The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-08

| were typical, eaFetFee gynsi..
boys hair was tumhled So
1eil over their shoes. Sons 3 !
| glrls we're ragged, And thers !. y
lew signs of a morning go
| Now, IN less than a mentb
Is noticeable change. So
the boys still rebel at eorsss
when they 30 out thev ~.
sweaters and coats that fsli ~
knees and otherwise swallov IS
But aside from the feFaig, - y.
their dark skin and ewes IN
not easily Distinguishing =
other children of a poor dis,,s -
| The girls still cling n
styles of gypsy dress. ons ~. y
girl, who is typical, had on ~ ~.
fioweFed muslin dress. made - 80
To the ankle-and very fun @-
were ruffles on the sleeves ~ as'e
Fuffie below the waist sa
eolored sash was at her he'll ~
strings of plaid cloth fastsHaS f. -
two hraids. On her feet wers 4
shoes of woman, with faiyIg ~.
heels. A slight tear in ths l.. ~
of the waist, showed that tbs All,
had On little else beside de DE-.
though it was a cold day.
Gypsy Clothes.
All OF the girls have long h,,.
They explained that it was al,
the gypsy rules for them n -
their braids.
1t seems strange to US that ihs,,
gypsy families, some of whom IN
expensive automobiles in which /.
travel, should keep their cbg6,s,
so caFelessly clothed. The an
dFen never seem to think Of tn.
dress, though on the suggestieB I,
the teacher, they are striving Il
achieve neatness and cleanliness
> These gypsies live in houses an
ing the winter, at least Some Of n.
families rent apartments which A.
fairly expensive as rents 20 Bsv.
adays, Furniture botheTs bs-
very little. A cook stove and
pile of featherbeds are the gbis
requisites. At night they sIes5
on and under feather mattress.
and in the day these mattresses an
piled up with a cretonne cover on
of the way. Most of the families 4
on the floor, and eat at a low, Ion,
table.
The men of this particular ban
are coppersmiths, and the womea
as usual, are fortune tellers. 0p
little girl explained that her moih.
er learned TO tell fortunes in
in Jerusalem, and that shs
obtained a degree in the art thsF.
A boy of about eleven years
few of them know their ages
claims to be grandson TO the king
Of the gypsies. This boy. Tam
says that the king tollOgi
the carnfyals or parties at Whic.
gypsy bands meet to enjoy then
selves. He is in the south nov
somewhere" Tanis explained
When he was asked who woui
be king after his grandfather, be
said, His boy"
Your father?"
mo, his boy is with him. sal
Tanis.
This seems to make Taais So
.ession to the throne rather doub-
.ul. but he is studying hard be-
;ause he says a gypsy king m ud
oe smart and know hGW to dala
md make money.
Nest of the children are acquir
ng an interest in AmeTiCaRisn .
The American flag hangs col
jpicuously in their schoolrOOm, and F
hey have learned to salute it. 0Ii
,hild who was pointed out by al
)theF as having been born in Rus
Tia, protested. saying you stop
cling that. ! am American"
Even when school is dismissed
hey cling to their reading boCz-
md insist on taking them hGmi
o read 10 their families. The last
little boy out. proudly slung 4
luge black satChel over his sh0ul-
Ter and dropped into it a LITTLE
,rown primer. With this badge Of
earning. the young gypsy Reli
Tut smiling broadly.