Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-09
TZlGANES OF HUNGARY
The Most Interesting and Curious People
in That Empire.
Many Unsuccessful Attempt. Have
Been Made TO Restrain Their
Nagnbond PropensItie.


Among the many races which make I'd
the population Of that heterueeneous geo
graphical expression termed the Austria
hungarian empire certainly the most !nt,r-
esting are those curious people called Tzi-
games in Hungary. Bohem.ans in Frause
and gypsies in England and the United
states. Hungary Is the home Of tho TIL
games in so far they have any home.
III All other European countries they were
prosecuted for centuries as being emissa-
ries of the evil one and enemies Of Chris
danity. but Hungary took PITY on them
and treated the wanderers like los. chill
dren. There are now about 10000 Of these
Tziganes in Hungary
one or the favOrite abodes OF these
strange people is near the frontier of Croa-
va, II Is there that the TYPICAL TzIganes
may best be seen. Their camps are al
ways set up at some distance from the
nearest town or village: often in close
proximity TO some forest. The Tzlgane
huts-for they are nothing more-cons.st
OF single room, unless the owner is ex-
tremeiy well to do and are generally devoid
OF furniture. The Tziganes eat and sleep
on the bare boards At all times of the
day there is a smolderng fire in the hut
over which hangs a sandstone pot for The
Izigane has no fixed hour for his meals
but eats whenever he feels hungry. The
ordinary bill of fare consists of potatoes
stews, milk and lard. ON festive occasions
such tit-bits are INDUCED in as hedsshogs.
foxes and squirrels Cats arc considc-, 4
by the Tzlganes princely Diet and they
train dogs to hunt hedgehogs and foxes
Tzigane women. a rule. go about half
naked. the young girls wearing nothing but
a small apron, excepting when they 60 TO
the neighboring town. The men wear hut
little clothing. and Until the time of their
marriage (between twelve and fifteen
years of age) they also go about almost
naked. After marriage, however, they at
tire themselves in the gaudy Hungarian
national costume, of which they are very
proud. Cast-off garments Of some Magyar
nobleman they particularly prize. and when
they are able to obtain a bright red coat
their satisfaction is complete. The Tzigaues
have a horror # work "r restraint II any
kind. Even those who have a fixed resi-
dence like to roam about. when they feel
so inclined So strong is this wandering
instinct with them that they have no word
In their language to signify remain"
Most of the trades they adopt are suitable
for nomadlc life They are either horse
dealers. blacksm'ths. sheep shearers nr
and above all, beggars. 1t is quite I'm
possible to take a country drive through
some provinces of Hungary without COM
Ing across band Of Tziganes some one Of
whom Will surely follow a carriage for
half an hour or more until he has received
a coin The Tziganes have given them
selves the nickname OF poor men," and
the habit Of begging is so thoroughly rooted
in them that even well-to-do members Of
their race, whom one occasionally meets
In Budapest. driving pure-blooded horses
the temptation of asking for money.
Many unsuccessful attempts have been
made to restrain the vagabond propensi-
ties of the Tziganes. The Emperor Joseph
ii once tried to compel them 10 have a fix
ed residence, and allotted them land, dis
tributed agricultural implements among
them and ordered them to cultivate their
acres. But, instead of taking up their res
idence in the comfortable homes they had
been presented with, the Tzigancs turned
the houses into stables for their horses
and cows, and set up tents near by FOR
them for seed, from sprOuting. they boiled
it. But the emperor was not discouraged.
He abolish the Tzigane language. as he
mad already done away with the Magyar
language; did away with the very name Of
Tzigane, and finally took their children
from them to be educated by German and
hungarian farmers, who were to bring
them up according TO a strict code Of dis
cipline. But the little Tziganes grew up
with all the instincts of their race, and at
the first opportunity escaped and rejuined
their parents
a few years ago a Tzigane who had been
adopted a child in an Austrian family
entered the army and rose to the rank Of
captain. One day, without any warning,
he disappeared and six months later he
was found among band of wandering
TziSanes, List, the great pianist. once
tried to tame a young Tzigane. He took
the boy to Paris. gave him teachers and
tried to bring him up in conventional
manner; but the effort was useless, and
the young Bohemian had TO be sent back
to his native land. There are a few eE-
ceptfons which prove the rule. for in Tran
sylvania some peasants are Tzlganes and
enjoy a well-deserved reputation for thrift
and intelligence. Others in Pennsylvania
have become wood carvers, masons and
dentists.