The Argosy — page 292: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Among the Hungarians. 275 features, and perfect sets of gleaming white teeth. They looked quiet and civilised enough, and were dressed in the ordinary European costume, but nothing could ever convert their fierce, restless, gipsy eyes into the commonplace optics of ordinary musicians. One man especially excited my attention, as being the leader. He played the first violin, and stood while the others sat. He was some- times swaying to and fro with the melody which he played; drawing long, plaintive, sobbing sounds from his instrument, with his head on one side, and his eyes fixed in a sort of passionate melancholy upon some distant point. ‘Then suddenly turning towards the band, one sweep of the fiddle-bow would change the entire strain into a joyous expression of rollicking delight. ‘The measure became quicker and quicker, a smile would gradually dawn over the leader’s face, and his eyes, black and watchful, would glance from one to another of his listeners; from the faces to the dishes on the table (tempting enough in all probability to a hungry gipsy), thence round the room, taking quick note of every article therein, and resting at last in a sort of respectful and hopeless admiration upon the prettiest girl. But my hostess soon gave me a striking proof of their wonderful native talent. Going up to the leader of the band, she asked him to play a piece of music which had recently been composed. He said he did not know it, and indeed it was quite new, and no one had the notes. That did not matter, the hostess just hummed over the air to him, and he began to play it on his violin. After hearing it twice he nodded, quite satisfied, and turned to his band. He played it through once, and the band, all watching his every movement—the jerk of his elbow, and the stamp of his foot—followed suit; first and second violins, violoncellos and cymbals, and the cymbalom, without a single jarring tone, joined in the concert, and in ten minutes the whole air, in perfect time and expression, was harmonized for the entire band. I remarked what musicians they would make if trained. “Yes,” said the Countess, “but that is just the impossibility. They like their wild life, travelling about hither and thither; and with their wonderful talent they get their living with little difficulty, especially as they are dreadful thieves. But when one begins to teach them to play more from notes they rebel. They are lazy, deceitful, make excuses, and finally run away.” “Carrying with them, I suppose, any little trifles they can lay their hands on as remembrances ?” ‘“Indeed, yes; they have a decided weakness for souvenirs, especially valuable ones, and for that reason, one never leaves them in a room alone. ‘They do best in the open air.” CONNICLOOKS.EO