File:Cyclopedia universal history - embracing the most complete and recent presentation of the subject in two principal parts or divisions of more than six thousand pages (1895) (14596573808).jpg

Identifier: cyclopediauniver1950ridp (find matches)
Title: Cyclopedia universal history : embracing the most complete and recent presentation of the subject in two principal parts or divisions of more than six thousand pages
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900
Subjects: World history Ethnology World history
Publisher: Boston : Balch Bros.
Contributing Library: UMass Amherst Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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aracter of theGypsy race is bad in the last degree. Mendicant and Br^ (- Vi -f^ c^ -r, thieving char-Oth men ^^terofthe and women ^^^<^-are usually degraded. Itis not, however, chargedthat they have licentioushabits. They are addictedto every sharp practice bywhich rogues and thievesobtain property that is nottheir own. They are con-scienceless, and are un-acquainted with religiousobligation. It has been de-clared by some scholars inlanguage that there is noGypsy Avord for soul or im-mortality or God. Theypretend to the fortune tell-ers lore and to skill inpalmistry, and to everyother species of magic,from cai-d-playing to theblack art of the MiddleAges.Fixedness is the great cen-tral fact in the constitution of India. Allof the races inhabiting that vast countryor emanating therefrom be- ° _ Fixedness the tray in their beliefs and central fact in ii li J Hindu life. practices the unaltered con-ditions of a former life. While the West-ern Aryans, as we shall see hereafter. J^/S-ST
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748 GREAT RACES OF MANKIND. have been almost infinitely inflected intheir development, the Indie branch ofthe race fell at an early age into estab-lished forms, to amend or alter whichhas been regarded as innovation andsacrilege. In this respect India may be rankedwith the Egypt that was and the Chinathat is. Doubtless the Hamites in an-Comparisons cient Egyptian society wereuefandth:- lore fixed in a given so-Chinese. cial Structure, less subject to fluctuation and evolution into newforms, than are the Indie races of to-day.The Chinese also, who change not at allfrom generation to generation, who re-gard all movement or progress from theold and approved constitution of thingsas a useless and dangerous departurefrom the best attainable standard, aredoubtless an intenser form of social com-pleteness and conservatism than are theHindus. But as compared with theflexibility and progressive tendencies ofall the Western peoples the nations ofIndia are in the strongest contrast. It is imposs

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