Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-03-02
CROWN OF GOLD.
Massive JeWeled Ornament De-
signed for Gypsy
Queen.
naut.

A massive crown of solid gold gemmed
with huge Bohemian garnets of great
worth, is on the ocean bound for Topeka,
Kas. where on May % it will play a part
III the coronation of new queen of the
largest gypsy tribe in the United States.
1t will be a memorable occasion to the
members of that strange race of wander
ers who esteem themselves of the oldest
and bluest-blooded race alive. From far
and near they will gather for the great
occasion and for Il week the woodland
court will be scene of feasting and
mirth and dancing to the widest, most
loving music that was ever piayed-muslc
that is never written, but whose strange,
weird chords are handed down from gen
Grafton to generation.
Father Belew Metrovitch Of Chicago,
the only Romany priest in this country,
will perform the coronation ceremony,
and Miss Minnie Youngs of the same
city, a cousin of the youthful sovereign
that is to be, will have the honor of plac-
ing the crown, an emblem more than 100
years old, upon her head. In accordance
with the rules Of the tribe, these cere-
monies must take place beneath the trees
Of some primeval wood, and while the spot
has not yet been chosen, it will doubtless
be not far from the city of Topeka, which
is quite Il center for gypsy bands, so nu-
merous in Kansas.
she is as yet but the heiress to the throne,
is a dark-skinned girl of 20. She is mar
ried to Gustave Stackovitch who calls
himself Gustave Stanley for the sake of
eulogy. He loved her at first sight when
he met her in Chicago and married her
three months later in Selvidere, Ill. She
has been only a short time in this coun-
try and speaks very little English. She
is in mourning for her mother, who died
not long ago at the age of 81, and whose
reign as queen was notable for it's wisdom
and good sense. The gypsies say that
never was the condition Of the Romany
people SO prosperous as during the old
queens reign.
The royal household consists at present
of the coming queen and her husband. and
the husbands brother and wife and baby.
They inhabit a primeval palace consisting
Of three tents with scaiioped edges, stand
ing edge to edge in a yard at the north
west corner of Curtis and Jackson streets,
North Topeka. There is background
of other tents, a yariegated assortment
of men, women and dirty children, and an
ensemble of horses of many kinds.
Packed away in trunks and boxes in their
covered wagons is a store of gayhued gar
ments, and when the coronation day
comes there will be picturesQueness to
spare.
Bur there is 10 lack of picturesqueness
now about Queen Maria, if once you
gain access to her tent. The ground is
thickly strewn with straw, and on it are
gay-cOlOred carpets, on which she and her
sister-n-law sit, Oriental fashion, with
crossed legs.
Before strangers Queen Maria is a shy
little parsonage, and her eyes are cast
upon the carpet before her. Her skin
is of a dark olive tint and her black eyes
are very bright. Her jet-black hair is
worn on top of her head, with a straight
bang over her forehead. English gold
pieces dangle from her ears. About her
throat IS Il necklace made Of American
silver dollars. Two broad bands of gold
and ring set with turQuoises in horse
shoe form are on her fingers. An Eng
lish sovereign fasIens her waist at the
neck. This waist is Of bright red, a color
much loved by the Romany people. The
skirt is very short, revealing q stout pair
of walking shoes with uppers Of bronze
leather.
The beds are painted yellow and blue
and the headbOardS are fancifully carved.
The cOverlets and pillow shams are bar
barrie in the brightness of their colors.
The dining table is Il square box. around
which the four grown persons sit, squat
ted like tailOrs or Turks, upon the car
pet.
There is a large scar on the left cheek
OF the future queen, a mark quite fire.
quently found on the faces of the careless
Romany. 1t was caused by her falling
into campfire when she was a child
When the queen is on the road she rides
a shaggy piebald Shetland pony, Of which
she is very fond.
'All our people are fond of the queen"
said the young husband, "and they are
looking forward with much pleasure to
the coronation festivities. We Will have
plenty to eat and lots of good ROmany
wine to drink, and for week after the
browning the young people will dance and
sing and make merry