Description

Charles Leland was an American humorist and folklorist. Leland worked in journalism, and traveled extensively. He studied folklore and folk linguistics, publishing books and articles on American and European languages and folk traditions. In 1869 he traveled to Europe where he began studying the gypsies. The English Gipsies and Their Language was published in 1873. Leland spent many hours with the gypsies and has only praise for them and their kindness. This book covers, "The Rommany of the Roads.--The Secret of Vagabond Life in England.-Its peculiar and thoroughly hidden Nature.--Gipsy Character and the Causes which formed it.--Moral Results of hungry Marauding.--Gipsy ideas of Religion. The Scripture story of the Seven Whistlers.--The Baker's Daughter.--Difficulties of acquiring Rommany.--The Fable of the Cat.-The Chinese, the American Indian, and the Wandering Gipsy."