Dissertation on the Gipseys: Representing their manner of life, family economy, occupations & trades, marriages & education, sickness, death, & burial, religion, language, sciences & arts, &c. &c. &c.; with an historical enquiry concerning their origin & first appearance in EuropeGrellmann, Heinrich Moritz Gottlieb
History
Dissertation on the Gipseys: Representing their manner of life, family economy, occupations & trades, marriages & education, sickness, death, & burial, religion, language, sciences & arts, &c. &c. &c.; with an historical enquiry concerning their origin & first appearance in Europe
Grellmann, Heinrich Moritz Gottlieb
Romanies
Let us now take a view of the natural qualities, and capacities, of the
Gipseys. Here they will appear to advantage. Observe them at whatever
employment you may, there always appear sparks of genius. It is well
known, and no writer omits to remark, what artful curious devices they
have recourse to in perpetrating any cheat or robbery: but this is not
the only particular in which they shew brains and capacity. The
following extract from an Hungarian author, who was an attentive observer
of these people, contains corroborating instances:
“The Gipseys,” he says, “have a fertile imagination in their way, and
are quick and ready at expedients, so that in many serious doubtful
cases they soon recollect how to act, in order to extricate
themselves. We cannot, indeed, help wondering, when we attend to and
consider the skill they display in preparing and bringing their works
to perfection, which is the more necessary, from the scarcity of
proper tools and apparatus. They are very acute and cunning in
cheating or thieving: and when called to account, for any fraud or
robbery, fruitful in invention and persuasive in their arguments to
defend themselves.”
At Debrezin, as well as at other schools in Hungary and Transylvania,
there have been several lads admitted for instruction. Cleverness is
observable in all, with no despicable talents for study. If another
proof should be wanting, let us advert to their skill in music. That no
Gipsey has ever signalised himself in literature, notwithstanding,
according to the foregoing accounts, many of them have partaken of the
instruction to be obtained at public schools, is no contradiction to the
point in question. Their volatile disposition and unsteadiness will not
allow them to complete any thing which requires perseverance or
application. Frequently the bud perishes before it blows; or if it
proceed so far that fruit appears, it commonly falls off and rots ere it
attains maturity. In the midst of his career of learning, the
recollection of his origin seizes him; a desire arises to return to, what
he thinks, a more happy manner of life; this solicitude increases; he
gives up all at once, turns back again, and consigns over his knowledge
to oblivion. Such is the reason why the Gipsey race has never produced a
learned man, nor ever will so long as these principles are retained.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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