The record-union., 1899-01-30

One can quite understand the atti-
tude formerly adopted by country folk
toward the Romany. 1t was one of hos
tility, resulting from frequent occa-
sions on which the gypsy had got the
better of them in bargaining, and fear,
owing 70 the swarthy rover's reputation
as a formidable fighting man. AT the
beginning OF the present century some
of the most noted pugilists were gyp-
sizes, and their descendants have inner
tied much of their skill at fisticuffs The
life the Romany leads renders him
alert ard active and when quarrel
ends in a tussle between a gypsy and
"gorgio,' as the Romany calls any one
who is not a gypsy, it is generally the
"gcrgio'' who goes under. Almost all
the Ronany "chalS'' are admlra pie
horsesmen, and some of the older pa
irons OF our horse fairs can remember
the days when it was no uncommon
thing to; see gypsy riding about a fair
ground standing erect on the back OF
horse They are nimble dancers, too,
though gypsy balls are now seldom
heard of. One of the Greys, well known
in East Anglia, is al skilled clog-dancer,
and has even carried off prizes in dis
tricts where most people are familiar
with the ''clang of the wooden shoon.
Of the gypsy women much might be
written; but Borrow has given US in
Mrs. Herne a mastery description OF
the wrinked fortune telling sibyl that
is convincing in it's absolute trueness
to life. and now M. Watts-Dunton in
writing the story of Sinf Lowell mas
shown us what the best type of Romany
girls is like. From the moment When
Alywin encounters her in the alehouse
in the course Of his search for W1nl-
fred, S;rfi casts a spell upon US, and
the fascination of her character in
creases as we come to know her better.
She charms US even more than does
Isopel Rerners, whom Lavengro taught
Haik in the dingle; but Isopel Berners,
though "nomadic woman was not
a real Romany. There is every proba-
bility that Sinfi Lowell will remain the
one really living" gypsy girl OF Eng
lish fiction, for although in her Mr..
Watts-Dunton has portrayed Romany
"chi." well known in Bohemian circles
some years ago, he has embodied IN her
all that is characteristic of the genuine
gypsy girl.
Among the younger gypsies OF the
present Gay the old Romany tongue is
nearly forgotten; but some of the older
men and women can "rokker ROmany
almost as we'll as could old Mrs. Herne
and George Borrow himself. Fifty years
ago the 'sgriengroes' often employed
the strange language of their people
when engaged in horse-dealing transac-
tions. finding it useful when they had
matters to discuss that were not meant
for the ears of the despised 'gorgio
One of the Oldest gypsy women in East
Anglia is supposed to be the most fluent
speaker of RomaEy now alive, and at
tempts have been made to persuade ner
to let persons interested in philologlcal
studies take down in writing the words
she uses and their meaning. But sne
has no faith in the tgorgios' protesta-
tons that they intend no harm to her
self and her people by their anxiety 10
record her strange sayings, and II is
only on the infrequent occasions Wnen
she is caught off her guard that some
smattering is obtained of her curious
knowledge. The younger gypsles, as
rule have no idea that the words USED
by their parents are anything more
than convenient slang; but II assured
that they are the relics of ancient EAST
ern tongues, they do not deny the fact,
and are content to let the .gorg1o pc
lieve what he likes. The Romanles
when Borrow knew called him sLaven-
gro, because he understood their
strange remarks about themselves; put
if the rovers Of to-day knew as mucn