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The Famous Gypsies
REAT curiosity is always and deception. Severe laws were passed felt concerning the Gyp- against them, but these measures often Where did they failed of their effect. Spain exiled them come from? From what in 1492. They misbehaved themselves to old race or tribe have they such an extent in England, lying, cheatdescended? Did they for- ing, fortune-telling, stealing, that Henry merly live in Egypt and VIII issued a proclamation, and the did they get their name from that coun- famous Queen Bess renewed it, which try? The Gypsies could not tell you of made their stay in the country for over a their origin, and we have no history month a capital offence. which will inform us.
Many efforts at one time and another It is very remarkable that for many have been made to Christianize these centuries there have been people who curious people and make them good citiwent by this name-people who led a zens, but these various attempts have not roving life, just as we see their descend- met with much success. Marriage is a ants doing at the present day. Five hun- mere temporary form with them, and the dred years ago there were fourteen thou- limits of blood relationship are not sand in Italy alone. In 1427, a band of a respected. They pretend that their skill hundred and twenty strangers arrived at in fortune-telling is the wisdom of the Paris, claiming to be Christians of Lower Egyptians. Their industry reaches no Egypt who had been expelled by the higher than the tinkering of hardware Saracens. They said they had last come and turning small articles in wood, with from Bohemia. They professed to have occasionally some assistance reluctantly the gifts of fortune-telling and palmistry; given in farm labor. Sometimes they that is, reading the life of a person from act as musicians, for they have a good the palm of the hand. As they were great deal of musical taste, and are quick in thieves they were not able to convince acquiring tunes. The young persons of many persons that they were Christians. both sexes are fond of dancing and exhibit They were expelled from Paris, but con- their skill for money, especially in Spain. tinued to wander in France, and other It has been a question whether a band bands succeeded them. of genuine Gypsies has ever been in America, but many English authorities A hundred years later Gypsies appeared in England and Sweden. Wherever they maintain that the decrease of their numcame they practised the arts of thieving ber in the British Isle is, in a great meas-