d that
I chanced that morning on those dark men and spoke to them in Romany.

* * * * *

Since the above was written I have met in an entertaining work called
"Unknown Hungary," by Victor Tissot, with certain remarks on the
Hungarian gypsy musicians which are so appropriate that I cite them in
full:--

"The gypsy artists in Hungary play by inspiration, with inimitable
_verve_ and spirit, without even knowing their notes, and nothing
whatever of the rhymes and rules of the masters. Liszt, who has
closely studied them, says, The art of music being for them a sublime
language, a song, mystic in itself, though dear to the initiated,
they use it according to the wants of the moment which they wish to
express. They have invented their music for their own use, to sing
about themselves to themselves, to express themselves in the most
heartfelt and touching monologues.

"Their music is as free as their lives; no intermediate modulation,
no chords, no transition, it goes from one key to another. From
ethereal heights they precipitate you into the howling depths of
hell; from the plaint, barely heard, they pass brusquely to the
warrior's song, which bursts loudly forth, passionate and tender, at
once burning and calm. Their melodies plunge you into a melancholy
reverie, or carry you away into a stormy whirlwind; they are a
faithful expression of the Hungarian character, sometimes quick,
brilliant, and lively, sometimes sad and apathetic.

"The gypsies, when they arrived in Hungary, had no music of their
own; they appropriated the Magyar music, and made from it an original
art which now belongs to them."

I here break in upon Messieurs Tissot and Liszt to remark that, while it
is very probable that the Roms reformed Hungarian music, it is rather
boldly assumed that they had no music of their own. It was, among other
callings, as dancers and musicians that they left India and entered
Europe, and among them were doubtless many descendants of the ten
thousand Indo-Persian Luris or Nuris. But to resume quotation:--

"They made from it an art full of life, passion, laughter, and tears.
The instrument which the gypsies prefer is the violin, which they
call _bas' alja_, 'the king of instruments.' They also play the
viola, the cymbal, and the clarionet.

"There was a pause. The gypsies, wh