Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16
GyPS|ES TO GATHER
| TO ASSERT RIGHTS
concIave Called in Black Hills
to Find Means to Stop Per-
secution of Rovers. k
NJ Consolidated Press.

~ Consolidated Press.
RAPID CITY, S. Oak, June l5.-The
despised and downtrodden gypsy legiti-
mate prey for every tin-starred village
nsrshsl in the land. at last seems likely
to- call a rising Of the dusky clans and
assert his rights.
For TOO long, gypsy Kings and Queens
say, their people have not been strongly
enough banded together to obtain GER
tain rights and a certain measure of re-
spect, and this lack of organization must
be abolished at once. So this month the
Black Hills. in Western South Dakota.
are the scene of the largest conclave of
RypsieS ever witnessed in this country.
The flaShing-eyed brown skinned men,
women and children are pouring into
the hills by the hundreds, and every
day brings fresh motor caravans of the
wanderers. 1t is expected the congress
will require between two and three weeks
to finish the business before it.
So for days the glimmer OF campf1reS
Under the pines will be reflected by the
night skies. just as the glimmer of other
gypsy campf1res for centuries has been
reflected by the skies over practically
every country on the globe, from dreamy
Andalusia to the forests of India.
ana never DellGN6 tKldb bilG NypoicS
are focking into this region in dilapi-
dated wagons, as in other days they
once Travelled. Hundreds of them are
coming in high-priced, shining motor
cars, though there are some who drive
only the ubiquitous fivver In various
stages of senility. A romantic paradox
is offered when the doors of fine
automobile open and there alights from
the modern conveyance women and
children in the multi-colored vol
luminous and innumerable skirts that
Gypsy women and children have worn
through the ages. The men are not
as well dressed as one might expect.
Judging by the appearance of their
cars. They alight to stretch their legs
encased in baggy-kneed trousers, many
OF them with gay sashes about the
waist, and nearly all the SLOUGH hat so
dear to the Gypsy. Some, both men
zend women. have rings in their noses
and ears, and rings glitter on many a
Vie men as wen as the women wear
their hair long and dress 1t with
numerous gay ornaments.
we have grown tired or the I'M
just persecution we have been subject
ed to-" said the spokesman for one
group. I'm many city and village our
cars do not come to halt before some
OfflciouS tin, star or brass buttons leaps
on a running board and orders us TO
keep right on going. What other citi-
zen is so treated? Are we not en-
titled to dwell in peace until it is
certain we have broken laws?
.. Yes. yes: know that there are
Come among us who are lawbreakers.
There are also laWbreakers among
home owners Is it not >so?' Let me
tell you that we Gypsies get the blame
for doing things which folk not Gypsies,
but plain tranps. with no Gypsy blood
in them. do. Nowadays every carfull
Of ragged, down people are
called Gypsies.
We Gypsies all have trades and
professions by which we get q living
"a living in the mode we like. But it
Is not a lawiess living, with few excep-
lions. We do not steal children. Have
you ever heard of a case where 1t has
Been proved that ., Gypsy stole child?
OF coure not. Your kidnapers are
criminals OF another race. So are
Safe-breakers. bank bandits, rum rum
Aefs, moonshiners. car thieves and poll
ticianS-
(Copyright. 1897