing when he was walking in the coun-