Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-05-29
A BAND
OF CYPSIES

The monotony of rural life in the
vicinity of Mausdale during the week
past has been relieved by the presence
of a camp of gvpsies, considerably larg-
er and more up-to-date i'll its appoint
ments than is usual The camp lies
this side of the village between the +.
& r. Railway and the wagon road at
a point just beyond Mahoning creek.
The nomads are the object of much
curiosity and the spot is daily visit
ed by number of people, many being
from this city
A representative of The American
Yesterday strolled into the camp
and had an interview with the King.
This parsonage is both a surprise and
disappointment. He is the soul OF
courtesy-a most willing converse
tionalist who without giving the least
otfense manages to Withhold the very
thing you want to know. There was
never man living that had such
command of generalities and his re-
marks abound in such vague phrases as:
I'm sure | don know - That's it,
exactly" " Il wouldn't t be surprised. "
The Kings name; where the camp
came from? whittier it is bound? mat
ters concerning which there is much
guessing, no matter how adroitly the
questions are put, the gracious King
permits the public to keep on guess
ing.
The King" may be gypsy, but
he does not say SO neither does he re-
semble one. There is i'll his language
a familiar brogue suggestive of the
soil of Merry England" or the less
favored land of Wales Still he is a
natural leader and boss of his people.
He admitted that the camp contain
ed good many people, made up of
several families, who trade horses
and move from place to place, but be
yond this nothing could be learned
from him. The Kings subjects like
wise were very guarded in their re-
plies but from one it was learned that
the camp consists of but two families,
one being the King and the other his
sons. The families both are large
in one of them there are twelve chill
dren
The camp consists of six very hand
some modern gypsy wagons, with "A
corresponding number of tents. The
wagons, which seem to be used eXclus-
lively for sleeping purpose are models
of convenience The bedding where
exposed yesterday seemed soft and
downy and snowy white i'll its purity.
BY the side of each wagon is pitched
IA tent, in which the family lives. \
glance on the interior revealed an eX-
ceedingly small cook stove of the
wood burning variety, with probably
Il small table Chairs generally were
conspicuous by their absence. In sew
eral of the tents the ground was cover
ed with carpet. In one n swarthy
faced maiden, gaudily attired, was
seated on the floor combing her long
black hair.
Whatever the nationality of the
King may be, there would seem
to be no doubt but what the bu TX of
his followers are closely akin to the
gypsy race. The women, especially,
several of whom daily stroll into Dan
vile, have the dark complexion and
other characteristics of the gypsy.
They dress III bright colors, tell for
tunes and seem to love their outdoor
life. Whether gypsies or only playing
such the camp is certainly living up
to the traditions of the race.
Some eighteen or twenty horses,
valuable or otherwise, along with a
good many dogs of doubtful pedigree,
the usual stock in trade of gypsies,
were i'll evidence about the camp. The
women are quite as commercially in
clined as the men and have canvassed
quite large section on their fortune
telling expeditions.
Several persons, including business
man of Danvillc have traded horses
with the gypsics during the past week
and are said to have been treated very
fairly. Indeed, the Mausdale people,
who have frequent dealings with the
camp, give the gypsies credit not only
for honesty, but also for quiet and
good order about the camp. Whatever
they need in the way of supplies they
buy and pay cash for it. On the whole
the camp in no way seems to be the
cause of complaint