Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1893-07-01
For the OBSERVER
The Town ct the Pied
Piper.
HANOVER.

HANOVER. GERMANY,
May 80. 1898.
Who of al your young readers is
no, familiar with the story of The
ra, catcher If Hameln or. as Brown
ing calls him in his famous jingle,
the Pied Piper of HameIin 2"
But how could Browning make
81 many reckless mistakes | fear
that his mortal eyes never rested On
Hameln. for he starts out thus:
-Hameiin Town. III Brunswick.
By famous HAne ger city
The river We>er. deep and wide.
Washes lis wall on the Southern side
Now. as a matter Of fact. Hameln
is not in Brunswick and !, i. thirty
three miles distant from "Hano.er
City Moreover the river Weser
is by 10 means deep and wide" aud
the town Of Hameln has no walls.
Furthermore ii stands Oh the eastern,
no, the northern side of the river.
With exception Of these few errors.
the poem starts well-,bon.h | think
that it is only 3rowning's fame
which keeps Us from calling many
parts Of it, and especially the final
-,apza, silly doggerei. But my OBJ
iecl now is not to criticize Brown
ing or repeat the we'll known story
Of the rat catcher. simply wish to
tell your young readers something
about this queer old town which lies
within the limits of my consular dis
trict.
Az my little boy takes much inter
est IN the story OF the Pied. Piper,
| went with him TO Hameln on the
last holiday.
Hameln is a quiet little town with
twelve thousand inhabitants, situat-
I'd in the valley of the Weser and is
nearly surrounded by beautiful
wooded hills. A pleasant walk in
The cool shade OF an avenue OF horse
chestnut trees brought us from the
railway station to the town.
And snch a town! Narrow, wind
ing st reets, queer old houses, many
With their gable ends to the street,
each story reaching farther over the
two feet broad stone side walk than
the story next below; over the doors
and under the caves tantislically
carved wooden beams usually bear
ing in low German" quo,ations from
the bible roughly cobbled streets
crowded with country people, some
OF them wearing brilliant pea-an,
costumes, for this is q holiday over
head light red tiles and, today, a
deep blue sky such is IIameln.
ORe house in particular interested
us. Over the door OF an old int
stood carved in a massive wooden
beam, two ships OF the type used
800 years ago, top heavy decks
awkward curves, intricate cordage
veritable tubs.
The rat catcher house, near the
eastern limit Of the town, is a very
Interesting old building whose WOOD
carv'ne records the legend of the
Pied Piper. In tue bakers shop il
the ground floor of this building my
little boy purchased two curious Ia,s
as me OF Hame.n. They are
10 be had in every bakers shop il
the town. On my desk before me
80 l write crouch these two little
creatures, made of rye bread baked
AS bard as r. their eyes are shriv
eled black currants aud their louc
whiskers are made of hogs bris,ies
The baker told me that he had sold
specimens Of these lite-sized bread
rats to people Of all na,ionalitie.
from all corners OF the globe. | do
not know why but the bakers seem
to be IN some way connected with
the story of the rat catcher, and
down to this day, Oh one day 10 tn.
year all the salmon caught in the
town fishery are given 10 the baker,
guild.
The town fishery is another guam,
Old institution OF lIaueln. The
Weser contains many fine salmon
NV" oeiobR, oy duCicHt Il1n' IL
the town council. These fish are
DOT caught with the hook, but by
means OF a large square net attached
TO aud banging irof1 a long pole.
As We walked slowly through
The town, stopping every second
minute To look at some curious OF
unusual OBJECT, our attention was
%at'rac,eE by an old man, quantity
dresseI IN avery long coat and a com
lcalcap. His face was stern and d,yni
tie1 aud in his r'gh, hand be carried
q large bell. Alter each tenth sic,
he paused pompously and rap the
Ieil tor several seconds to a,,rac,
attention. Then in a loud. mechan
'cal voice be cried Grand open al,
concert tonight in F..chers' Bees
Garden. Eight O'Clock. Music b,
the regimental band. .Adm.ssio.
tity ~pteuoigs"
Having uttered this advertisement
The old man moved ten steps and
again rang his bell.