Page 3 Advertisements Column 3

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22368, 15 September 1934, Page 3

Browning's poem, “ The Pied Piper of Harnelin,” written to amuse a sick child friend, was not wholly the fruit of the poet’s imagination, for Harnelin has just celebrated the Csoth year of the town’s unique legend, or, as some still believe, historic event. What really happened in Harnelin, on the Weser, on June 26, 1284? The best surviving evidence points to the conclusion that at least 130 children disappeared. The story is _ told in town archives and .in inscriptions on public buildings, and for centuries the people of Harnelin dated their lega] documents from “the year of the Exodus of (he Children.” The late Professor Silvanus Thompson concluded that there must be some basis of "fact for the legend. Ratcharming by music is an historical fact, and iq. those medieval times country places were infested with robbers and vagabonds, lie suggested that perhaps rat-charming in Harnelin got mixed up with wholesale kidnapping, and superstitious people adopted the legend ns anti* Devil propaganda. The belief for centuries was that the piper was Satan posing as a piper.

Opihi Pedigree Milking Shorthorns Dairying will soon be a profitable occupation. Secure a week-old Calf from this heavy producing herd. Railage will be paid to your nearest railway station on receipt of 5 guineas. F. G. SAVILLE, Fairlie.