St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-11-26
=ARTH'S REAL BoHEMIANS.
Roamers Of the Worlds Highways
Who Have Neither Home Nor
Country.

A race OF people known in Europe
rs the Romanichels, are the real 3D.
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 the Home.
For centuries they have passed
along the roads Of every nation, in
their rolling houses. They roam from
place to place, have no fixed habita-
ton or native country. The Bohe-
milan is born in a 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 1ealously pre-
served his own language, and scorns
the customs of every country. 1nde-
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 the same cart the Bohemian
dies.
The Romanichels are not bandits mol
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-tradel
being preferred. Fortune telling IL
a remunerative profession, as through,
out all Europe they are supposed tc
be able to predict without failure the
future, and to be able to read the hand
and the skies.
They are happy, indolent, content
ed, rowing race of people. They ig.
more all the customs and proprietiee
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 thei,
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 art
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 ant
healthy life.
So near to nature do they live that
there is little sickness among them |
Even the women in childbirth do not
need a physician. What to the civ.
ilized woman is q dreaded period o:
intense suffering Is a matter Of but
little moment to the gypsy woman
When her child is born, il the tribe il |
ON the march, she may be delayed
few hours by the waysfde. but within |
a day or two at most, with her new |
born babe Graded on her back, sht |
proceeds on the journey with the resi-
of the family. ....
1t is not a civilized life, nor the
highest form of life to live. but q,
least 1t is natural life, physically |
II the civilized woman and the civ |
ilized man could only learn to make
use Of the natural elements, as ths |
gypsies do, we would have stronge'
race Of men and women physically ant
The strenuous life tina
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. Lest
troubling over the bread-and-butte,
question, and more enjoyment Of the
simple pleasures and blessings thai
are ours for the taking.