The Lamar register., 1898-03-19
STRANGE CHARACTERISTICS OF
THE TZIOANES.
A Glass of Nomads who Make Hungary
Their National Home and Who GEN
orally Resist An Attempt. to civiii.s
Them.


gisi was implicated have drawn the
attention of two continents 10 those oa-
rions people called Tziganes In Hun
gary, Bohemians in France and gypsies
in England and the United States, says
the New York Times Hungary is the
home OF the Tziganes, in SO far as they
have any home. In all other European
countries they were prosecuted FOR cen
turtles as emissaries of the evil one and
enemies OF Christianity. But Hungary
took pity on them and treated the wan
derers like lost children. II was In the
fifteenth century that they first made
their appearance there King Sig1s-
mond received them Hospitality and
recommended to the charity and pity
of the public these poor, wandering
people. without a home and bounded
by every one"
There are now about $50 900 OF these
TEiganes in Hungary. They may be
divided into three elasses-those who
20 bareheaded and barefooted. the wan
derinE gypsies: those who wear head
gear and shoes on Sundays. the semi
nomads, and those who always wear
hats and shoes. and who have 10 a
kAN~AA NANEuA ARSt4AhRhE0 AAA' LoAAe%@s~
lives OF their ancestors These latter
arr the most civilized. and are general
ly musicians. who excel in the PLAYING
Of Hungarian tunes When the Tzi-
games arrived In Hungary they were
not trained unsteady. but they soon ap-
propriated Magyar music. and ont OF II
have made a crude and weird art OF
their own. Their fayorite instrument
Is the -bas ALA" as they term the
violin. Some play the harp but they
have a marked aversion for the piano
for the reason that II cannot be easily
moved about. In Hungary no fete or
festival takes place without Tzigane
orchestra Al election times TEigane
band always heads the electoral pro-
cessions. and no wedding is considered
complete without their music for the
dance The Tziganes have become ma
tural musicians. playing from inspira-
ton. and generally being unable to
read music Llszt. who made study
Of the TEiganes. says that music Is 10
them a sublime language, a mystic
song. which they often make use OF In
stead of conversation, and that they
have. in fact. invented music Of their
own
One OF the favorite abodes Of these
strange people Is near the frontier OF
Croatia 1t Is there that the typical
Bohemians are seen at their best
Their camps" are always set up at
some distance from the nearest town or
village. often In close proximity to
some forest The Tzigane huts-for
they are nothing more-consist Of
single room. unless the owner is ex-
tremely well-to-do. and generally de-
void of furniture. The Tziganes eat
and sleep on the bare boards. AT all
times of the day there is smolder-
ing fire in the hut. over which hangs a
sandstone pot. for the Tzigane has no
fixed hour for his meals. but eats
whenever he feels hungry. The ordi-
nary bill of fare consists of potatoes,
ssews, milk and lard. On festive occa-
sions such tit-bits are INDUCED in as
hedgehogs. foxes and squirrels Cats
are considered by the Tziganes a
princeiy diet Dogs are trained to
hunt hedgehogs and foxes. They have
a peculiar manner Of cooking foxes
They are placed in running water for a
couple of days and then cooked under
hot Goals In hole in the ground. The
Tziganes have partIality for the flesh
of dead animals. and whenever a farm
or a stable takes fire they rush to the
scene in the hope OF finding the carcass
of some dead animal Like certain
oriental races, they use their fingers