The Gipsies.

THE GIPSIES .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JUNE 30 , 1866 .

( Continued from page 483 . )

Several schemes have been set on foot for the improvement of the Gipsy race . The most noticeable of these has been that of the EevT James Crabb of Southampton , and that of tlie Eev . John Baird of Tetholm . The difficulty of acquiring

their language has , however , been hitherto an almost insuperable obstacle to the success of all philanthropic efforts put forth on behalf of the Gipsies . In the disquisition which has been appended by Mv . James Simson to " A History of

the Gipsies / ' several very suggestive hints have been supplied to those who are interested in , and desirous of improving- this neglected , and most peculiar race . In the first place , Mr . Simson suggests that we should , in all our intercourse with the Gipsies , endeavour to make them feel that Ave do hot

entertain any -vulgar prejudice against them on account of their blood and descent . " He , the Gipsy , is / ' says Mr . Simson " to be judged as we judge Highland and Border Scots , for the whole three were at one time robbers ; and all the three

having welled up to respectable life together , tbey ought to be judged on their merits , individually , as men , and treated accordingly . And the Gipsy ought to be the most leniently dealt with , on the principle that the actions of his ancestors were far more excusable , and even less heinous , than those of the others . * * * *

" The fact of these Gipsies ( our author is speaking of those who have raised themselves in social status ) being received into society and respected as men , could not fail to have a wonderful effect upon many of the humble , ignorant , or wild ones .

They would perceive at once , that the objection AA'hich the community had to them , proceeded , not from their being Gipsies , but from their habits only . What is tlie feeling Avhich Gipsies , who are known to be Gipsies , have for the public at large ? The

white race , as a race , is simply odious to them , for they ICUOAY well the dreadful prejudice Avhich it bears toAvards them . But let some of their OAVU race , however mixed the blood mi ght be , be respected as Gipsies , and it Avould , in a great

measure , break down , at least in feeling , the Avail of caste that separates them from the community at - large . This is the first , the most important

step to be taken to improve the Gipsies , whatever may be the class to which they belong . " He next suggests that the Gipsies should be induced to come forward , and , by their positions in society , their talents and characters , dispel the

mystery and gloom that hang over the history of the Gipsy race .- ' - ' Mr . Simson , however , confesses that he has misgivings as to their being induced to do so . He thinks that it must be a Avork of

tune . The plan which he draws out is this : that " the Gipsies themselves should furnish the public with information , anonymously , so far as they are personally concerned , or confidentially , through a

person of standing , who can guarantee the trustworthiness of the Gipsy himself . " " I do not expect , " he says , "that they Avould give us any of the language but they can furnish us with some idea of the position which the Gipsies occupy in

the world , and throw a great deal of light upon the history of the race , in , at least comparatively , recent times . " Mr . Simson's suggestiou as to the manner in which a Gipsy should be received in society is a

very sensible one . He says , " there should be no kind of officious sympathy shown him , for he is too proud to submit to be made the object of it . Should he say that he is a Gipsy , the remark ought to be received as a mere matter of course , and

little notice taken of it ; just as if it made no difference to the other party whether he was a Gipsy or not . A little surprise would be allowable ; but . anything like condolence Avould be out of the question . "

For other useful hints as to the treatment of this despised , and outcast people , we must refer to the interesting work from which Ave so largely quoted . There are just two other points to which we

would direct the attention of the readers ( and we venture to predict that they will be numerous ) of "A History of the Gipsies , " viz .: the able manner in Avhich it treats the relative positions which the Jews and Gipsies occupy towards fche rest of

mankind , as Avell as the relative positions Avhich they occupy towards each other . The other point is this , the masterly establishment of the fact that John Bunyan , the worldrenowned author of the "Pilgrim ' sProgress , " was

descended from Gipsy blood . In conclusion , we beg to thank Mr . Simson for having given to the public a most interesting