The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-25

the chleftaincy. Chief stanIeys big family
yearly encamps on Grow HILL Kings coun-
ty. y. Y. In the suburbs OF Denver, Col.
the gypsies ruled by Mrs. Caroline Smith
meet annually. while branches of the
Stanley family of Ohio encamp near Day
ton Cincinnati and Cleveland.
THE pattriu is the code OF signs by
which gypsies tell each other the road to
be followed. The word comes from the
sanscrit pattra q leaf, and the commonest
form of pattrin Is the scattering OF little
tufts of grass or tiny bundles OF leaves
along the route pursued. Straw. STICKS.
pebbles. and crosses in the earth are also
used The form of pattrin for night guild
ance is the placing Of small forked suck
upward in the ground with smaller stick
poised In the cleft to show the direction.
Nowadays, however the gypsies are get
ting SO unromantic that they do great
deal OF teIegraphing. Oddly enough, the
great gypsy exchanges in the various cities
are livery stables and pawnbrolers' shops
The first fact is applicable when one re-
calls the horse trading Romany; but the
second calls for explanation. Gypsfes are
the pawnbrokers' best customers. They
buy lavishly all sorts OF old silver and am
Der and cowrie ornaments. and nearly all
their dealing is done with the pawnshops.
The gypsy woman has an oriental taste III
jewelry. and every Romany-chi possesses
box full Of trinkets. especially in silver
amber and inheritance from Hindu an
cestors) cowrie beads. The pawnorokers
keep in touch with the various caravans.
and at the sign OF the three golden balls
the Romany learns the whereabouts OF
relatives and friends.
The Gypsy DistrustfuI.
'It is difficult indeed to win the gypsy
confidence. He is distrustful OF the Gorgio.
or Gentle. by whom he has been perse-
cuted whom in turn ne has hated and prey
ed upon for ages. 1t took me four Iona
years to break the ice with single Ro-
many family; but, once broken. the rest
was easy. Very soon had good, COLO
uulal knowledge of Romany. My friend
ship with the one family. and my az
uuaintance with the mystic psttrin code.
proved adequate introductions to the gyp-
sizes everywhere. The American gypsy. "a
a rule. has no real religion. Frequently
he ostensibiy follows some faith. but he
does il with his tongue in his cheek. Their
word for God Is Deva, or Devel. from the
Sanscrit deva, a deity: but the word has
to them little or no Significance Broadly
speaking. they are pagans. Yet supersti-
ton exists among them, though they ar
feet to sheer at the spells and incantations
with which their trici sters deceive the
Gorgios. Many curious customs prevail
among our Romanys. For instance. 1t Il
common among the Colorado and Califor-
mia gypsy women while secretly coniv-
ING at the marriage of their daughters, aP-
parently oppose the suitOr's advances Bit
ierIv. This necessitates.au elopemcnt; arr
er which the young pair. having showh
their Romany spirit. are welcomed back 10
The maternal tent pole. Their cooking and
eating habits are often odd enough. For
FORK they have a great fondness. and in
Old times they we're accustomed. whe-
passing a farm house, to 'drab the bauio'
poison the pigD and beg the carcass from
the farmer. The poison known as 'draD
is one of the Romany secrets. II Is Gu
rious drug which affects only the animal
brain leaving the rest of the body unpol-
soned. Many old Romany-chals nave ad-
mitted TO me that they still occasionally
Weld to the temptation OF Grabbing tne
baulo' and thereby obtaining fresh pork.
| Enrlish gypsies smack their lips over Una
r,aTnories OF toasted atehiwitchi. or hedge
hog The gypsy way to cook a fowl Is 10
a. II nm feathers and all, in clay. and
| hs,,e II in the heart of the fire. for little
more than thirty minutes The eiay Is
| tben removed, taking with 1t the feathers
ths fowl is cleaned and the feast Is ready.
| Yorkshire pudding. apple duupiinss. ana