The times., 1899-05-14
The Historian of the Gypsies.

"The Life. Writings. and Correspond
ence of George Borrow" by William !.
Knapp. is a book which will interest ali
literary explorers. There are some book
worms who care only for the doings of
celebrities or the study of weil-known au-
thors, and others whose ambition is to be
thoroughly acquainted with the latest
thing in romance, essay, or poetry; but
there is a class. by no means small, which
delights in the discovery Of out-of-the-
way characters and corners of the earth,
and this class will appreciate the biogra-
ply OF Borrow.
THE Bible in Spain" 'Lavengro," and
"Romany Rye" gave their author the rep
utation Of knowing more about the gypsy
folk than any other 'Gorgio" ever did,
and this reputation has endured 10 the
present day. though Charles G. Leland and
Paul Kester may lay claim, to some knowl-
edge OF this mysterious race. The latter
has written of them with more poetic sym
pathy and charm of description than any
one else. but his work is by no means as
yoluminous that of Borrow or as SCI
entific as that OF Leland.
The present biographer is well fitted Tor
his task, being the author and editor OF
various Spanish and French tsxt-bocks,
and an ex-professor of Yale and Chicago
Universities. He has also spent seye. al
years in gathering facts and documents
from which to CLEAN his material. and
the present work is the outcome OF
pamphlet written more than ten years ago
and printed for private Distribution. MI
Knapp possesses a large collection of Bor-
hot fup nil and
pIete books his notebooks of travel,
eorrespcndence extending over mora than
half a century. some of his manuscripts
and what is left OF his library. From this
mass of records he has constructed farly
complete life of one OF the most remark
able literary characters of the century.
George Henry Borrow, as he was named
BIZ his parents, though in after lfe he
omitted or changed the second name, was
born in the parish Of St. Cleer, Cornwall,
of good yeoman stock, the family pedigree
dating from 1890. The Borrows were 10Y
ahsts TO the backbone. and suffered for II
in the time of Cromwell, when their es-
tate was plundered. AS Mr.. Knapp says:
They feared God honoured the King, and be-
lievcd in ''piskiss'' and Holy Wells.
The father Of George Borrow seems to
have won soms renowl as an amateur p1 l.
list, and afterward became soldier in the
militia. Mrs. Borrow was a member OF
strolling company OF actors. and her name
was Ann Perfrement Contrary TO aome
statements (guessworl1) which have been
made. she was not a gypsy, but was de-
scended from one of the French Protestant
families who left France after the edict of
Nantes. The young couple led somewhat
unsettled life. the first decade of their
married life being passed in camp, in bar
racks and On the highways. Mr. Knapp
,..sl-r f,Ft~Fe- Cd
was the West Norfolk Militia. and that of
the militia was like the court of Spanish
sovereigns in the middle ages, "whereso-
ever we may chance to be" At about the
time OF the outbreak of the Continental
war. while his father was engaged in re-
cruiting. George Borrow was born, July 5,
1903 in Dereham, Norfolk. He was cltris-
tened George Henry, but for some reason
or other he rarely, in after life. signed
his name thus. In Russia ne was "Yegor
Phomoritch Bo-rou," George Thomas Bor-
row, using his fathers name as patrony-
mic, after the custom OF the country. In
Ireland he was Shorsha, in Italy Gorgio.
and in Spain Don Jorge. Another Of his
little eccentTieities was persistent iDaccu-
racy in stating his own age, often stating
that he was thirty when he was thirty-fve,
or four and twenty when he was twenty
six. Even his relatives seem not TO have
known his age. No wonder that the COM
pliers of encyclopedias were uncertain
about il, Mr.. Knapp obtained his authority
not only from the manuscript OF 'Laven-
gro but from the register of the parish
church at Dereham.
1t is only reasonable to believe that the
wandering life Of the family had something
to do with George Borrow's inciinations In
that direction. At any rate, 1t afforded
him large opportunities for adventure,
amusement, and the study Of human ma
:ure. He was educated in the best schools
which could be found. anu his extraordina-
ry linguistic talents we're not long in max
ing their appearance. At the age OF twelve
he made the acquaintance, at school, of a
wild Irish lad named Murtagh, and while in
school hours he was engaged In the study
OF Greek, in his leisure he was acquiring
Irish from this youth, who taught it to him
''in exchange for a pack of cards" As
this Is one OF the most difficult languages
In Europe, its acquisition by twelve
year-old boy is nothing short of marvellous,
even though he only learned 1t, as he
says. by ear.
In 1916 Captain Borrcw's regiment was
mustered out, and the family settled in
Norwich, where George was az once sent
to school. After the manner OF geniuses,
he paid but little attention TO his leglti-
mate work, and spent most of his time
in the study Of the Romany languages
and in sundry adventures. One OF these
Is recorded at some length. Young Bor-
row persuaded three companions to join
him in a very boyish and ime-novel-like
runaway from school Through the base
treachery OF a benevolent gentleman who
Invited the truants to dine with him and
then sent his servant to notify the school
master. they were caught and ignominious
ly returned to captivity. Young Borrow
immortalized this incident in some school
boy verses.
Two or three years later Borrow was to
be found nominaliy studying law. but real
iy applying himself to the acquisition OF
languages During his school DAYS he
had studied, II not learned, Latin, Greek.
Irish French. Italian, Spanish, and Gyp-
sy pstois which is not genuine Romany.
During his alleged law studies. while not
yet eighteen, he studied Welsh. Danish.
German, Hebrew, Arabic. Gaelic, and Ar
menian. Two years later. 1t is stated on
the authority of William Taylor. of Nor
wich, author OF the Survey OF German
poetry, that this youthful phenomenon
had acquired a working knowledge Of eight
more tongues. This is prodigious. Taylor
said of Borrow that he never had to hear
q thing more than once 10 fix it firmly In
his memory.
Borrow's estimate of himself at this
time is expressed fairly well in a bit of
doggerel written during the last year OF
his clerkship, when he was beginning TO
consider the choice Of a vocation:
LINES TO srX-FooT-THREE
lad who twenty tongues talk,
And sixty miles day walk,
Drink at a drsught pint Of rum,
And then be neither sick nor dumb.
Can tune q song and make a verse
And deeds Of Northern kings rehearse;
Who never Will fofsSke friend