The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-06

society. He also feels that most writ
ers upon the subject endeavor to sat-
isfy curiosity about these mysterious
people by fiction. whereas this authors
account certainly seems commonplace
enough to be entirely true. There are
W classes of gypsies-caravan dwell
crs and tent dwellers. The tent
dwellers. as a rule. associate less with
the outside world and are in some re-
spects more interesting. Their deri-
walton Is dificult to trace. but the au-
thor thinks that by comparing the
Romany tongue with Sanskrit and
Hindu an Indian derivation Is pointed
to. Historians relate that in l41+
bands Of gypsies appeared in Ger
many and France. gaining a living By
fortune telling. We ais read that
the Persian monarch Behran Gour re-
ctived from an Indian king 1000
musicians OF both sexes who were
known as -luris'' or "loiis' and that
this name Is identical with the Persian
word for g,psies still. A whole book
might be written. suggests this author.
on ARTS and Devices Used In Perse-
cutting Gypsles." They were a people
who chung to their own mode Of life.
kindest to the adaptable and conform
ng. To do what the majority think
well ia do Is to come through LIE most
comfortably. In France under Louis
XIII. and Louis XIV. many gypsies
we're mastered. while in 1888 Philip
". forbade them to Use their " Ian
guage, and in 1,4o a decree was issued
ordering that all wandering gypsies
be put TO death. Thus did'this con-
forming world, at one time, feel about
q divergence OF tastes.
Personally the author has found the
eyps.es with whom he consorted scru-
pulously honest. and he believes their
thieving tendencies to be invariably
the outcome OF prosecutions. or at
any rate Of unfriendliness. A kindness
shown n gypsy IL never forgotten and
never returned with evil. 4 farmer
who offered an encampment OF gHp-
sizes the right TO use his we'll for suc,
water as they needed never lost n
penny worth by their Expectations.
while less friendly neiGhboring farm
ers were in continuous trouble.
Modern progress in art and science
has not even touched the gypsy. His
household implements and his customs
are still primitive. They have the dis
tinctly Oriental type OF feature and
the author gives quite a full list of
Romany words with Sanskrit and Hin
distance equivalents Of almost iden'i-
cal sound. Thus the verb bring" In
Romany Is ana" in Sanskrit AM
The eye in Romany il "aoS": in Hin
dustaree, 'awk." Yes" in Romany
is ava: n Sanskrl;, eva" &C,
The author gives n list OF forty-eight
words and the numerals, all Of this
striking similarity.
The numerous conversations re-
corded In this volume are highly. COM
monplace: there is none OF Borrow's
poetry in them. The gypsies are cred
tied with we'll developed family anec
tons and with a very real apprecia-
! ton Of natural beauty. The book con.
,ains forty-six illustrations OF gypsy
types and gypsy lie reproduced from
| the authors photographs. Despite his
enthusiasm, these would not lead one
TO Il very high conception OF the!r
racial beauty. The faces are broad and
sQuare in the main: the heads low and
nut,ike in form: tie roses widespread
ing and mouths large. The chief beauty
lies in the eyes. The dress in all thes.
pictures is conventional and ugly.
Tha chapters of the book have nc
headings and are apparently made
w.thou; any especial effor. to make
each chapter deal with a specific
aspec; OF the subjec:. The final chap.
ter deals Chiefly with occupations o.
the gypsy. flower selling. basket max
ing. Sc. While the hooi; ia not o.
especial Importance. il rings true ant
is Pleasant enough reading for on,
intere stcd in the topic.