The Gipsies.

Manawatu Herald, 12 July 1898, Page 3

The Gipsies.

AH sojourners in Europe know the Gipsy, but at present, in their wisdom they, have not become colonists. They arfc to be found in every country in Europe as well as in parts of Asia, Africa and America. Their origin is slfpoosed to be from some Hindu tribe for their language called Romany chic, is a Hindu dialect derived from Sanskrit; In the vocabulary of the AngloSfcdttish gipsies there are, Greek, Slavic, Rumanian, Magyar, German, and French ingredients, evidencing that they had sojourned in the countr efl were those languages were spoken. L4»t Whit' Monday a gipsy known as " Prince " Charles Rutherford was to have been crowned " King of the Gipsies" at Kirk Yetholm. The throne has been vacant for some time as the prince has been wandering about, but now at the age of 70 years he is making preparations for the occasion, and a Home paper says : — He has issued his proclamation to his people, and ordered his robes and crown. The latter, surmounted by a Scotch thistle, will be placed on his head by the blacksmith of Ihe village, a man named Gladstone, members whose family for generations have crowned the gipsies. Thi Gladstones are the " archbishops " of the district. The novel carriage in wljich the "Prince" will be drawn Will be harnessed to something like a dozen asses, and the courtiers will all tjte mounted on similar steeds. It is fea|>ected that the ceremony will be.attended by some distinguished university men, who have been secured for the dinner. After the coronation, there xml be the usual revelry, singing, and dancing, together with the pleasuresfif ittt wine-cup. There will be the u^jal tirgies. for it is said the " small hoirs " ftj* spent in " rioting, and not a Utle drunkenness." > His predecessor was a King rejoicing in the name of Wull Faa, and lie Was visited by the greatest in the latid. (Quoting again from our exchange, it says he was a man of remarkable corv gtitution, he set out at the age of goon a visit to Edinburgh and was taken all on the journey, dying at Coldiiigham, the famous monastic town of the Eastern Border. His funeral at Yetholjn reads like a romance. Three hundred fisses were used in the cortege, and tHe ceremony was as impressive as it was strange. His- wife, Esther, was a nobje queen. She stood 6ft. in height, and, j aiter the manner of her race, was mupcular and good-looking. She is said to have contested the right to the throne with her younger sister by a pugilistic encounter, in which many sanguinary rounds were fought. During her long reign she enjoyed great popularity, and her "going out" was in keeping witb the weirdness of her life, the funeral in 1883 attracting hundreds from all parts of the country.