Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-02-23
ARE AN ODD PEOPLE.
rzleANEs OF HUNGARY HAVE
NO couNTERPARTs.
Retain tl,c Habits of barbarian. in.
Spite Of Remonstrances = Raiment
More sca,t than Strict ncccncy Die
t%ates-Thcir Reclamation Abandoned.

Austro-Hungarian empire certainly the
most interesting are those curious peo-
pie called Tziganes in Hungary, bohe-
mans in France and gypsies in England
and the United States. Hungary is the
home of the Tziganes, in so far as they
have any home. In all other European
countries they were prosecuted for cen
turtles rs being emissaries 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 100000 Of these Tziganes
in Hungary.
One Of the %favorite abodes Of these
strange people is near the frontier of
Croatia. 1t is there that the typical
Tziganes may best be seen. Their
camps are always set up at some dis
lance from the nearest town or village;
often in close proximity to some forest.
The Tzigane huts-for they arc nothing
more--consist of a single room. unless
tile owner is extremely we'll to do, and
are generally devoid OF furniture. The
Tzisanes eat and sleep on the bare
boards. AT all times of the day there is
n %smoldering fire in the hut, over which
hangs a sandstone pot. for the Tzigane
has no fixed hour for his meals, but eats
whenever he feels hungry. The ordi-
nary bill of fare consists of potatoes,
stews, milk and lard. On festive occa-
sions such titbits are INDUCED in as
.hedgchogs, foxes and squirrels. Cats
are considered by the Tzigancs q prince
ly diet and they train dogs to hunt
%hedgehogs and foxes.
IZlgane women. as a rule, go about
half naked, the young girls wearing
nothing but a small apron, excepting
when they go to the neighboring town.
The men wear but little clothing, and
until the time of their marriage Cbe-
';ween IL and 10 years of age they also
go about almost naked. After mar
siage, however, they attire themselves
IN the gaudy Hungarian national cos
sume, of which they are very proud.
.Sast-of garments of some Magyar no
Dleman they particularly prize, and
when they are able to obtain a bright
red coat their satisfaction is complete.
The Tziganes have a horror of work or
restraint of any kind. Even those who
have a fixed residence like to 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." Most of
the trades they adopt are suitable for a
aomadic life. They are either horse
dealers. blacksmiths, sheep shearers or,
and above all, beggars. 1t is quite I'M
possible to take Il country drive
through on1e provinces of Hungary
without coming across a band of Til
games, some one of whom will surely
follow a carriage for half an hour or
more until he has received a coin. The
Tziganes have given themselves the
nickname Of poor mem and the habit
Of begging is so thoroughly rooted in
them that even w%ell-to-do members of
heir race, whom one occasionally meets
in Buda-Pesth. driving pure-blooded
horses and wearing costly Jewels. cam
not resist the temptation of asking for
money.
Many unsuccessful attempts have
5ecn made to restra the vagabond pro-
pcnsities of the T%ziganes. Emperor Jo-
seph III. once tried to compel them to
have a fixed residence, and allotted them
land. distributed agricultural implc-
mests among them and ordered them to
cultivate their acres. But instead of
taking up their residence in the COM
Portable homes they had been presented
with the Tziganes turned the houses
into stables for their horses and cows
and set up tents hear by for their w
use. To prevent the corn given them
for seed from spronting they boiled it.
But the Emperor was not discouraged.
He abolished the Tzigane language, as
he had already done away with the
Magyar language; did away with the
very name of Tzigane, and finally took
their children from them to be educated
by German and Hungarian farmers.
who We're to bring them up according to
a strict code of discipline. But the little
Tziganes grew up with all the instincts
of their race, and at the first opportuni-
ty escaped and rejoined their parents.
A few years ago a Tzlgane who had
been adopted as a child in an Austrian
family entered the army and rose to the
rank of captain. One day, without any
warning, he Disappeared, and six
months later he was found among a
band of wandering Tziganes. List, the
great pianist, once tried to tame ayoung
Tzigane. He took the boy to Paris,
gave him teachers and tried to bring
him up in a conventional manner, but
the effort was useless and the young
bohemian had to be Sent back to his
native land. There are a few excep.
lions which prove the rule, for in Tran
sylvania some peasants are Tziganes
and enjoy a well-deserved reputation
for thrift and intelligence. Others in
Transylvania have become wood cary
ers, masons and dentists.-Home Jour-
nal.
49,.