The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-07-31

The band of rowing horse traders who
have been camping in the east end OF
town for some time past may not inspire
very high thoughts of the romance and
beauty of wandering gypsy life. But
these people are by no means true rep
resentatives Of the genuine race OF
gypsies, once far more numerous than
now, but they at least remind us of
them, and little of their legendary
history may be of interest.
The tale OF the gypsies is that of the
most mysterious race in the world,
Dark skinned and vivacious, untram-
meled with the cares of the world, they
| live and wander, wander eternally, for
it is in their blood and they cannot be
still.
The real gypsies Of history were not
nondescript collection of people from
all nations, but were a distinct race, or
branch OF some race. The language
they spoke was not the garbe of many
tongues but one distinct language, re-
semblng in many ways the spoken Ian
guage of the Indias. Where they came
| from no man knows, or will know, for
| they know not themselves. But the
| supposition is that the race originated
in India and from there spread itself
over all the world, in klans and tribes
wandering hither and thither, their
habits unchanged wherever they went.
In all countries they are regarded alike:
| the Dutch called them "Heathen:" the
| Arabs, not the highest in honor them
selves, called them "Villains.' For a
| thousand years these dark skinned peo-
| pie have been known in Europe. Vague
references are found here and there OF
4 their existence. Soothsayers, wander
ers, snake charmers, they were called,
leading then, as now, the life OF perpet-
ual roaming. Though having a distinct
language of their own they have q
wonderful facility of adopting the ton
que of the people among whom they
happen to wander. OF their ways, their
impositions and frauds on the simple
people of Europe in the Middle Age:
many curious tales are related. In one
instance band of about three hundred
gypsies, dirty, wild and unkempt, de
scended upon German town. They
were led by two men who were dressed
richly and represented themselves tC
be duke and count. Speaking in the
language OF the Germans they recited {
strange tale Of woe. They came, st
they said, from Egypt, where they hat
been a prosperous people. Once they
had been devoted followers of Christ
but under the persecution Of Mohamme
dams they had renounced the crucifeC
Lord and become followers of the Pro
phet. Overcome with remorse for thci
deed, they had journeyed from Egyp
to the Pope at Rome to beg forgive
ness. The Pope mercifully forgavo
them but pronounced a penance upor
them of seven years of penitential wan
dering upon the face OF the earth. Tn,
hearts of the innocent Germans wer'
touched, they extended their sympath,
and permission to camp near the town
They were interested in them, and ,sool
} became more so, for we read that tina
, evening mysterious disappearances o
poultry, eggs, silver and purses alarm
ed the honest burghers. They coul,
hardly believe that these courteou
penitents, seeking for holiness wer
also thieves. Soon all doubt was re
moved but while they pondered wha
to do, dogs, dukes, babies and donkey
vanished in the night" In the yea
143s Europe was literally over run will
the swarthy gypsies. Always the
claimed to be penitents, always the
lied, stole and vanished. 1t is doubtful
whether they have any religion at all
certainly it is not Christianity.