The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-03
CHILDREN GIVE WAY TO
JOY AND TEARS IN GARRICk
Mrs. Peabody's Beautiful Play,
1.-THE Piper" Makes Strong
Impression on Little Folk.

Pink and blue and red and white
perky bows, tying locks fair and
dark. bobbed around In the Garrick
theater, Wednesday afternoon. as the
childish wearers were moved 10
tears or laughter by the story OF
The pied Piper of Hamelin," as II
was unfolded to them on the stage
bv Miss Edith Wynhe Matthison and
tue children OF the ancient town by
the Weiser. II was children's mat
inee OF the Piper the exquisite
play Mrs. Josephine Preston Peabody
has made from the medieval legend
OF the Piper who piped all the rats
away from the famine-threatened town
of Hamelin and then, when the
greedy. money-loving burghers and
their thrifty wives refused TO Keep
faith with the piper and pay the
thousand guilders promised, for rid.
ding the city of rats. the piper's re-
venge was to pipe all the children
away, too. But, in Mrs. Peabody's
play. the ending is a happier one for
tho miserly, withdrawing burghers.
for, instead OF the children being for
ever lost in Hollow Hill, the piper
brings them all back home again.
Little boys in their best velvet suits
and prettiest ties sat along side OF
the gaily-dancing hair ribbons and
there was much frank, audible and
quaint comment on the incidents of
the play as ii was told by Miss Mat
thison and her associates. The end
ing OF the first act, when the children
are lured from their beds by the
merry hitting of the pipers lutte and
go dancing and swirling along the
crooked streets OF old Hamelin, fol-
lowing the motley figure in green and
red, while their pious parents are
praying in the church, was a moment
Of gleeful appreciation for the young
spectators. Then, in the cavern in
Hollow Hill, where the piper has hid.
den them, their games and questions
and pretty faith in the piper. seemed
TO exactly suit the youthful onlookers
and many shrill little voice was
heard 10 exclaim, II wish | was up
there too" as the lovely rainbow shot
across the moss-green walls and the
piper left his children all merrily try
ing to catch the rainbow as he sped
of to rescue fair Barbara from being
locked forever behind the convent I
walls.
II was in the scene at the cross
ways where Veronica the loving
mother of little crippled Jan, comes
YEARLY searching for her lost lamb.
a little silver bell -tinkling in her
hand, that the children in the audi !
ence held themselves very still and
felt very sad aid fearful as Veronica
pleaded for the return OF her little
~ a inn nj a
until the statue of TIE Lonely Man. /,
placed at the crossways TO ward of
evil spirits. bore in upon his mind
the remembrance OF little manned
JAMS patient sitting on the steps OF
the church seeking consolation from
a similar image or the Lonely Man,
whose face and outstretched arms he
had grown so TO love. (
"Oh, dear, mother, isn't he going |
to give Jan back 10 his mother
tearfully asked little maiden OF 10
as she sat close to her own mother
and tried hard not TO cry Then, as
JAMS mother passed on to continue
her search and the piper's heart and
soul were moved by her piercing !
grief and the reproachful gaze OF the
Lonely Man from his stone niche, and
he uttered the words, II Will give |
them back" the little girl, relieved OF
the anxious strain, clapped her hands
joyfully togsther and startled every
oxe around by crying out quite clear
~, "Oh, goody, goody, Jan is going
back to his mother"
The afternoon was charming pic
ture of childhood. on and of the |
stage. Little faces were alternately
mournful and laughing and many a
little lad and lassie chung very close
ly to mothers hand when the last
curtain fell and many mother felt
that the JOY of motherhood that rose
within her meant also sense OF
closer care and protection and gentler
dove for the lambs of her own flock.