The record-union., 1898-03-05
A NEW GYPSY QUEEN.
The Coming Coronation of Molly
Erver.


A new queen will be crowned by the
Romany gypsy band on May 22d next
at Topeka. This will be the second gyp-
sy coronation ever held in the United
States. On this occasion eight hundred
gypsies Of the Romany tribe will as
semble at Topeka and hold elaborate
ceremonies. Sixty of the gypsies have
already arrived in Topeka and are max
ing arrangements for the coronation.
The queento-be, Molly Fryer, who
learned only a week ago that she had
fallen heir to the gypsy throne by the
death of her mother in Austria, is in
Topeka now and is at the gypsy camp
north of the city. Her mother, Sophia
Fryer, died several weeks ago in Aus
tria, having ruled the Romany band for
sixty-two years. Molly Fryer, being the
next in line of succession, was chosen
to be queen. AS a queen must be ~
years of age, the coronation will take
place May 22d. which is her birthday.
There are 120O members of the Ro-
many band in the United States, and be-
tween 800 and / 900 will arrive in To-
peka during the winter and take part
in the coronation. 1t will be an elabor-
ate feast. The coronation ceremony
will be performed by Father Metro
witch, who is the high priest Of the
hand. The crown which was worn by
the aged gypsy queen for so long Is now
being remodeled for it's new possessor.
and a cousin. Minnie Youngs, will bear
it from AL 5tria to Topeka and will for
mally place it on the young queens
head.
1t is composed of Bohemian garnets
and solid gold and is said to be beau
tiful. When remodeled it will contain
several sparkling diamonds. Three
months ago Molly Fryer was married
at Belvidere, H., to Gustav Stacko-
witch, young Austrian, who is
member of the band. The English of his
name is Stanley. He and his brother
Louis and the latter's wife travel to-
gcther and camp some little distance
from the main body of the band. They
have better tents, wagons and furnish
ings. and live in better style. The
Stanley brothers speak English fluently.
Molly Fryer is a typical gypsy. Her
skin is dark, her eyes brilliant black,
her figure graceful and her manner easy.
She speaks thirteen languages, but has
not learned English we'll.
-ouiS anu 1uStdN Stanley are uON
making the arrangements for the coro-
nation of Molly Fryer. A large field
will be procured, where the whole band
will camp. In the midst of the camp a
large tent will be erected, where the
ceremonies will take place. Father Met
rovitch, who lives in Chicago will come
TO Topeka early in May and will have
full charge of the ceremonies. The Ro-
many band now has adopted the Cath
Ollie faith. but they never attend serv-
ices in regular Catholic churches When
a gypsy couple is to be married and the
distance is too far for High Priest Met
rovitch he sends word to a Catholic
priest near to where the band is located
and the ceremony is performed in the
usual way.
The Romany band dates it's lineage
back to the Pharaohs. For several
hundred years the headquarters of the
tribe have been in Austria. Eight
months ago Mollie Fryer came to the
United States and joined the band with
which she now travels
When the news came to Louis Stanley
that Queen Sophia of the gypsy band
had died he set about notifying all the
bands in the United States A confer
ence was held and Topeka was selected
as the place at which the coronation
should be held. All the members OF the