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lO-Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday. March 20, 1991 away in the "borders". Yetholmn is the gypsy capital of the Scottîsh Gypsies. It has a small, quaint, house right beside the village green with the name "Gypsy Palace." The coronation of the Gypsy king or queen was performed on this village green. I have pictures to authenticate the last coronation. The last coronation was a "queen". Her name was Esther Faa Blyth Rutherford. To complete "Gypsy" history let me say that they originated in Hindustan; moved 10 Egypt during the reign of Cleopatra; later roamed across Europe and traces of their lineage can be found in-many countries. They considered themselves of Royalty. I the village of Yetholm 1 found them using the word "pawnee" for water. I checked on this. "Pawnee" is the Hindustan word for water. Well I must say I also enjoyed the gypsies in Scotland. Is it because I liked "horses" or was it "The gypsy in me."? Tuesday of die March Break, the 1 st Kirby Brownies came to our house and earned tlieir Explorer Badge. Each Brownie packed their own lunch and brought it in a back pack along with a simple First Aid Kit, extra socks and a "sit upon" (which is a waterproof seat. Some Brownies brought plastic pillows, some brought waterproof foam while others brought newspapers For the moment I seem to have run out of hîlîs but not out of places. The places I would like to describe in this story are seasonal and again diedînie is in the 1920s. As a' child I recaîl my first encounter with the "gypsies." In the spring and sunimers the gypsies passed thr ough tItis region. They had very specific locations where they would make camp. Oue gypsy camp *as on the roadside about a mile south of Pontypool. There was a small colouy of gypsies here. They had covered wagons, an iron black kettle set up by their fire and would stay in the neighbourhood for about a week. During tis finie, they sat around on the ground, men, women, and children. They were sometinies referred to as "tinkers" because they would mend pots and pans for any of the ladies iu the district. The men folk had, as well a team of ponies to draw their wagon; also had an entourage of horses tethered out. The gypsy men loved to trade horses with any suspecting farmer that wanted to pit bis horse-skill against those of the gypsy. Quite often the gypsy would bargain for a little extra money in the trade to provide his family with spending money. The gypsy camp was always located lnaa grove of trees to provide shade and shelter. A gypsy encampment hail a certain old world charmn about il. They wore colourful clothing, the ladies were always ready 10 tell your fortune for a small fee and their clark, swarthy complexions added -certain aura of mystery. The camp fires, glowing in the evening, was a favourite place for the local residents to meet. There were always stories after the- moved on of neighbourhood chickens wrapped iplastic bags.) We started out in groups of six or seven and we set out on separate t rails, meeting about halfway to stop in a forested area for lunch. There was a huge fallen tree which the girls clinbed on and over while we leaders rested. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Bizzell for permission to hike on their property. Mfter lunch, we set off in our dis appeariug; of washings disappearing off clothes hunes and the odd livid story of children being kidnapped. 1 believe most or ail of these stories to be without foundation or at the worst, greatly exaggerated. As a child I do not remember feeling any fear of gypsies on the encampmeut. Another popular gypsy encampment was at "Morgan's Corners," just on the south side of the present number Two Hfighway. This location was just west of the Reinsîra implement dealership. There is a good story of this location, told 10 me by Bill Reid of Orono. He, too, remembers the gypsy encanipmnents. As Bill tells the storyit seems a certain man from Osaca was in bad need of a horse for replacement. He approached the gypsy encanipment knowing there would be a good number of horses tethered there. The gypsy whose name was Joe LaBelle was quite willing to supply a horse. The man fromn Osaca selected a good, big, strong looking horse. Joe LaBelle explained that dUns was a very strong horse but that "he didn't look very good." The fariner led his horse home ail the way from Morgans Corner to Osaca. When he went to led bis purchase into the barn he was astonished to fmndia the horse had difficulty getting through the stable door. It was then that he realized he had traded for a "blind horse." He returned immediately 10 remonstrate with Joe LaBelle. Joe assured him that everything he had said about the horse was correct. "He was a strong, reliable horse but hie didn't "look very good." Joe LaBelle travelled eastward every year with his "trading horses" own groups to finish the 3 kmn. hike, when we reached home, the girls did some skipping and helped gather wood for a fire, then we roasted marshmallows, played somte gamnes and then had hot chocolate. Before they left to go home, these Brownies were stili running through the woods, and rmn sure they could easily have hiked ail day. ending in Montreal by summners end. I must tell you why I like the gypsy story. 1 shall only say that I think it is "the gypsy" in me. To explain that I should tell you that both tumes 1 visited in Scotland I macle a point of going to the sinali village of Yethohin which is nestled 1~ IT'S THE ANNUAL BOWMAN VILLE ROTARY-CLUB'S Easter Seal Campaign, OUR LOCAL OBJECTIVE Please ... HeI1P us HeIp Our Kids Please drop your donation off at the Bowmanvil le branch. of the Bank of Montreal, and help us save on -increased postal costs., In order to me et our objective, WE NEED VOUR HELPI Orono Times 983-5301 Printinig Telephone (416) 983-5M9 . .# Oro.uo, Ont. LOB I MO WE KNOW YOU CARE. SHOW YOU CARE.