The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-10-06
MOTLEY CREW OF RoMANY RYEs
ARRIVE.
ARE The USUAL STRIPE
Women Lure Coins by Telling For.
tunes and Men Have Horses
to Trade.

Those who were downtown last Sun.
day afternoon saw a peculiar process
sion of wagons wend it's way west.
ward in First avenue, north. Many
stopped and continued to look at the
strangers until they had disappeared
by turning down one of the cross
streets Some recognized the occu-
pants of the vehicles and Immediate
ly began to take thought for the Sc
curity of their houses and barns,
while others wondered who the people
that were almost as dark as Indians,
but still plainly showed not to be
abroigines could be. Those better in
formed on matters chronological told
them they were Roumanians, or Gyp-
sizes, and advised them to be on their
guard against them.
Yesterday morning the strangers
gave evidence of their presence by
the appearance of women and little
girls fitting in and out Of stores and
offices and hailing passersby on the
streets with the invariable salute OF
Have y fortune told? "Lemme look
at y hand" and kindred other re-
marks that made known their avoca-
tion. Some passed over the neces-
sary piece of silver and extended their
hands into the palms as black and
grinay as years OF abstenance from the
use OF soap and water could make
them. The fortune" told depended
upon the size of the coin given the
nomads The larger the better the
things that were to happen.
While the female portion of the
band were busy uptown the men were
loafing about the camp, which was
pitched near the power house, or try
ing to trade horses with those who
passed that way or curiosity had ta-
ken there. The animals they had to
offer in exchange were of the usual
kind that Gypsies have-old, worn
out plugs, with bones protruding like
the hooks an hat rack, spawned,
ringbOned and their shoulders raw
with sores from ill-ftting collars. But
to hear the Zingalis extol the good
qualities of their steeds would lead
the unsophisticated into the belief
nj r1,1 u
peer of any horse ever owned by
man.
All, however, were not in the camp,
for some OF the men were prowling
about, keeping their eyes open for
possible opportunities to help them
selves to whatever they might take
a fancy or which was of value, either
for use or barter, for all Gypsies are
thieves, or at least they are so re-
garded, and the reputation they have
gained is in most cases we'll earned.
Occasionally a "Romany Rye may
be found who will NOT take what does
not belong to him, but he is as scarce
as the Indian who has absolute re-
gard for property rights.
Not Much Unlike Indians.
After all, there is not so much diff !
ference between an Indian and a |
gypsy. BY nature both are nomads
and both are indolent Neither one
will work if by any possibility such
IN unpleasant experience can be avoid
I'd, and each has the same contempt
or honest toll. The women of the two
ire also much alike. Each has the
others love for gaudy display and
.awdry effect. Bright colors appeal
strongly to both and neither has any
owe for the lavatory or any of the
articles that are to be found there
Both are the slaves of their masters
Ind both are expected to furnish
most of the necessaries that go to
seep body and soul together. In fact.
10Th, by nature and habit, have be-
come expert "rustlers" and they fur
lish most of the things that go into
he camp Kettle. Each is also an
xpert thief and her fingers are as
limble as those of any prestidigita-
or that ever mystified an audience
II caused the yokePs eyes to protrude
rom their sockets.
Hard Name Precedes Them.
The band that arrived Sunday has