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Read Ebook: Romany Life Experienced and Observed during many Years of Friendly Intercourse with the Gypsies by Cuttriss Frank
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Ebook has 890 lines and 65192 words, and 18 pages
ROMANY LIFE
ROMANY LIFE
EXPERIENCED AND OBSERVED DURING MANY YEARS OF FRIENDLY INTERCOURSE WITH THE GYPSIES
BY FRANK CUTTRISS
MILLS & BOON LIMITED 49 RUPERT STREET LONDON, W.
PREFACE It is a curious fact, that while very few can be found nowadays to accept without question, fanciful or otherwise, unscientific statements concerning natural objects or supernatural happenings, many time-worn, misleading accounts of gypsies and what they are supposed to do--but do not--are still implicitly credited by a great majority of thinking people. A solution of this may be looked for in one or other of the following surmises, perhaps--more or less--in all:
That the widespread unacquaintance with the real Romany character and gypsy life is due to the dearth of reliable information, and to the fictional nature of much that has been written on the subject.
That most writers have endeavoured to satisfy the public interest in the subject by the ever-available fiction, for the reason that the suspicious, reticent, and often unapproachable attitude of gypsies generally renders it difficult to provide material from the life.
That the prevailing unsympathetic attitude of non-gypsies in general, and of many of those who would approach the gypsies for literary purposes in particular, reacts on them and increases the tenseness of the situation.
Hearsay, in matters concerning the gypsies, even when emanating from presumably reliable sources, cannot altogether be relied upon. Unless one lives among them and as one of them, goes freely to and fro, sees and hears for himself, understanding the while most of what may be said in Romany, slang and English,--a lingual conglomerate heard nowhere but among these people,--his accounts will be of little value in depicting aspects of Romany life.
Just how much truth, if any, there may be in the invariable assertion by gypsies, that I have a good deal of the true Romany in my composition, I am unable to say; there can, however, be no doubt whatever of their belief in it, nor that their tenacity on the point, coupled with my adaptability to their manner of life, and my use of their tongue , have proved a veritable "open sesame," admitting me to the innermost circle of friendship, and enabling me, while not breaking faith with them, to describe truthfully, customs and aspects of their life which do not come within the ken of the gorgio or non-gypsy.
Although it might be considered by some, that the insertion of a certain amount of fiction would add glitter to my narration, I have religiously refrained from making any such addition, feeling that the work, in so far as it is a revelation of little-known aspects of Romany life, would, under such conditions, lose its entire value.
FRANK CUTTRISS.
A glossary of most of the Romany and cant words it has been expedient to use in this work, together with English equivalents, will be found at the end.
N.B.--It must be distinctly understood that none of the incidents related in this book must be taken to apply, or to allude in any way to any living persons, and that the photographs must not be considered as having any connection with any particular incident related.
AN OCTOGENARIAN " " 24
"THERE IS IN ALL THIS COLD AND HOLLOW WORLD," ETC. " " 28
DOUBLE TENT. WINTER " " 32
SINGLE TENT. SUMMER " " 34
GYPSY TENT, SHOWING INTERIOR " " 38
GYPSY TENT, SHOWING CONSTRUCTION " " 44
"SHOSHOI" " " 53
MRS. BESHALEY " " 66
WINTER " " 82
D?SHA " " 89
D?SHA " " 90
"ADROIT THE LINE OF PALMISTRY TO TRACE" " " 92
JEWELLERY " " 112
STYLES OF HAIRDRESSING " " 117
A "ROMANICHAL" " " 118
ITALIAN CAP " " 120
"MAIDEN MEDITATION" " " 122
METHOD OF CARRYING BABY AND BASKET " " 124
CARRYING CHILD ON HIP " " 126
"YOU LIKE ME THE BEST" " " 128
AROUND THE CAMP FIRE " " 140
TYPES OF LIVING-WAGON " " 150
CARAVAN SHOWING FIREPLACE " " 152
A GOOD TYPE OF CARAVAN " " 154
THE MAKER OF TOY CHAIRS " " 161
THE TRUE "PATERAN" " " 168
CAMP OF CLOTHES-PEG MAKERS " " 170
"TO ME MEN ARE WHAT THEY ARE" " " 173
"IT'S A MERRY LIFE" " " 189
"DOLCE FAR NIENTE" " " 196
"THE WEAKER SEX?" " " 198
"BEAUX YEUX" " " 200
"WHEN THE HEART IS YOUNG" " " 202
"PASSING GLEAMS OF RESTLESS MIRTH" " " 204
THE POST-PRANDIAL HALF-HOUR " " 206
"TATCHEY ROMANIES" " " 208
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