The times., 1897-11-26
THE NEW Gypsy QUEEN.
Esther Faa to BE Crowned as SOY
ereign of Little. Eprvns


ereign of Little Egypt.
London, Nov. 2O--Quaint, haIf mystic.
Invitations nave been sent to Paul Keste-.
author Or THE Real Gypsy and to othe-
friends OF the wandering Romany race
in this country, bidding them TO attend
the forthcoming coronation or the queen
OF the british gypsies- This coronation,
d very sOleIan affair 1t would seem. is z,
take place near Keiso in seoeland. N
or about November 2a As the Brtisl:
gypss sovereign claims royal rights over
all American aud Canadian Romanys.
the event IS creating a stir among tia
camps and settlements on this side OK
the ocean.
Mr. kesteT. WHO, though not himself =
Romany. has heen adopted and made blood
brother or the Egyptians, was notified
while stancng by his garden gateon RIVER
side drive, New York city. He gives the
following account Of low lie imitation
was given; 4 noticed a young maa
looking Ike a EyIsy, stroiEg along n
my direction As lie came abreast or nie
he asked where Paul X ester li-ed
replied II ttG Romany tor cue that / was
Paul Kester, and asked hisa what he
wanted
Immediately he took a racket out or
his pocket, placed II In my hands, and
slG,Iched Off without another word The
packet contained leaf torn from 5ae
KeIso Chronicle, in which was a brief
announcement tnat bout November >
next Esther Faa was 70 be crowned queen
and countess OF Little Egypt. Wrapped up
in the printed paper was the dried head OF
a Scotch thistle with two leaves OF
American grass twined tightly rouadit.
Prom Mr. KesteJ some interesting facts
We're learned in connection with the forth
coming celebration in British gypsydon.
The new queen, it appears, has been
chosen after a long interreenuH and much
dispUte. She is the direct descendant and
heir OF Esther Faa Blythe, whU, In July,
1913, was crowned queen and countess
Of all the Romanys at KeIso. There we're
several other claimants OF tie throne all
descendants OF the deceased monarch II but
the election resulted IN a complete victory
FOR the present Queen Esther. Her 1aa iesty
is, ike Queen Victoria, q Ere1t-grand-
mother. and is said 70 be about eighty
years or age.
The ceremonies to be gone through are
without alteration, since the DAYS or
Robert Bruce, when the Romanvs first
settled along the Anglo-Scottish BORDERS
on November 20 proclaim ton VIII be
made in all the villages within a radius
Of ten niles OF the ancient burg OF Kelso.
The next two dags VIII De devoted to
welcoming the man = members Of the gypsy
race Y. no are sure To flock tU the neigh
HftThGln FTfrarf q f.s
for the benefit OF the curious crowds OF
GoTgios or gent,les expected, and tie
GorgiOs' Pockets VIII be Iightened oonsid-
erably ty fortune-teling and the selling
OF souvenirs These proceedings gencr-
| ally amass f"T the new queen a eonlCortab;e
| little capital at the outset Of her reign.
on the appointed day the queen will
mount her palffey-a pGre-blooded animaI,
\ for the gypsies have remarkable skIII
/ in horseflrSh-and proceed toward the
I cTcss roads at which eoTOnations take
place.
Behind her win ride or march process
/ sion cr the RCmany Llood royal. all de-
\ scendants of thefamous King Charley Faa,
who died in. The early part OF the century,
| and OF tie stin UIorc renowned King Johnnie
! Faa, who, declares the ballad, fell n love
with q noble gentle dame.
And when he saw her weeIfaured face, /
He cast the glamour Ger her. q
The queens uncle, Charles blythe. VIII
act as ''crowner," and Martha and Esther,
| her little granddaughter, are To scatter
rowan boushs and heather before her
I horses feet Two daughters and a grand
| daughter VIII ride beside her At the cross
/ roads a halt VIII be made and Esther viii
I receive her crown, acknowledging the -ifE
! with q suitable speecn. The crown, as
/ preserved for centuries in the Faa fasaiIy,
i consists OF plain land or circlee Of sill
| yer, with a loop in front In this loop
| is stack a rose and thistle-enihIe hIefratic
| Of Esther's sovereignty over the Scus-Ish
| and English RomaynS. The irish eyp-
sies are BOXED upon as rebels, and 90 not
dckno Wedge the Faa family as ,hcir
rulers.