Chapter I: Front Matter

[Picture: Book cover]

[Picture: Frontispiece: Among the Gipsy children]

GIPSY LIFE:

BEING AN ACCOUNT

OF

OUR GIPSIES AND THEIR CHILDREN.

WITH
SUGGESTIONS FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENT.

BY
GEORGE SMITH, OF COALVILLE.

* * * * *

LONDON:
HAUGHTON & CO., 10, PATERNOSTER ROW.

* * * * *

[_All Rights Reserved_.]

* * * * *

1880.

I give my warmest thanks to W. H. OVEREND, Esq., for the block forming the Frontispiece, which he has kindly presented to me on the condition that the picture occupies the position it does in this book; and also to the proprietor of the _Illustrated London News_ for the blocks to help forward my work, the pictures of which appeared in his journal in November and December of last year and January in the present year, as found herein on pages 42, 48, 66, 76, 96, 108, 118, 122, 174, 192, 236, 283.

I must at the same time express my heart-felt thanks to the manager and proprietors of the _Graphic_ for the blocks forming the illustrations on pages 1, 132, 170, 222, 228, 248, 272, 277, and which appeared in their journal on March 13th in the present year, and which they have kindly presented to me to help forward my object, connected with which sketches, at the kind request of the Editor, I wrote the article.

W. H. OVEREND, Esq., was the artist for the sketches in the _Illustrated London News_, and HERBERT JOHNSON, Esq., was the artist for the sketches in the _Graphic_.

I also tender my warmest thanks to the Press generally for the help rendered to me during the crusade so far, without which I should have done but little.

TO THE MOST HONOURABLE THE PEERS AND MEMBERS OF THE HIGH COURT OF PARLIAMENT.

I have taken the liberty of humbly dedicating this work to you, the object of which is not to tickle the critical ears of ethnologists and philologists, but to touch the hearts of my countrymen on behalf of the poor Gipsy women and children and other roadside Arabs flitting about in our midst, in such a way as to command attention to these neglected, dark, marshy spots of human life, whose seedlings have been running wild among us during the last three centuries, spreading their poisonous influence abroad, not only detrimental to the growth of Christianity and the spread of civilisation, but to the present and eternal welfare of the children; and, what I ask for is, that the hand of the Schoolmaster may be extended towards the children; and that the vans and other temporary and movable abodes in which they live may be brought under the eye and influence of the Sanitary Inspector.

Very respectfully yours,
GEORGE SMITH,
_Of Coalville_.

_April_ 30_th_, 1880.

INDEX.