Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-06
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN
Celebrating the Six Hundredth Ami
versarv in the Old German Town.

Celebrating the Six Hundredth Ami
versarv in the Old German Town.
The citizens of Ha-Meln, or Ha-Melin,
in Brunswick, Germany, says a London
cable special of the 18th ult., to-day cele-
brated with much pomp and parade the
six hundredth anniversary of the charm
ing of the children of Ha-Melin by the
Pied Piper. For two months past con-
mittee of twenty-nine citizens had been
busily engaged in arranging the details of
the celebration. This was to have begun
on Thursday, the 26th ult., the real ami
versary day, but had to be postponed until
to-day, because Of the forbidding state OF
the weather. The advertisements of the
festival brought to the little town several
thousand visitors, in addition to the usual
number Of summer tourists who were So
iourning at the historic place.
AT twilight this morning the people of
Ha-Melin and the surrounding country
were awakened by the booming of cannon
and the changing of bells. The salute
gave assurance that the day was to be one
of perfect weather, as it really has been.
The people turned out in their best attire.
All the schools, workshops and stores
were closed, and the entire population of
the district made such a holiday as has
seldom been seen even in Germany All
the buildings had been freshly decorated
during the night, and the street archings
had been refowered and regreened.
Bands paraded all the morning, and there
was general jollity preceding the princi-
pal event of the day, which was the pro-
cession after the general assemblage at 2
O'Clock, in front of the "Old House."
This bears on Its outer wall an inscription
stating that the Rattenfaenger Won Hame-
IN, ruhn in hot
Thursday, six hundred years ago, by the
charms of his pipe lured the children of
the village from their homes into a cave
in the Koppelberg Hill, and disappeared
with them there, in revenge upon the
Burgomaster for refusing to pay the thou
sand crowns promised the Piper for rid
ding the town Of its rats.
To the assembled thousands the legend
was recited in front of the "Old House."
Then the grand procession was formed
made up in part as nearly as possible like
that celebrated. Hundreds OF children,
dressed in the costume of six centuries
ago, led the procession, following the
strains of the ancient pipe to the spot on
the KOppelberg, whittier the legend de-
clares the Pied charmer disappeared with
those that followed him.
The spectacle was exceedingly pretty.
The costumes were historically correct,
artists from Dusseldorf and Munich hav-
ing come TO Ha-Melin to supervise their
manufacture. Behind the children fol-
lowed chariots drawn by mettled horses,
after the style of the rude vehicles of the
Pied Piper's time. knights in aTmor,
men In long hose and buff jenkins, women
in graceful robes, and finally all the handi-
craftsmen of that ancient time, welding
their primitive tools, made up the balance
Of a pageant seldom equaled in this gen.
Grafton for historic interest and pictur-
! esqueness.
The leading authorities Of the town all
had conspicuous positions in the process
sion, and the brilliantly uniformed mill
tary of the province added their presence
to the spectacular display.
1t had been intended to embody in to-
days pageant representations of all the
familiar German legends concerning the
Piper, but at the last moment this idea
was abandoned because Of the time it
would have repaired to carry it out, audit
was decided to continue the representa-
tion to that Of the Browning st0rys
The procession was complete success,
and the children were escorted back to the
town with a band of music. The after
noon was given up to concerts and all
sorts Of outdoor amusemeEts. In the
evening, at the theatre, Nessler's opera,
the libretto of which embodies the old
legend Of the Pied Piper, was rendered,
many noted singers taking part in the
/ performance. Late at night the town was
brilliantly Illuminated, and the days fes-
I Invites were closed with a great torch
4 light procession and magnificent display
I 81 fireworks.