Transcribed from the [1894?] Willsons’ edition by DavidPrice,
BY
GEORGE SMITH.
THEROYAL
Epping Forest Gipsies
THEGROUNDS,
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
LIVERPOOL.
WILLSONS’,
NEW WALK PRINTING WORKS,
LEICESTER.
H.M. QUEEN VICTORIA.
PRINCE VICTOR.
SON OF THE KHEDIVE OF EGYPT.
LORD LATHOM, High Chamberlain.
LORD POLTIMORE.
LORD CAMPBELL.
LORD MONKS.
LORD MAYO.
LORD CLONMELL.
LORD FARNHAM.
LATE DUKE OF MACLIN.
MARQUIS & MARCHIONESS OF TWEEDALE.
SIR DAVID (Mayor of Liverpool) and LADYRADCLIFFE.
SIR A. B. WALKER, Bart.
SIR JOHN MAXWELL STIRLING.
ALSO
SON OF THE BISHOP OF WORCESTER.
BISHOP OF THE ISLE OF MAN.
LETTER FROM GOVERNOR WALPOLE of I.O.M.
10 LETTERS FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
And at the GREAT CARNIVAL of 1894, principalCitizens of Glasgow.
My idea in writing this little pamphlet is to enlighten theminds of people as to the mode of living, and the customs of ourtribe; and I think the reader will be convinced that we are notthe desperadoes that some people think, but, on the other hand,honest living and a christian race; always ready to dogood. To young men especially, if they follow my careerthey will find that my success in life is due to beingstraight-forward and honest in all my dealings; firm purpose ofmind; and an object to gain; the result is success, and I hope itmay prove a benefit to the rising generation.
Shortly, I shall produce a full Biography of my life.
Yours faithfully,
GEORGE SMITH.
Many writers have spent months and years of their livesin studying the language, character, and customs of the RomanyRye. Many able pens have written volumes on thesubject.
For my part I simply give an unvarnished statement of facts,as they occur to me, so that my readers may glean some littleinformation as to the general life and incidents in the career ofa gipsy.
With regard to the language of the Romany, whether heard inthe most distant parts of the globe or in the LiverpoolExhibition (as spoken by my family), it is the same as indifferent counties in the United Kingdom and in differentprovinces of continental countries; a slight patois may beobservable, but in the main the initiated know that the Romanyholds its own with the nomadic people the world over.
For character, climate, and circumstances, may in manyinstances vary the Gitano, Romany, or Bohemi