The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1907-02-23

my srsatgreat-grandfather was .
Bristol man. The Stanley family Is
good one In England.
Yet We are gypsIes. descended
from . long line OF gypsies. We speak
the Roman tongue. which Is a Ian
guago In general use among gypsies
the world over, though 1t varies great
ly according to the country in which
tribe lives.
THE next time anyone tells you
that we have no religion, do not be-
neve 1t. We have our religion pre-
cisely as you or any other man who
Is not a gypsy has his. Many of our
people are Baptists; some belong to
other Christian denominations. When
. gypsy does become enthusiastic over
his religion he makes not infrequent-
ly what you call 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
1t Is effective and accurate, even
though wild In character The gyp-
sizes in Hungary and Russia and Po-
land are noted as musicians"
Mr.. sineIair's Testimony.
What the son Of the chief of the
Somerville gypsies says about the
gypsy folk is borne out by Mr.. Sin
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 / 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
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 WELL"
AS to their alleged propensity to
steal children, an idea fostered by
superstition and the melodrama, Mr..
Sinclair says that Is all q myth.
"All the gypsies in the vicinity Of
Boston know me as Lawyer Sinclair
and for many years l 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 1t 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 1t 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 rs years, and
I have made very many inquiries, but
I have never even heard Of a case
where gypsies have oven stolen
single child"
Mr.. Sinclair says that they know
too well that were they to steal any
thing they would be suspected at once
ond uoarchad. md thov vol,io fhoir