The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-25
A NEW GYPSY QUEEN.
The Coming Coronation of Molly Fry

The Coming Coronation of Molly Fryer.
A new queen will be crowned by the
Rolnany gypsy band on May az next at
Topeka This will be the second gypsy
coronation ever held in the United States
On this occasion 500 gypsies of the Ro-
many tribe will assemble at Topeka and
hold elaborate ceremonies. Sixty of the
gypsies have already arrived in Topeka
and are making arrangements for the
coronation. The queen to-be, Molly
Fryer who learned only week ago that
she had fallen heir to the gypsy throne by
thre 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 Austria,
having ruled the Romany band for sixty
two years. Molly Fryer, being the next
in line of succession, was chosen to be
queen. AS queen must be twenty years
of age, the coronation will tnke place May
20, which is her birthday.
There are 1900 members Of the Romany
band in the United States, and between
800 and 1000 will arrive in Topeka dur
ing the winter and take part in the coro-
nation. 1t will be an elaborate feast.
The coronation ceremony will be per-
formed by Father Metrovitoh, who Is the
high priest of the band. The crown
which was worn by the aged gypsy queen
for SO long, is now being reIhodeled for
it's new posseSsor, and cousin, Minnie
Youngs, will bear it from Austria to To-
peka and will formally place 1t on the
young queens head.
1t is composed of Bohemian garnets and
solid gold, and is said to be beautiful
When remodeled, 1t will contain several
sparkling diamonds. Three months ago
Molly Fryer was married ct Belvidere,
Ill, to Gustav StAokovitch, a young Aus
tralian, who is a member Of the band.
The English of his name is Stanley. He
and his brother Louis and the latter
wife travel together and camp some little
distance from the main body of the band.
They have better tents. wagons and fur
nishings, and live in better style. The
Stanley brothers speak English fueutly.
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
king the arrangements for the coronation
of Molly Fryer. A large field will be pro-
cured, where the whole band will camp.
In the midst of the camp large tent will
be erected, where tho ceremonies will
take place. Father Metrovitch, who lives
in Chicago, will come to Topeka early in
May and will have full charge of the GER
emonies. The Romany band now has
adopted the Cathode faith, but they never
attspd services in regular Catholic
Oh iirches. When a gypsy couple is to be
married, and the distance Is too far for
High Priest Metrovitch, he sends word
to Catholic priest near to where the
band is located, and the ceremony is per-
formed in the usual way.
The Romany band dates its Image
back to the Pharaohs. For several hum
bred years the headquarters of the tribe
have been in Austria. Eight months ago
Molly 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 Iii the bands
in the United States. A conference was
held and Topeka was selected as the place
at which the coronation should be held.
All the members of the Romany tribe of
aypsies have now been notified of the
coronation, and most of them are on their
way overland to Topeka. The coronation
of queen among this people is the
grandest occasion and will be a round of
pleasure and joy. At this time also the
gypsy band will formulate new rules.
Oueen-ele Molly Fryer has already be-
gun the making of her coronation dress.
It will be gaudy affair, of Oriental style
and made of rich material Also she
will wear many beads and necklaces,
which will be brought by the various
bands, and she will be queen charming
to the Romany tribe.-Kansas City Star.