The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-06
NoMADs ON THEIR JOURNEYS.
The style in Which Gypsies Almost
Always Travel
lFrom O. BafaIo 80

Hah a dozen bright. new, g.ittering
gypsy wagons were taken from a carriage
makers establishment on Seneca Street
last week and put in readiness for their
summer journeyings. Owners have been
waiting until the sun had dried the cOun-
Try roads before they started out for the
seascI. several weeks ago they gave orders
that their cunveycnces were to be ready
as soon as the temperature was mild
enough 70 make sleeping under the open
sky fairly comfortable. The foliage burst
ing into leaf. the frogs singing their
spring chorus in the creeks and marshes
and the delicious sunlight began 10 make
city life uncomfortable to the rowing tribe,
so the houses. dogs. children, blankets,
and pans were prepared for an early fit
ting and the new wagons were sent for.
Perhaps you thought, II you have
thought about it at all. that gypsies ars
content with any kind of a carriage, an
old road wagon with canvas top stretch
ed over barrel hoops and slaves answering
the purpose oftener than anything else.
Perhaps your knowledge OF the way the
Romantics traverse the country is confined
TO a susty caravan filed with towlse-
headed women and children, drawn by a
couple of lean and crippled horses, which
you have seen dragging its way elong the
road on a hot day.
ment that answer 20 that description, BIT
there is another class. removed from tbs
other IN the Romany social scale which
lives and travels very differently Theil
caravans are magnificent afTairs-that is
if you like lots of bright color about your
equippae. They are expensive. too Those
which left the Seneca Street shop range
from $500 TO $500 in price. and some inc
tney cost as much as $1,000. But the
- -
tegs of the year. at least. He would much
prefer to spend money on it's deco: at OF
than on home. and its upholstering is o.
vastly more Importance to him than furni
ture for an ordinary abode.
The new wagons are high II require
long step and a quick luIeh under II
| top to gain the drivers seat The womel
/ and children must Chamber farther IN L
reach the place reserved for them t.
/ trucks. box and top. are painted with tn
/ gayest of gay colors. vermillion. yellow
/ bright blue. and green being the fayOrit
/ combinations, and if the maker has sui
/ ficient artistic skill to blend these color
in some fantastic way he is liable to b
patronized again. The colors are made c
| oilcloth tightly closed in, like deliver
! wagon, and is painted clear yellow, wit
I trimmings of red and blue, or else is dec
GRATED with a picture on each side Horse
and dogs are the favorite subjects
The most expensive wagons are O-ns
mented with a great deal OF goldleaf. an
the bands Of the hubs are of plated gol
not silver and nickel. as osdinary person
use. The inside of the top is upholstere
in gay-colored chintz; il the exterior is We
low the interior will probably be a viz
red. There is usually one seat in front Z,
the driver and his companion. The back
the box is arranged with a seat ali aroun
with a small compartment at the res
where the bedding is kept. At night II
bees are made by fitting boards on the sea
in the back, covering them with blanket
If the gypsy Is particularly prominent
his tribe he will probably have two wager
-one to be used for sleeping apartme
and one for a living room, furnished with
sl-all stove.
When a gypsy wants to get married
does not think about renting and furais
irg house, and gas and water bills eau
HIM no uneasiness. Ali he wants or q
CHOSEN young woman expects is good "
gon, team OF strong horses, and set
harness, with perhaps few dollars to bl
provisions before the first horse deal b
bcen closed One of the wagons that W
go on the road this year was ordered by
young woman OF considerable wealth al
Importance among the Romantics, for
wedding gift to a young couple In who
she is interested. Its price is just So
and when II is completed the young nj
VIII bring his good horses and their No
harness. and he and his bride will sta
cut to spend the summer under sun
skies. without a thought or. care for t
troubling things which harass all {
world but themselves.