The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-21

ences of society. Gipsies constantly
comepte with prophets" ''messiars"
and holy women" Most things inter
.esting and dramatic, whether adven-
s-,,ss or crime begin or end with them
With "Tsigankir Newspapers are full
of them. When NJ. Rogatin, treasurer
of Moghlieff province, eloped with
$1,000 government money he eloped
also with a gypsy. When the retired
colonel. Manassieff, Numbered into
Moscow amusement restaurant" and
shot the prettest woman there, the VIC
tim was a gypsy. And the daughter of
one of the richest of the Tver mar
shals of the nobility ran away with
male gypsy, the baritone. Bielsky.
From the daily records of passion and
crime, you would conclude that gipsies
are Russias only bold, effective, and
romantic people; and that instead OF
numbering 10000, as the last census
saws they number at least 60,ooO,ooo'
The "Tsiganki" are Russia's great
amusement providers; and 1t is during
amusement bouts that Russians learn
to know them. love them, elope with
them shoot them A case which ex-
the typical moneyed Russ takes his
Measure and his "Tsiganki." NJ. Eco
dor Pastulsoff son of a rich brewer of
south Russia, came to moscow Tor
spree The spree, la Russo, was to
consist of infinite "zakuski" of caviare
and raw smoked salmon infinite
glasses of vodka, a meal lasting at
least four hours, and an uproarous
entertainment by blaekeyed "Tsiganki.
Pastukoff brought along his friend
Vasilieff. student of the philogical FAC
ulty; and the pair made for the ar
amusement restaurant at eight in the
evening; and til one in the morning
ate drank "shampanskee' in private
room. The "private room" tthe "otdie-
lni kabinet") is essential to Russian
spree At / in the morning Fastukoil
sent for a whole gypsy chorus, con-
sisting of two men and IL women OIL
different ages and stages OF beauty.
To prove that he was a rich man. READY
TO pay literally, Pastukoff hurled Two
bottle of "shampanskoe' into costly
mirrors; next fired his revolver INTO
the walls. and then sent for the pro-
prietor and paid for the damage After
the gipsies had sung string OF pas
sionate, lachymose melodies like Last
DAYS" and Down on Mother Mother
Volga" Pastukoff dismissed all but the
four prettiest. At a. m, hopelessly
drunk. Pastukoff said something which
offended the gypsy, Trina Malorin. Trina
boxed his ears.
pastunoff drew a revolver thrust the
muzzle in her ear, and fired. Being
used to the sound of revoler shots, the
walters outside paid no attention Lat
or when they entered they found the
dead "Tsiganka" lying across the table,
md all the rest of the company SO
drunk that no one knew what had
happened. That kind of tragedy Is
common. In 1918 there were neary
-isr,ndred cases of killing or shooting
IN restaurants in European RUSSIA anu
IN nearly all cases entertainments MT"
ripsies were the occasion.
"Tsiranki" are one of the puzzies
Md narodoxes of Holy Russia. Iheir
musical talent is mostly interior 10
+h.+. Of Russians, but they entirely mo-
,,opolize the entertainment business
among Russians with money. No first
class entertainment goes OIL Wl.hou'
a gypsy "khor"-a chorus whlch ucuaiS
has a large majority of women Ihere
are about so such choral companies
vrbe most famous is the "Khor Shlsk-
ma" which sings before Nicholas H., ana
was last year brought by MIN all 'he
way from St. Petersburg to LAVaoia III
the Crimea to give single entertain
ment. The soloist "Tsigankf' mako
millions and live like princesses' Inc
beautiful and accomplished gypsy
beaptiful and accomplished gypsy
yialtseva. who died last year, had
snecial train consisting of two cars de
,uxe She had enormous influence
During the Japanese war Vailtseva was
allowed to take her private train across
the siberian railway in order that she
might nurse her wounded ofticer lover
Nialtseva afterwards married this Oh
ficer. Her successors are the two gip-
sizes. Katiusha Sorkina and Nina Dull
lSieyitsch Both command h1gher SAL
aries in Russia than any OF the Russian
ballet stars who have become famous
in Europe and America
There is perpetual discussion in the
Russian press about the character ana
temperment of the 'Tsiganki' They
are supposed to be avaricious to extremes
interruptions, and cunning, and TO eH-
plot the easy, improvident side OF the
Russian which comes uppermost when
the Russ is Gas he always is when am
using himself) drunk. The vast for
tunes accumulated by the more success
full gipsies do not come from their sal
aries. but from the generosity OF ao-
mirers. When the rich Russ hears a
song sung, or guitar played, in way
which pleased him, he commonly lays
a fifty or hundred rouble credit note
(s25 or $500 on a plate, and sends 1t to
the performer. Vailtseva was once
presented with $4,000 on single night.
So while the indifferent Russian singer
spends everything and often ends as a
hanger-on of charity, the successful
gypsy performer owns big apartment
houses. landed estates, and mills; and
one famous gypsy girl of 40 years back.
after reeilt ment from the stage. esiah-
'lished the biggest brandy distillery in
East Russia.
This gypsy trait is the cause of attacks
IN the press. Also the orthodox clergy
makes fierce attacks upon the alleged
.demoralizing influence of the gipsies.
Experts say that the gipsies are the
most moral womes in the empire. They