The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1904-11-17
EARTH'S REAL BOHEMlANS.
Roamers Of the Worlds Highways
Who Have Neither Home nor
Country.

hemians of the earth. In their pride
of race they sometimes simply call
themselves Roma. meaning the Men.
In this country we call them gypsies.
says Medical Talk for tho Home.
For centuries they have passed
slong the roads OF every nation, IN
their rolling houses. They roam from
place to place, have no dxed haoita-
ton or native country. The Bone
milan is born in q wagon. at any place
along the road. in any country through
which they happen to be passing. His
life is spent on the road. He has no
home, no country. He dies as he was
born, any place. any country.
The Bohemian has jealously pre-
served his own language. and scorns
the customs of every country. INDIE
pendence and liberty. In the open air.
that Is the life for him. His cart Is
his only house, and In this he eats
and drinks, smokes. plays his music.
rests and sleeps. In this cart the chill
dren are born, the sick are nursed, and
finally in tho same cart the Bohemian
dies
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brigands. They will not steal or plum
der unless pushed to the last extreme
by hunger. They depend largely on
charity, but also follow certain trades
which are suitable to their Incidence
and independence. that Of horse-trader
being preferred. Fortune telling IL
a remunerative profession, as through
out all Europe they are supposed to
be able to predict without failure the
future, and to be able to read the hand
and the skies.
They are a happy. indoient. content
ed. rowing race Of people. They fg-
more all the customs and prophecies
of civilized life, and go their own
sweet way from place to place, year
in and year out.
When any Of their number Is sick.
no physician is called. They do their
own doctoring. They have a wide
knowledge Of the different herbs that
are curative Of certain diseases. and
they make use only Of these simple
remedies. They do not contaminate
or abuse their bodies by taking all
sorts Of coal-tar preparations and min
eral drugs Vegetable doctors are
they. pure and simple.
They live close to nature. Fresh
air all day, all night Sunshine all day.
Walking barefooted on the ground.
making their bed oftentimes on the
grassy earth. Eating, drinking. Sleep
ing, when the natural instincts de-
mand. A free, easy going, natural and
healthy life.
So near to nature DO they i've that
there is little sog1ness among them.
Even the women IN childbirth do not
need a physician. What to the CIV
flied woman is q dreaded period Of
intense suffering rs a matter Of but
little moment to the gypsy woman.
When her child is born, II the tribe Is
on the march. she may be delayed a
few hours by the wayside. but within
born babe Graded on her back, she
proceeds on the Journey with the rest
Of the family.
It is not a civilized life, nor the
highest form of life to live, but at
least It is a natural life, physically.
II the civilized woman and the civ
i1ized man could only learn to make
use Of the natural elements, as the
gypsies do, we would have q stronger
race Of men and women physically and
mentally The strenuous life that
the average American lives Is not con-
ducive to the highest state Of health.
What we need is more outdoor life.
Less business care and worry. Less
troubling over the bread-and-butter
question, and more enjoyment OF the
simple pleasures and blessings that
are ours for the taking.