Pied Piper Of Hamelin

[Drusilla]

I'm going to read the Pied Piper of Hamelin to my girls tonight and would like to know some of the background to the story. Was it really based upon the Children's Crusade?

[shaneystar2]

It is one theory that the children left the city to be part of a pilgrimage, a military campaign, or even a new children's crusade but never returned to their parents. Thise theory sees the unnamed Piper as their leader or a recruiting agent.

But good old wikepedia will tell you more than I can
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_Piper_of_Hamelin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_crusade

[Clanad]

Another site adds interesting details to shaneystar2's reference. It especially gives detail to the possibility that the children came to great harm. More likely is the reference near the end of young adults moving to a recently conquered area to establish new communities. The dates mentioned seem to fit the timeline for a myth that, apparently, has an historical basis of some kind:

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpiedpiper.html

[Drusilla]

Thank you both very much. Clanad, that was fascinating and quite spooky. Happy New Year to you both.

[shaneystar2]

And a Happy New Year to you Drusilla and my good wishes for 2006 go out across the pond to you too Clanad.

[Clanad]

All the best to you in the New Year, Drusilla (you do ask interesting questions) and to you shaneystar2, (an explanation of your user name would be enlightening!).

[shaneystar2]

Well Clanad I was shaneystar but changed to shaneystar 2 because people were cloning usernames on the site.My name is from our darling dog , a crossbreed German Shepherd/Labrador who we rescued when he was eighteen months old. His name is Shane. But we call him Shaney and we think he is a star.He is now ten years old and here he is
http://tinypic.com/jhab5z.jpg

[Clanad]

Shane... not after Alan Ladd's character in the most classic western movie of all times?

[Grunty]

Yes, he certainly looks a star.

[shaneystar2]

No Clanad ..he was called Shane when we took him on and was unfair to change his name ..mind you we have other pet names which he answers to !
Shane ..great film also starring Jack Palance..I think.
I remember you giving me excellent advice on my strawberry plants.We had a bumper crop..well... for our climate anyway !
Sorry to hijack your thread Drusilla with waffle about dogs and strawberries ..but am sure you don't mind.

[Clanad]

Jack Palance as Jack Wilson in Shane has to be one of the best depictions of a "bad guy" in western movies. Probably one of the reasons the movie won an Oscar that year. Another reason has to be the scenery. It was the first movie ever filmed in the Jackson Hole Valley, in northwestern Wyoming. The background of the Grand Tetons is still used in many productions. (Happy to hear your strawberrys turned out well!).