Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-07-11
A Curious Celebration.

a Curious Celebration.
a special cable dispatch to the New
York Herald says: The citizens of la
Meln or Hamelin, In Brunswick, Ger
many, to-day celebrated With much pomp
and parade the six hundrcdth anniversary
OF the charming of the children of the
Namelin by the Pied Piper. For two
months past a committee Of twenty-nino
citizens had been busily engaged in ar
ranging the details of the celebration.
Tnis was to have been begun on Thurs
day, the real anniversary day, but had TO
be postponed because Of tho state OF tho
" weathcr. The advertisement OF the fcsti-
val brought to tho little town several
thousand visitors In addition TO the usual
number of summer tourists who were
staying at the plsce. At twilight this
morning the people of lIamelin and tho
surrounding country were awakened by
the booming Of cannon and the changing
of bells. This salute gavo assurance that
the day WAS to be one OF perfect weather.
The people turned out in their best attire.
All the schools, workshops aud stores
were closed, and the entire population OF
the district made such y holiday rs has
seldom been seen In Germany.
All the buildings had been freshly dec
grated during the night, aud the street
archings had been refowcred and rc-
greened. Bands para9cd all morning,
ard there was general jollity preceding
the principal event Of the day, which was
the procession after the general assem-
blage ut two o'clock In front OF the "oid
House," This bears on its outer wall nm
inscription stating that the Rattenfnenger
yon uamcln, who lived In that same
house, lid OH Thursday, 600 years ago, by
the charm OF his pipe lure the children OF
the village from their homes into cave
in tho Keppclbcrg Hall and disappeared
with them there, in revenge upon tho
burgomaster for refusing 10 pay the thou
sand crowns promised the piper for rid
ding the town of its rats. 10 the assem-
blcd thousands the legend was reeitod In
front OF tho ole house. Then the grand
procession was formed and made up rs
nearly as possible like the historic pro-
oession OF old Hundreds Of children
dressed In the costume of six centuries ago
lod the procession, following the strains
of the ancient Pipe 10 the spot on the KEEP
pelberg whittier the legend declares that
a.. -, II "A
Tho spectacle was exceedingly pretty.
Tho costumes were historically correct,
artists from Dusseldorf and Munich hay
Ing como to lIamclin to supervise their
manufacture. Behind tho children fol-
lowed clariots drawn by mettlcd horses,
after the style OF the rude vehicles OF the
Pied Pipcr's time. knights In armor,
men IN long hose and buir gherkins, wo-
men in graceful robes, and, finally, all tho
handcraftsmcn OF that ancient timc,
welding their primitive tools, made up
the balance Of pageant seldom equalcd
In this generation for historic interest and
picturesquenoSs. The leading authorities
of the town all had conspicuous positions
in the procession, aud the brilliantly uni
formed military OF tho province addod
their presence TO the spectacular display.
IL had boon intended to embOdy In tho
pageant representations Of all the familiar
German legends concerning tho piper,
but at tho last moment this idea was aban-
donetl because Of the time IL would have
required to cary 1t out, and 1t was decided
to conline the representation to that OF
the Browning story. The procession was
a complete success, and the children were
escorted back TO tho town with band
music. The afternoon was given up to
concerts, and all sorts Of outdoor amuso-
ments. ..., .....
In the evening Mt tho theater Ecssler's
opera, the lbrctto Of which cmbO,lics tho
old legend of the Pied Piper, wns render
ed, many noted singers taking part In tho
performance. Late at night the town was
brilliantly illuminated, and the days fes-
tivitics were closed with great torrhlight
procession and magnificent display of
fireworks. F,'.'. 81, Do ''