I'Ve Been a Gipsying: Or Rambles Among Our Gipsies and Their Children in Their Tents and Vans

E-105: T. Fisher Unwin. Good+. 1883. Hardcover. Hardcover. 8vo. T. Fisher Unwin. 1885. Xii, 355 pgs. Illustrated with Black and White Plates. Second, Popular Edition. Signed and inscribed by George Smith on the half-title page. Bound in illustrated cloth boards. Boards have shelf-wear present to the extremities. Decorated endpapers. Previous owner's book stamp present to the reverse of the front board and the reverse of the first illustration. Text is clean and free of marks. Binding tight and solid. George Smith (1831–1895) , of Coalville, philanthropist, born at Clayhills, Tunstall, Staffordshire, on 16 Feb. 1831, was the son of William Smith (1807–1872) , brickmaker, by his wife, Hannah Hollins (Grosart, Hanani, or Memories of William Smith, 1874, with portrait). At nine years of age George commenced working at his father's trade, carrying about forty pounds weight of clay or bricks on his head. The labour lasted thirteen hours daily, and to it was sometimes added night-work at the kilns. He managed to obtain some education, and saved his earnings to buy books. In this manner, while still a young man, he raised himself above the level of his associates. While manager of large brick and tile works at Humberstone in Staffordshire in 1855, he visited Coalville in Leicestershire in 1857, where he discovered several valuable seams of clay. His imprudence in revealing his discovery prematurely prevented his reaping the full benefit of it; but in the capacity of manager he succeeded in forming a large business there. For several years Smith had sought to draw attention to the condition of the gipsy children, and after the passing of the Canal Boats Amendment Act he gave all his time to that subject. In 1880 he published ‘Gipsy Life: being an Account of our Gipsies and their Children, ’ London, 8vo, a work containing much information on the history of the race in England. A Moveable Dwellings Bill, framed in accordance with Smith's views, was several times introduced into parliament by Messrs. Charles Isaac Elton, Thomas Burt, and Matthew Fowler. It provided for the registration of travelling vans and for the regulation of the sanitary condition of the dwellers. The education of the children presented such difficulties that it was left for further consideration. Despite Smith's enthusiastic energy, the opposition the bill encountered was too determined to permit its passage. E-105; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 355 pages; Signed by Author .