The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-02
GYPsIEs IN HUNGARY.
The 10000 Tzigsnes Almost Always
Well Treated.


Among the many races which make up
the population Of that heterogeneous geo
graphical expression termed he AUsJro-
Hungarian Empire, certainly the most in
terestinE are those curious people called
Tzigaues iu Hungary, BOhemians iu
France. and gypsies i'm England and the
United States.
Hungary is the home Of the Tzigsues. in
so far as they haze any home In all other
European countries they were persecutta
for centuries as being emissavies OF the
evil one and enemies Of Christianity. but
Hungary took pity on them and treated The
wanderers like lost children There are
now about $4,000 OF lhcse TziEaues in
Hungary.
one OF the ravori,e sbodes Of these
strange people is near the frontier Of Croa-
tia. Their camps" are always sci Up al
some distance from the nearest town or
village often in close proximity so some
forest
The THgane hu,s-for they are nothing
uo.e-CCu-isr Of a single room. unless the
owner is extremely well-J1-dO and are gen
orally devoid Of furniture The TZ-e-nes
ear and sleep on the bare boards Al lll
times OF The day there Is a smoIcerius
ire in the moi. over which hangs sand
stone Tot. for che TZiEans has no fixed hour
for his meals. hUy eats whenever he feels
hungry
Tn -uarr bill of fare consists of
rorarue-. -rrvs- milk. and lard. On festive
occasions Such tit-b.ts are INDUCED bon as
heIgshoge. foxes. and squirrels Cats are
considered uy The TZigdneS q princelE Diet
and they train dogs 10 hunt heischOgs
and foxes
Tzjsuauc women. as rule go abCut bali
naked. the Young girls wearing nothing
but q small apron. excepting when they
90 10 the uaighbO~iug town. The men
wear but little clothing and until the time
OF their marriage between twelve and hf-
teen years OF agel they also go about
almost naked.
After marriage. however. they attire
themselves iu The gdudy Hungarian ma
tioual costume. of which they are very
proud. Cast of garments Of some Magyar
noblemaD they particularly prize, and
when they are able 20 obtain bright led
coat their satisfaction is complete.
The TziEanes have horror Of work
or restraint of any kind. Even those who
have fixed residence like 20 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
They are either horse dealers. black
smiths, sheep shearers or. and above al,
beggars. Il IS quite impossible TO take q
Hungary without coming 3CrOSs a band OF
I TzigaueS, some one Of whom will surely
follow a carriage for half an hour OF more
until he has received a coin.
Emperor Joseph II once tried 10 compel
| them 10 have a fixed residence, and allotted
them land. distributed agricultural nipple
meuts among them. and ordered them 20
I cultivate their acres. But the Tzigane5
I turned their houses into stables for their
/ horses and COWS, and SET up tents near by
! for their own use. To prevent The corn
given them for seed from sprouting they
| boiled it,.
1 But the Emperor was not discouraged
| He abolished the Tzigane language as ne
I had already done away with me Macy "
| language did away with the very name OF
/ Tzigspe. and finally took their children
| away from them, 10 be educated by German
and Hungarian farmers. who were 10 bring
them I'D according 10 q strict code Of dis
cipline-
But the little Tzigane grew ID with all
the instincts OF their race, aud at the first
opportunity escaped and rejoined their pa
rents.
There are a few exceptions, for in Tran
sylvania some peasants are Tzganes and
enjoy a reputation for thrift and intelli-
gence. Others IN Pennsylvania have be
come wood-carvers, masOns, and dentists.