Tombstone epitaph., 1917-12-09

Moeileusullaz, were thrust back by the try Germany. We have papers from the German authorities at Berne to en- ter Germany" they said. because we are Germans" And. Tn fact, they pro duced such papers. Twenty days they remained on the frontier. Germany refused to receive them; but Con ac- count of those papers) France gave them permission to try again. via Bel fort and certain roads of the Doubs.
 At Salins we photographed and measured them," said NJ. Sebille. land we tried to learn something of their families. They had as many names and nationalities as you please. and pa pers. too Cat need). more than you would imagine. Their old gypsy queen, eighty-five years old, called the Boule. or Mother Kakarasca, seemed to pre- side over ten families of other names. the Reinhardts. Heints. German. Laga, Schernots. Meyers. etc. Emile Scher- nOts had German workingnan's book In the name of kralovitch, a Bohemian {!
 At Petlt-Croix. on the Aisatian from tier. eight German gendarmes with pointed rifles said: You cannot en- ter-go!" For three weeks they camp ed outside Belfort, supported by the French government-"being under ar rest" Later they sojourned at Suarce (still at the expense of France). where they claimed to know by-roads to en- ter Germany. and asked to be allowed to break up and get through" wagon by wagon. The French let them 90. frontier organization. they all actually got through Into Germany.
 Before mobilization there was so much complaint against them that a special law had to be made to regulate them. The law of 1912 had scarcely and all complaints against the gyp- sies ceasedl
 How? Why?
 The complaints stopped. That is all."
 The law of 1912 gave to the head oA cuNh SsPss Aohaiy d AoiihiudoiS booklet, full of blanks to be filled up by mayors of each town or commune where they stopped-and . number. This family number (printed on each blank) was repeated In white enamel on handsome black sheet-iron plates, as many as each band had wagons. Gift of the French government. They must be attached to the tailboard of each wagon, so that countryside gen. darmes might jot them down. running. though the band be in flight! It was a beautiful system. It will make a good foundation, again, after the war
 Often Git is repeated they were grand. in their way. They would sell fine horses to French peasants, cheap. horses which gave complete satisfac- tiOn. The Coesre, or prince. would or der their copper utensils and kitchen wear to be repaired by his artisans for a trifling sum; and the work would be well done. They gave amusing shows. with trained bears and great apes and dancing girls. Their women. telling fortunes. bamboozled country wives. Yet the same band. In another con- mune. would obtain all they needed by threats of fires: and small municipaii- ties would buy them off, in consider able sums. to take themselves else where.
 Then the war broke out-and 1t all ceased.
 "None arrived at the Saintes-Maries, on May g last" volunteered a minor police official. "A striking indication" It Is. perhaps. the strangest detail of the story. Every i've years (though you did not know it) the chief gypsies of America sailed back to Europe-be. fore the war. Together with the gyp- sies of Syria. the Darube. Germany, Italy. Spain and all the world. they as sembled outside . long fishing village