The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-31
LAURA THE GYPSY QUEEN.
THEY WLKED AND CALLED HER
EAkLT, LIKE THE MAY QUEEN

EARLY, LIKE TIE MAY QUEEN.
When tho Paying Public Arrived n Paper
Grown Was on Her Erow. Twinkle in
Her Eye-GeorRe Thatcher, the Minstrel
Innkeepor, Says, "set Elm Up Again."
FANwooD. N. j.. July 3o-Laura Harrison ia
Queen Of the gypsies. Her father says SO, her
brother says 30. her grandmother, the old
Queen. Snake Mary" says 60. and. moreover.
she wears a crown and Is called the Queen
Laurel. Her exhibition crown Is OF royal GRIM
son paper. but there 10 another crown-all the
camp said SO: II surely is So Nevertheless,
the one worn in the presence OF visitors tpres-
ent at 80 cents head was Of deity fashion ed,
delicate paper The other Is one OF the mys-
teries OF the gypsies.
Another OF their mysteries Is their method
OF communication. which knows neither time
nor space nor recks OF the location OF the indl-
vldual-a telepathy. as 1t were. whose thought
laden currents traverse the universal medium
once denominated ether. and are tapped and
read at will by the roaming Tsgane. Old Har-
rison announced week ago to-day that, by
command OF the Queen. Snake Mary" all the
populous Harrison tribe were to assemble
here Tor their first reunion in twenty years to
have part In the browning OF the new Queen.
who was to tighten her grandmothers de-
clining years. The quiet confidence. the
shrewd assurance. OF Old Harrison, lent elo-
quence to his humble speech. and outlined.
despite his pauclty OF words whole panoramas
OF gypsy caravans. winding across the plains
from Mexico and California toward the Union
county road between Netherwood and Fan
wood N. j. Others in prophetic vision he pic.
tured on the ocean. destination the same.
bringing Egyptian ponies to waiting Young
America. The ponies were in camp to-day.
n pf ali hay
politely silent as to their route hither not even
once saying neiRh-ne neigh to skeptical tests as
T. their Pharaonic pedigree. The ponies we're
the only tangible returns from the old mans
prmom prom they and Ianra's paper crown.
Bile Enclosure, having been found wherein the
gypses could encamp and charge an admission
Of the tribe to travel all the way to Fanwood. so
ne had telenhoned them not to attempt to com
rolling SiloSs Of the Ataptic he refused 't 10
open to the use, OF non su bscrbers. but 1t was
hin Is IN an ola gypsy,s tent that the Central
phs whence d0'S 81 Ma as"
msstS Ha EHnf sm the cons nsFs
otherwise, must have been widely shared.
justified the attribution OF the feat to him. he
would w. be Under the suspicion Of having read
lamented memory. Forty years OF American
wandering have given him at least AN nklng
OF the pnolcs enjoyment at being fooled. and
hea tn. thank God" as cheerfully and ins eDTu
ousy reciting the reasons for the non appear
their travels and their arrival. Crowds Of
coIors stood or wandered about and knew not
at which to marvel most. their own guliOility
or the shrewdness that prohted by it.,
The camp was In its Sunday best which is as
much like It's week day best as one pea Is like
another. Some superannuated tomato cans had
the youngest child. the }-year-old sparring
wonder was clothed instead OF swaddled or
G66se6a B%s hf that in dmn
roof that sheltered the. gypsIes shone still upon
hayward and dooryard in close proximity.
Queen. pitched at the border OF the camp,
rpped on in the approved manner Of the sidJ-
Harrison's boys. who sometimes let people up
to the entrance to see the Queen. or Queens
for dime, and sometimes took their half dol
lars as fees which were TO include the telling
Of the visitors' fortunes The Queens. Snake
Mary and Laura. we're presented to Wow
when the visitors passed the flap OF the tent.
Step in, gentlemen. 1t costs you nothing:
sian lady in her Incompatible dance and be
10 sings the truthful Coney Island barker.
The crowd goes In. manikin performs upon
the stage. the curtain falls. and the proprietor
Now. gentlemen. a dime apiece tq>see the
beautiful lady lust ready to Do her dance for
your delegation Tho curtain rises in one
minute! Your dimes first please gentemen!"
Coney Island they have no need to GO The
fortunes for which visitors had paid at the
gate OF the tent Of the Queens were indeed forth
coming within the tent. There is no mlsrcp-
rcsentation among the gypsy band Of Old ,Har-
tent again wherever he has pitched i before
But indeed what sort Of fortune could one OK
pect for 80 cents2 dollar is little enough for
q fortune. in all conscience. and. like the dime
for the Circassian lsdy''s dance. the motive
Instances yesterday. Forthcoming within the
tent OF the Queens. Snake Mary" was taken
Ill again in the afternoon and one OF her elder
daughters took her place by Laura's side in the
tent.
Hundreds OF people came to the camp during
the afternoon Bicycists, men and women.
boys and girls rode in by the score. Carriages
sons walked to the camp from their homes and
from the railway stations
hsrs least The nd here who i
laughing in his sleeve and ready to pat Old
Harrison on the back and back him for win
ner among press agents who would resent
Thatcher OF ninstrel fame. who Is comfortably
housed as the boniface OF a roadside inn among
the maple trees flity yards from the encamp-
gypsy camp get thirsty and sometimes hungry |
Old Harrison says that Laura was crowned
very early this morning according to, the
gypsy rites. and that liter months stay here |
World just as SNAKE Nary d Hf' he 81 sa rns
when she was younger, He only wished that
ceremony. which Ia one OF those that must be |
seen. It Is said, to be appreciated. 4 Jersey |
,Gs who has lived ,sd long heres5onts rsmaFked
crowned some forty times. He wished as good |
luck for her granddaughter