The tinkler-gypsies . proof, alike furnished by intermarriageof human races and by the interbreeding ofanimals, that when varieties mingle beyond acertain slight degree tiie ?-esult is inevitably a badone in the long run. Is not that practically the result whichfollowed the intermarriage of Romani-speakingGypsies and Tinklers ? At first there were asoffspring some splendid physical types with wildand mixed racial characteristics, but the typehas steadily deteriorated. One of such earlytypes was Matthew Baillie,- who would steal ahorse from under the owner if he liked, butalways left the saddle
The tinkler-gypsies . proof, alike furnished by intermarriageof human races and by the interbreeding ofanimals, that when varieties mingle beyond acertain slight degree tiie ?-esult is inevitably a badone in the long run. Is not that practically the result whichfollowed the intermarriage of Romani-speakingGypsies and Tinklers ? At first there were asoffspring some splendid physical types with wildand mixed racial characteristics, but the typehas steadily deteriorated. One of such earlytypes was Matthew Baillie,- who would steal ahorse from under the owner if he liked, butalways left the saddle and bridle—A thoroughgentleman in his way, and six feet four instature. Another was James Macpherson,* the ancientfreebooter and musician, the offspring of abeautiful Gypsy and a Highland gentleman,who grew up in strength, stature, and beautyseldom equalled. Macpherson is said to havebeen executed, and when about to be hangedhe displayed both supreme contempt for deathand nobility of nature. It is said that when 27. Con. , CnMstlvaii) Charles Faa Blythe, late King of theScotch Gypsies Early Scotch Gypsy Types. 419 standing at the foot of the fatal tree he playedon his violin some of his favourite tunes, andthen turning to the crowd he enquired if he hadany friend to whom a last gift of his instrumentwould be acceptable. As no friend cameforward, he broke the violin over his knee andthrew away the fragments : Sae rantonly, sae wantonly,Sae daunlingly gaed he ;He played a spring and danced it roundBelow the gallows tree. The courageous Alexander Kennedy, abovealluded to as the hero of the bloody battle ofHawick Brig, and Billy Marshall himself, areother splendid types of the offspring of suchearly Tinkler-Gypsy intermarriage. On thefemale side similar splendid types^, such as The Duchess Jean and Madge Gordon,^*resulted. Madge Gordon, who was, in her day^accounted Queen of the Yetholm clans, was a grand-daughter of the celebrated Jean Gor-don, and was said to have much
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