The Press., 1898-02-24
Topeka correspondence OF the Kansas City Stal
ANEW GYPSY QUEEN.

A new queen will be crowned by the Ro-
many gypsy band on May % next at To
peka. This will be the second gypsy cor
OnatiOn ever held i'll the United States.
On this accession eight hundred gypsies of
the Romany tribe will assemble at Tope-
the gypsies have already arrived in Topeka
and are making arrangements for the cor
onatiOn. The queen-to-be, Molly Fryer,
who learned only week ago that she had
fallen heir to the gypsy throne by the
death of her mother in Austria, is in To-
peka 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 next in line of Success
sion was chosen to be queen. AS a queen
must be twenty years of age, the corona
ton will take place May %, which is her
birthday.
There are 200 members of the Romany
band in the United States, and between
800 and 900 will arrive in Topeka during
the winter and will take part in the coro-
nation. 1t will be All elaborate feast.
The coronation ceremony will be perform
ed by Father Metrovitch, who is the high
priest of the band. The crown which was
worn by the aged gypsy queen so long is
now being remodeled for its new possessor
and a cousin, Minnie Youngs, will bear it
| from Austria to Topeka, and will formal
| ly place it on the young queens head.
1t is composed of Bohemian garnets and
solid gold and is said to be beautiful
When remodeled it will contain several
Molly Fryer was married at Belvidere Ill. =,
to Gustav Stackovitch, a young Australian
who is member of the band. The En-
glish of his name is Stanley. He and his
brother Louis and the latter's wife travel
together and camp some little distance
from the main body of the band. They
have better tents, wagons, and furnishings,
and live in better style. The Stanley
brothers speak English fiuently.
Molly Fryer is typical gypsy. Her
skin is dark, her eyes brilliant black her
her figure graceful, and her manner easy.
She speaks thirteen languages but has not
learned English we'll
Louis and Gustav Stanley are now MAX
ing the arrangements for the coronation OF
Molly Fryer. A large field will be procur-
ed, where the whole band will camp. In
the midst of the camp large tent will be
erected, where the ceremonies will take
place. Father Metrovitch, who lives In
Chicago, will come to Topeka early IN
May and will have full charge of the cere
monies. The Romany band has now adopt
ed the Catholic faith, but they never at
tend services in the Regular Catholic
churches. When gypsy couple is to be
married and the distance is too far for High
Priest Metrovitch he sends word to a Cath.
Ollie priest near to where the band is locat
ed 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 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 al 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
gypsies have now been notified of the coro,
nation and most of them are on their way
overland to Topeka. The coronation of a
queen among this people is the grandest
event known to them. The exercise will
extend through the week and the occasion
will be a round of pleasure and joy.
At this time also the gypsy band will
formulate new rules. Queen-elect Molly
Fryer has already begun the making OF
her coronation dress, 1t will be gaudy
affair of Oriental style and made of rich
material Also she will wear many heads
and necklaces which will be brought by
the various bands, and she will be a queen
charming to the Romany tribe.