The times., 1897-11-21
rHF NEW GYPSY QUEEN.
Esther Faa TO Be Crowned as Sow.
ereign of Little Egypt.


London, Nov. 2O.-Quaint, half mystic,
invitations have been sent to Paul Keste-.
author OF The Real Gypsy. and 70 othe-
friends OF the wandering ROmany race
In this country, bidding them to attend
the forthcoming Coronation Of the queen
of the British eyIsies. This coronation,
d very soleIan affair 1t would seem. is 10
take place near KelsO. in Scotland, On
or about November % As the British
gypss sovereign claims royal rights over
all American and Canadian RoInanys.
the event Is creating IA stir among the
camps aud settlements on this side OF
the ocean.
Mr. hesteI. who. though not himself =
Ronany. IiaS been adopted and male -hIoOd
brother OF the Egyptians, was notified
wniie sttncmE by his garden gate on Rgveg-
side drive, New York city. lie gives the
following account of how the invitation
was given: Il noticed young man
looking Ike eyIsy, StroHng a.ong IA
my direction As lie came abreast or ne
he asked where Pau Kester Ifved
replied IN mo Eonany tongue that 1 was
Paul Kester, and asked him what he
wanted
immediately he took "a packet out Il
his pocset. placed 1t in my hands, aud
sl0Iehed OFF without another word. Tire
packet contained leaf torn from sle
Kelso ChronicI+, in which was a brief
| announcement that bout November -
next Esther Faa was TO be crowned queen
| and countess or Little Egypt. Wrapped up
In the printed paper was the dried head or
a Scotch thistle with two leaves Of
American grass twined tightly ruundit.
Prom Mr.. Kester some interesting facts
Were learned In connection with the forth
coming celebration ia British gypsyd0m.
! The new queen, it appears, has been
chosen after a long interregnuIn and much
| disJt'ts. She is the direct descendant and
/ heir OF Esther Faa Blythe, who, in July,
1S43, was crowned queen and countess
| OF all the ROmanys at Kelso- There were
/ several other claimants OF the throne alls
| descendants Of the deceased mOnaTch-but
| the election resulted in a complete victory
fOr the present Queen Esther. Her Tna iesty
4 is, Ike Queen Victoria, a greats grand
| mother, and is said TO be about eighty
/ years or age.
The ceremonies TO be gone through are
| the same which have been followed, almost
| without alteration, since the days OF
/ Robert Bruce, when the Romanys first
! settled along the AngIo-scottish borders
on NOverheI 20 pTOclama ton viii be
made ia all tie villages within radius
! Of tcu-n4iies OF the ancient burg Of KeIs1.
| The next two days viii be devoted 10
| welcoming the man = members OF the gypsy
race v ho are sure to flock 10 the neigh
| bOrhOcd. Entertainments wiz be given
| for the benefit of the curious crowds OF
| Gorg.os or genUIes expected, and the
! Gorgios' pockets viii be Iight-ned consid-
erablY ~ rotUne-teHng and the seIling Z
| OF souvenirs. These proceedings gener-
! ally dmass fnI the new queen consfortab;e
little capital at the outset OF her reign
on tie appointed dag the queen Will
mount her palfTey-a pure-bloUded animal,
for the gypsies have remarkable sklIl
IN hOrscflr~h-and proceed toward Sne
| crcss roads at which coronations take
place.
BeDnd her viii ride or march u process
sioI4 cf the RCnany bl0oG royal all de-
scendants OF the famous King Charley Faa,
who died in The early part OF the century
and of tle stiH ulorerenown ned King Johnnie
Faa, who, declares the ballad. fell IA 10, .
with noble gentle dame.
And when he "a w her wveI- -faured face,
He cast the glamour Ger her.
The queen = uncle, Charles blythe. VIII
act as ''crowner, )" and Martha and Esther.
her little granddaughters, ar 70 scatter
rowan EOuehs and heather before her
norse-s feet T7vo daughters and q grand
dausatcr win ride beside her At the cross
roads halt VIII he made, and Esther VIII
receive her crVwn, acknowledging the gift
with a suitable speech The crown, as
preserved fnr centuries in The Fsa faisiIy,
consists OF plain and OF ctrcleJ Of sil-
vsr, with loop in front In this loop
is stack a roSe and a thistle embIeratic
or Esther'S sovereignty over The scU;-lsh
and English Romayus- The irish gyp-
sizes are looked upon a. eebels, and do not
dckHo " ledge the Faa family as theIE
rulers.