Evening star., 1901-12-23
PATRIARCH THEIR RULER
GYPSY WHO IssNEARLY 1O5 YEARS
OFF AGE.
Is Supreme in His Tribe and Active
for His YearssCamp Near
WashinGton.

The rumored attempted suicide recently
of Edith Lowell, the beautiful gypsy girl,
has attracted consfderable attention to the
nomadic tribe to which she belongs. The
band is encamped nearthis city, within the
District, and consists sof eleven families.
each having it's own tent or habitat, but
all paying obedience and tribute to the pa
triarch. Edward Smith.
Smith was born in Breckinshire, south
Wales. nearly 105 years ago, and has made
a visit to his old home five different times.
He claims to have been in every state and
territory in the Union, with the single ex-
ception of Alaska.
In stature and appearance he bears a
striking resemblance to "Oom Paul.
Kruger, and lis extremely well preserved
for one of his years, only being deficient
in his eyesigf1t. Three yearssago this win
ter he had a severe attack fSillness. which
was pronounced to be incurable by his ply
sicians, but he stoutly maintained that
could he survive until spring and be per-
mitted to sleep on the & und again
Mother Earth would cure his ills and he
would again be freed from the ''rheu-
matte"
The simple fact that he is still living is
evidence that his method of cure was ef-
fective, and when he learned there was
visitor in camp he actually walked down
hill to his great grandson's tent, some 15O
yards, and that, through a light snow fall
which made it difficult for a much younger
man to travel. He and his sister live on
the hill directly to the west of 4th street
northeast, and just south of the Catholic
University, and he therefore has a COM
manding view Of the habitations of his
children strewn on the westward slope, and
keeps In touch with them on all things per-
tanning to their interests, settling their
petty disputes and giving them counsel
when necessary.
Ali of his children and most of his grand
children were born abroad but his great
grandchildren, some forty y-five in number.
were born in the United States, and only
two OF them in the same territory, Teddy
and Seth Smith. eighteen and four months.
respectively, having been born in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Education is recognized in the tribe as a
factor In governing qualifications and
EAlen Hall, daughter of the patriarch, out
points the others in this, being we'll versed
in the topics of the day, fluent talker,
speaking three languages besides the Ian
guage Of the tribe, and is, therefore, the
queen, ranking only second to her aged
father Mrs. Halls tent rests on the base
Of the hill near Lincoln avenue and in close
proximity to Trinity College through whose
ground can be seen a well-worn footpath,
which might or might not be the thorough
fare for the young lady residents who seek
the enlightenment of the fortune teller The
ladies from Washington patronze the
queens establishment, and on any pleasant
oay several OF them may be seen at the
different tents looking into the future.
Mrs. Halls tent Is more pretentious than
the Others the furnishings are better and
her horses dogs and ponies are Of the best
as, they should be with one in her station.
She it is who dresses more gaudily, wears
better jewelry and maintains more mates-
TIC air than do the others 1t is she who
plats the city and gives each woman of the
tribe a division In which to ply their voca-
ton according to her instructions, return
ing III the evening with the fruits of their
toll
The children of the tribe are given names,
In many Instances, recalling an incident or
an occurrence connected with the place and
time of their birth For instance, Rainy
Lowell. wife Of Phoenix Lowell, first saw
light during a protracted spell of rainy
weather. And there are Leafy and Finance
City and Milky, the last name representing
the disappointment of the father on the
advent of the fourth successive girl in the
family. Wester Lowell was born at the
time of severe blizzard from the direc-
tfon of the setting sun.
These people can drive a bargain equal
to any Yankee, but are perfectly fair in all
of their transactions They are law-abid-
ing citizens in most, cases. The children
attend the Brookland public school, and
the Queenstown Baptist Sunday school,
conducting themselves well at both institu-
tions.