Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-09-17
Atisfellat1enus Rtaaing.
THE MYSTERY OF THE GYPsIEs.
Their Origin Is One of the Unsolved
Secrets of Time.

Their Origin Is One of the Unsolved
| Secrets of Time.
In these twentieth century days when
we have become so vain Of our knowl-
! edge that much Of the wisdom Of Sol
omon seems like foolishness to us, there
are still few mysteries that we have
not been able to penetrate, and which
it now appears likely we shall never
be able to unveil. One Of these secrets
is the origin Of the Gypsies, who are
to be found in every European country
and in America, always a distinct and
peculiar people, possessing the same
characteristics which have distinguish
ed them from the nations among whom
they dwell ever since their first appear
ance in Europe six or seven centuries
ago, and having language Of their
own, the derivation of which still puz-
zles the most learned philologists. This
differs in the various countries in which
they live, and partakes Of the language
of those countries so as to form dia-
lect peculiar to each. 1t is said by
those who assume to know, that there
are no words in the Gypsy language to
signify God, the soul or immortality.
and it is therefore supposed that they
are entirely without a religion; but 1t
Is doubtful II any one who Is not a
Gypsy is competent to speak with au-
thority upon that matter, it being al
most impossible for any one to become
familiar enough with their language,
customs and beliefs to be qualified to
give a trustworthy opinion on the SUBJ
ject.
The first recorded appearance Of Gpy-
sizes in Europe was towards the close
of the fifteenth century. though wan
dering tribes, possessing similar traits
and customs had been known in Media,
India and Persia long before that time.
A common belief that they had first
come from Egypt is the origin Of the
English name Of Gypsy, though each
country has a different appellation for
them, such as "Gitanos," in Spain;
''Zingari," in Italy; 'Zigeuner," in
Germany. and "Bohemiens." in France,
none Of which names seem to have
any connection with Egypt. But, in
whatever country they appear, they
continue to be distinct people. entire
ly unlike the inhabitants Of the land,
and having the same characteristics
that they possessed centuries ago.
Having their own rulers and laws, their
peculiar customs, an innate love for
wandering that renders it almost i'm
possible for any Of them to settle down
to an ordinary occupation; and a par
ticular aversion to city life, or to a
residence within the walls of an ordi-
nary habitation. .fThere strange lack of
national identity, their nomadic habits,
their penchant for horses, and their
assumed knowledge Of the magic arts
distinguished them then as now; while
the mystery that surrounds them has
always caused the ignorant and super
stitious to regard them with a curios-
ity and awe almost amounting to fear.
There are so many elements of the
picturesque connected with the life of
the Gypsies that it has been largely
used by novelists and dramatic writer's
to give interest and variety to their
works. Every one Is familiar with the
conventional Gypsy Of the opera; and
| their mode Of life as portrayed on the
stage has no little fascination for the
| Imagination, and causes one to regard
with envy their happy, irresponsible
existence so far removed from the du-
| ties and restrictions Of our common
place life. 1t is probable that near
view of their real lives would tend to
disprove most Of these illusions. There
are, however, some elements of the pic
turesuue in connection with the Gypsy
life that even close inspection cannot
quite dissipate. We have in mind one
picture of it as seen some years ago In
| Connecticut-though the contrast with
the scenery and people Of that land of
steady habits" no doubt did much to
render the picture more striking and to
fix it in the memory. A small party of
these wanderers were strolling along
pretty country road towards the close
Of a lovely spring evening, apparently
without the least anxiety as to reach
ing any place Of shelter for the night.
At a signal from one Of the men. they
halted at a spot where the grass by the
roadside was fresh and green, and the
boughs of the apple trees on each side
of the way spread a misty pavilion OF
pink and white blossoms overhead.
and fiecked the grass with delicate
petals. In a few moments a wagon
arrived containing an old woman and
some children, and before long couple
of tents were spread, the horses unhar-
messed and left to Craze, a fire lighted
and leisurely preparations for supper
began; and, as the shadows darkened,
the flickering freight lent soft beau
ty to the scene, toning down it's rough
er and coarser elements, and adding to
the picturesque effect of the costumes
and easy, lounging attitudes of the
group. The last touch Of theatrical ef-
feet was given by one of the women
a tall, handsome creature with two
black-eyed children clinging to her
skirts-approached and offered to tell
the fortunes of the onlookers who had
by that time began to feel themselves
as intruders on the domestic life of her
people, and were about to withdraw.
Perhaps the most attractive descrip-
tions Of Gypsy life ever written are
those of George Borrow, the we'll