The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-25
TOPEKA'S WANDERLUSTIl
.CYPSIES IN CITY
Caravan After Caravan Passes
Through Topeka.
Wandering Bands Always Fol-
low State Fairs.
women make SIS A DAY
Use Many Methods in Wringing
Silver From TOpekans.
One Pretty Girl "Worked" LO-
cal Rah-Rah With Her Eyes.

A dust cloud flung itself over the
crest of a Shawnee county hill and
rolled 1azlly along the country road,
winch little further merges with
one of the streets of Topeka. From
the dirt haze emerged the noses of two
horses, followed by a decrepit wagon
with canvas top. Beneath its rear
wheels bucket swung easily back and
forth and beneath the bucket trotted
a stubby-tailed yellow dog.
ms, some two weeks ago, was the
vanguard of several caravans of gyp-
sizes, who have since visited the city
Inc state fair each year brings many
curious guests to the city and none of
them are stranger than the wander
ing bands of gypsies whom thousands
OF years of experience have taught the
generous ways of men when they
toreSather on holiday occasion. They
are still in Topeka, some of these
handsome of them is encamped near
the Shawnee golf club.
Following the first wagon came
others. In each there were swarthy
men and gaunt, almost naked children
Ihere were Drowned women-women
of all ages-fearfully and wonderfully
gowned in colors that would make a
ire sale turn pallid. They reclined
IN a heap of blankets and metal pots
gazing lazily at the passing landscape.
All From Nowhere.
To ask where they came from is to
ask the impossible. Not even the lead
er IS able, apparently, to tell the orig
mai starting point of his caravan. And
apparently it is equally impossible to
learn the destination of the band
Asked the last camping ground the
leader mumbles something about st.
Joe and then speaks of another Mis-
souri, town. No one in anv of the
n i+ II
in town or permanent camping
place.
1t is thus that all gypsy bands wan
der the face of the earth. Its mem
bers are born, marry, rear their chill
dren and are buried on the roadside. |
The personnel of a band may change,
but the caravan never halts-pursues
its unWearying course forever.
Stay Near City.
When a VaraVan reached a little |
field near Topeka there-within a
stones throw of the lights of the city |
camp was pitched. The stay might !
last a day it might last a month In |
reality it was for eight days in this |
particular camp.
Camp making is neither an art nor |
a science with such a band. 1t is sec
ond nature. And SO in half an hour
the wagons had been drawn into a |
single line, the horses unhitched and |
tied to the tail boards and the tents !
ground. A few moments later the |
gaudy tents had been thrown up, |
blankets strewn about and fire lighted. !
Then while the women busted them |
selves with the cooking the men fed |
and watered the horses.
Green vegetables and freshly killed |
poultry-a tribute perhaps from some |
farmer-were produced and in a few
minutes the vagabonds gathered about |
the fires-each family maintaining it's
own group.
Read Palms and Tell Fortunes.
The following morning the women
1onned their most elaborate dresses
their rings and bracelets and dressed
their hair. For several days they
visited Topeka, wringing silver from
many an unwilling victim. A gypsy
woman will read palms or weave
spells as long as there is a possibility
Of obtaining money.
Make $25 a Day
John Youkipowich, the leader of
one of the bands, which recently Wis
tied here, grudgingly admitted that
the women do sometimes make a
piece of change AS a matter of fact
the earnings of some of the women
reach unbelievable figures. Twenty
five dollars is not an unusual sum for
l woman to carry back to camp with
her after a day in the streets. Several
months ago two bands of gypsies
luarreled IN Clay county, Missouri,
and one band charged the other with
stealing slightly more than Sill 900 in