The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-10-27
PIERS DAY.
IN INTERVENING FESTITAL 4fT
 R1PPOLTSWEILER IN 1LS1CE.
Fan Alive, But Not as Much Alive as
 it Would be iu the United States.

Freiburg, Baden, Oct. 10, 1900.
 To the Editor of the Journal and Cour- fer:
 Believing that your readers might be
 interested in one of the regular annual
 celebrations out here in Germany, beg
 to present to them the following de-
 scription of Pfeiffer-tag or Piper's day
 at Rappoltsweiler city of about seven
 thousand inhabitants, of this consular
 district, beautifully situated at the be-
 ginning of one of the pretty valleys of
 the Vorges mountains in Alsace. This
 city was called Ribeauville by the
 French, to whom it at one time be-
 longed, and dates way back to the
 eighth century, being mentioned ln doc-
 uments of the year 76S.
 In the middle ages this place was of
 great importance, and on the high
 mountains just back of this city are
 yet the ruins of three old castles which
 stand forth so prominently and can be seen from great distance, telling the story of mediaeval grandeur and great
 ness The counts of high Rappoltstein,
 the name of the highest castle, were
 well known from one end of the Rhine
 valley to the other, and so important and valuable is their history that
 book consisting of five large volumes
 has lately been published, the selling price of which is eight dollars per vol ume, which cost the author (K. AL brecht) twenty long years of patient research, covering the history of these counts from 759 to 1500.
 It is said that the counts of Rappolt- stein with their armies, were on the first crusade, and after returning from Palestine took special interest in the various bands of travelling musicians, for there had been many such compa- nieS formed as those who had been along on the crusades did not care to settle down in any particular place, but preferred to roam about the country, and if music did not afford them a liv ing, they would resort to plundering. These counts invited all these musi- clans to Rappoltsweiler once a year to general convention and for jolly good time generally, and so it was that September came to be called PiperS day, and to this day is celebrated with great pleasure and excitement by young and old in this otherwise so qui- ct old town, the celebration extending over a months time, chiefly on Sun days which seems to be the day in Flu rope specially designed for amusements and publications of all kinds. Such thing as a quiet, solemn New England Sunday, or day of rest, Is unfortunately unknown here, and the people are ready for all manner of noise and fun just as soon as the church services are over. How much pleasanter and holier our American Sabbath is!
 Understanding that the chief celebra- tion would be on the second Sunday of September, and would begin the even- ing previously, it seemed wisest to start for Rappoltzweier on Saturday, which was accordingly done, and on that evening at about eight o'clock, at the upper part of the town, the flies and drums were heard, and down the main street marched a pro- cession of several hundred citizens, pre- ceded by band and drum corps play ing a strange sort of march called the Piper's march, said to be several cen- turies old. Those that were not play ing carried Chinese lanterns at the end of poles, and so equipped the procession proceeded very quickly down the street, around one of the public buildings and then to the park grounds to a large platform temporarily erected around a tree, where for the rest of the night dancing was engaged in at the rate of two and one-half cents per dance of ,ne and one-half minutes, or twelve for l quarter.
 Not caring to take part in that my friend and I chose to zee the sights of the Midway Plai- | ance," and they were many for such a mall town; a great variety of stands | with cakes, candies, etc., several shoot | ng galleries with old and young girls | nore or less attractive, inviting most l the passing youth to see how straight they could shoot; a Ferris | wheel, a ship-carousal stands for the ale of dolls and playthings of all sorts; gambling wheel; several establish nents when panoramic pictures were hown, pictures of the Spanish war, the 'ransvaal war, Illustrating various le- ends or deeds more or less sensational; | everal dens of performing lions and ears, the living pictures of Edison's and many others. So he crowds that had assembled from all he surrounding villages certainly ound enough to pass away both time nd money
 The next day, Sunday, being church ay, the town was quiet until eleven clock, when, according to the German otion, or, rather according to law, the lorning service being finished Sun ay' IS over too, so at that time the arrow streets were becoming more vely, and at the upper end of the town he procession was again forming to tart at half-past twelve, which it did cry promptly indeed. This time the recession, which in the main was )rmed of the several societies, etc., of le place and numbered not more than bout two or three hundred, started at
 very rapid pace, but had so many alts that it was about three o'clock afore all was over and the marchers, . 'me of whom by that time found it ( tile dithcult to walk straight, could 'oceed to the park and engage in dan ng or in sightseeing. Two boys in lis procession were carrying platter S large-sized flat ginger-cakes 'lled pfefer-luChen or pepper-cakes. ' he l, s,lNz