Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-02-23

my r-greaIgranuratner was
Bristol man. The Stanley family is
a good one in England
Yet we are gypsies. descended
from long lins oe gypsies- We speak
the Roman tongue, which is a lam
guage in general use among gypsies
the world over, though it varies great
ly according to the country in which
a tribe lives
4sThe next time anyone tells you
that we have no religion, do not be-
ieve it, We have our religion pre-
cisely as you or any other man who
is not gypsy has his. Many of our
people are Baptists; some belong to
other Christian denominations. When
a gypsy does become enthusiastic over
his religion he makes not infrequent-
ly what you call a great revivalist.
That is his temperament.
This temperament shows again in
the music of the gypsies. Although
this music is entirely by ear, many
great composers have conceded that
it is effective and accurate, even
though wild in character The gyp-
sizes in Hungary and Russia and Po-
land are noted as musicians
MIR. SincIair's Testimony.
What the son of the chief of the
Somervilie gypsies says about the
gypsy folk is borne out by Mr.. Sim
clair. He. does, in fact, destroy many
a cherished Illusion.
"a good many of them are members
of the Baptist church, and speak at
the prayer meetings with all the fer
vor of the other members Often
times I have heard them exhort visit
ors to their camps about the blessings
and necessity of a Christian life,' he
says.
And he adds that they are not
given to thieving. more than any other
poor, ignorant people and the com
munity where they are found" Mr..
Sinclair's conclusions with respect to
the American gypsy are identical with
a report sent him by the governor gen.
eral of Russian Central Asia on the
gypsy folk Of his country, who have
the reputation of being thieves and
cheats, but, according to the reports
of our administrative officials, they
behave themselves WE'LL
AS to their alleged propensity to
steal children, an idea fostered by
superstition and the melodrama, Mr..
Sinclair says that is all myth.
"A1l the gypsies in the vicinity of
Boston know me as Lawyer Sinclair
and for many years / have been con-
suited by them when in trouble.
There have been a good many cases
when children were lost and the gyp-
sizes were suspected of kidnapping
them. Often their camps have been
searched and they have been subject
ed to much annoyance and trouble.
In no case, however, has it been
found to be true that they had taken
any children
A Case in Point.
Zone. case, remember, excited
great interest in the newspapers at
the time it occurred. A Willie Nc
Cormick disappeared in Boston, and
his loss was heralded all over the
country in large headlines by the
newspapers Finally two Russian
gypsy girls were arrested in Wash
ington for stealing him. A Boston
detective was sent to Washington.
The two girls were kept under arrest
for many days and subjected to
rigid cross-examination, as was the
whole gypsy camp. Finally it was
discovered that these gypSies had
never had or seen the boy.
The question has been one I have
considered carefully for 25 years, and
1 have made very. many inquiries, but
+ have never even heard of a case
where gypsies have even stolen
single child"
Mr.. Sinclair says that they know
too well that were they to steal any
thing they would be suspected at once
and searched; and they value their