The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-28

borhood is usually regarded with appre-
nenslon by every farmer and householder
~ the vicinity. The Spanish gypsy of real
Ire IS a dirty lazy vagabond who. bv
preference, makes his living by stealing.
ana when the times are not favorable for
ms thlevish operations, that is when
tnere is nothing TO steal he will conde-
scend TO do a little work, which can hardly
be dignified with the name of employment.
Tor MS industry seldom rises above tinker
ing pots and pans, mending wash tubs
ana water buckets, grinding scissors and
knives.
He is certainly very curious specimen
OF humanity and not less so in mis- past
tnan in his present, for where he came
from, what was his origin, under what
circumstances he became wanderer he
knows no more than other people. The
nrst appearance of his race In F1lrope was
about the middle of the fifteenth century.
When oand of over 100 gypsies made their
appearance at Paris, claiming TO ba
Egyptian Christians, who had been driven
out of their native country by Saracenic
persecution This story was subsequently,
round to be false, for there is NOT the
slightest scintilla of evidence that the
gypsies came from Egypt, but the claim
hrst set up gave them a name in English
at least, for gypsy Is but a contraction Of
Egyptian. -
In the matter of name, however. the
gypsy is more fortunate than. any ether
race Of people, and has accepted one name
as readily as another. In Italy they are
called Zlngari; in Spain, Gltanos; in Ger
many, Zigeuner, or wandering rogues. a
name which in France has been contracted
into Tsigani; in Hungary they are Czigav-
nok; in Turkey, Tchinganeh. They called
themselves almost as variously as other
people name them, but usually their own
name IS chosen from some one of the gyp-
sy dialects and signifies people" Manush.
Kom ana other names are in use in differ
ent countries, there being no uniformity
among the bands Of gypsies in this par
ticular.
The gypsy lack of history has caused
many theories TO be advanced as to their
origin, but the most satisfactory regards
them as the descendants of low-class Hin
docs, who, in the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries, were driven from their native
land by the military conquests of hostile
kings. 1t is certain that throughout Tur-
key, Persia and North Afghanistan there
are tribes which, In habits, customs end
languages, resembles the gypsies of Fu-
rope. These tribes are closely analogous TO
the lowest classes of the Hlndoos, 80 his
theory, in default of a better is generally
accepted.
The gypsy has no religion Of his own; IL
he ever had one he has lost Il in his wan
derings The fact, however, does not wor-
ry him in the least, for when he feels the
need of spiritual comfort he somewhat
reluctantly assimiates that of the people
by whom he Is surrounded, whether
Christian, Pagan, or Mohammedan, does
not matter in the least. Generally. how
ever, he makes little pretense of any re-
ligion, and the most of the gypsies regard
with apparent indifference the efforts that
have been made by Christian people In
their behalf. The English Society for the
Conversion of tho
with hattering success, for to attend Sun
day school and learn what they please,
IL has been noticed that the boys and
girls do not profit by the instruction, but
as soon as old enough they follow the
practices, habits and lives Of their par
ents. Centuries of wandering life have
nodded the gypsy character into confirm
ed hatred of civilized dwellings, industry
and modes of existence.
Attempts have been made In the Austro-
Hungarian Empire to domesticate the
gypsies. About fifty years ago land was
assigned them and stringent laws were
passed against vagFancy The govern
ment, after apportioning land to the gypsy
families, sent persons TO instruct them in
the arts of husbandry, and took great
pains IN their education and training but
the results have not been eminently sat
sfactory, for the gypsy peasants do not
relish agricultural labor. their commune
ties 90 not increase IN NUMBERS and there |
is reason to believe that as soon as posi-
be they escape from the country to re-
sumo their wandering life In other lands. |
In Spain the gypsy Is in hiss glory, his
gifts and graces run in the direction of
horse-trading and training; stealing, ly-
ing, smuggling, with an occasional high |
way robbery or murder; dancing and mu-
sic and in one direction he Is about as
proficient as in another. In the Iberian
peninsula the women do most of the for
tune telling and assist the men in the va
rous swndling schemes that promise
good results. but IL Is stated as a singular
fact that in Germany the fortune telling
and palmistry lodges are more frequent-
~ worked by the older men Of the tribes
ana 20 see three or four credulous women
eagerly listening to the promises and
prophecies OF an old rogue who is on the |
qui vlye for a chance TO sw,ndle OF steal
81 more common than cdifying.
The gypsy women in Spain when young
take naturally 90 music and dancing ana |
when old to fortune telling. Some OF tho |
cevcrest dancers ON the Spanish stage
are OF gypsy extraction, and frequently |
when the season - over they rejoin their
tribes for a few months vacation and "A
renewal Of the wandering iife which pos
ncfscs an indehnable yet pcreepubie
charm for an VINO become accustomed 20
IL. The young gypsy women are Often