The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-07

CHICAGO. ILL, May 5.-The residents
~ ,his CITY are greatly alarmed over the
proposed national convention Of the Gyp-
sy Band which threatens TO meet here
this month The chief Of the leading trlDe
OF the band was in the city lately making
preparations and he freely announced
that the dread band would arrive IN
few days. numbering 1000 persons men
women and children. Accompanying the
gypsies were go horses and several hesu
OF cattle.
ON receip. Of the news the real estate
men applied 10 the chief OF police for
protection and the residents OF the SUI
burbs wrote letters demanding that
mounted police be stationed at snort IN
teryals in the suburbs. The alarm even
spread 20 the schools and several OF the
school teachers OF Chicagos suburbs no
tined the parents that they must escort
their children safely 10 and from schooI
each day.
The people whose coming spread such
n reign OF terror throughout 1.-The fair
civ % Illinois" are as old as the his
tory Of this country. II was claimed by
an early American writer <hat the gyp-
sizes were a people who sprang from the
union OF the colored people with the In
dams. But this story IS greatly 20 be
doubted as no people fear gypsies Ike
the colored people. nor have the two races
anything in common.
Another story is that they are Spanish
Moors. having been driven out OF Spain
when trouble came upon the Moors' ms
story Is told by a former queen Of the
gypsies. who makes her home IN New
York city. fortune telling.
There is stin another tale that the gyp-
ev is a Mexican Indian. But this lacks
substantiation as the traits OF the gyp-
sizes and the Mexicans are Numerically
opposed.
The most likely tale OF their origin
is one advanced by students of Esyptoi-
ogy. They say that the gypsies are one
OF the wandering tribes Of Egypt who
having ouarreled with their leader in the
sixteenth century scattered TO all parts
OF Europe Their leader, who called him
self Duke OF Lower Egypt lived in the
.uburbs Of London for many years and
there established an unenviable reputa-
ton which the tribe has never lived
down.
The gypsy Is like no other people in the
world. The gypsy women are noted for
their tan. beautiful forms, their clear
olive skin. and shining black eyes. They
are quick, clever and attractive. Never
theless they do not marry out OF theH
tribe but cast their smiles spon the
small misshapen men of their own race
The gypsy nature is peculiar. II re
sembles no other known people ana Is
most nearly allied 10 the Wahuerlhb
tribes OF Arabia. the tribes that are huhl
cd and are outcasts from generation 10
generation. -,
without occupation. The men OF the
eypsv tribe adopt the occupation OF unk-
ar ana when starvation stares them In
the face II II ever does. they 80 TO the
nearest town and beg from door TO door
for work which they readily secure and
for which they receive good pay for they
are clever with their hands.
But tho gypsy never does want. BY
some peculiar provision OF nature ne mas
always enough. II you were given a
peep into a gypsy wagon you would see
big hams and long slabs OF bacon stored
away. You would see a bin OF new po-
,atoes. many kinds Of dried fish, guam
,i,ies Of early vegetables and even canned
Goods. A freshly killed beef Will be found
on tho block outside the wagon II the
tr.be be a largo one. and the nre that Is
bnrninz brightly nearby IS turning a spit
uoon which hangs birds that have been
recently brought down. The gypsy has
only tho pleasure OF food and OF ms he
allows himself plenty.
The nature OF the gypsy mas peeh ''N'''-
ed 10 that OF the crow. lie helps himself
% anything he sees and remains az long
as there is any left. Then he travels on
70 the next field.
The gypsy asserts that he earns HI
he has. III proof Of this he points 70 the
birds and 60 his gun. lie indicates the
potatoes and the open fields which ne
'eavs he has titled. lie tells you that
there are open farm lands In the West
chat he IS taking his substance from
them. and when YOU shrug your should
ers ne viii hint Of a national treasury OF
The Noors in spain from which comes a
certain amount OF money annually TO
each tribe. He VIII inform you that once
The Moors owned Spain, Italy and France
ana that they have stiil enough OF this
worlds goods 70 maintain the few re-
naming gypsies -.
Rut the people who inhsbit the cities
near which the gypsies dwell tel dif-
,erent tale. They say that during a gyp-
sv visitation 81 Is not safe 10 venture
ont az night. Mysterious missiles are
hurled into the air and the victim STUN
,,es into the bitches. When he has re-
covered ne hnds that unseen hands have
~onhsd him. The trees, they complain.
.t.tnneA nightly the han yoosts rob-