Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

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,-QQ. 43: . 1--' N Xt x' , K , Q -. ' s X y - . . N f X I N ' .- C- w f ff e -1 - - ,, i ' Mn- ... if LThe following drama, an adaptation of Robert Browning's poem, The Pied Piper of Hamelinf' is for use in the school-room.1 The Pied Piper of Hamelin. DRAMATIS PERSONAE : The Piper. The Mayor. Members of Corporation. Townspeople: men, women and children. Setting- Hamelin, Germany. ACT I. SCENE I. fKitchen. VVoman seated in a rocking chair, busily engaged in sewing. A small child asleep in a cradle at one side of the room. A large rat-trap on the Hoor. From time to time the loud squeals of mice are heard.j Woman: Qrising from chair, goes to closet door and opens it. Rat makes noise.j Oh ! there's another one! If any more rats come into this house there won't be any- thing left but rats. CA noise from the cradle.j What's that? Oh! what has hap- pened? QRuns to cradle and takes baby up in her 8,I'I11S.D My baby Y One of those terrible rats has bitten your cheek. QAS she hushes the baby, a rap is heard at the door. Enter another Woman, a neighbonj First Neighbor : Good morning, F rau Schmidt. Why, what is the matter? Frau Schmidt: Oh, these rats ! VVhy can't something be done? QHushing baby, and speaking in soothing tones.j There, there, baby! The rats have gone. Mother is here with you. QTurning to neighborj A rat has bitten my baby while he was asleep in his cradle. QLoud squeals of rats heard.j Do the rats trouble you so? First Neighbor: Trouble us? I should say so! My house is running over with them. There are rats in everybody's house, and in the streets. They are even 13

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Boston of one of your number served to impress the fact that I was not far from home. Sometimes I have asked about what was going on in the geography class and have also inquired about the doings of the present juniors, but I have not heard of anyone re- peating the leap for life from the top of the gravel hill. On the whole I know little about the Salem Normal School this yearg I have become quite absorbed for the time being in the university study of educational problems. To come back to one's college after the absence of a dozen years is to find lots of changes. Think what your own experience may be in returning to the Normal School in 1920. Since my undergraduate days at Harvard many new buildings have been erected, the complexion of the faculty has changed somewhat, the standard of require- ments has been raised, the athletic games have moved across the Charles River and John the Orangeman is no more. But the President of the University is the same grand figureg the institution stands as firmly as ever for the motto upon its shield, H Veritas, and the Harvard spirit with the growth in the number of students has in- creased in strength and loyalty. To feel oneself occupying even an humble place in this great university with its wealth of associations, its infinite opportunities for 1'e- search and its faculty of distinguished men is indeed stimulating and inspiring. The experience of this year has given me once more the pupil's point of view. N o instructor ought ever to allow himself to forget that such an outlook exists and l am not willing to admit that I have erred seriously in this respect. But after a term of years behind the teacher's desk one's ideas of how things look from the other side be- come somewhat vague. Although most of my work this year has been individual research in the library, I have found myself associated at times with students who might easily find a place in a normal school classroom. To touch elbows with them in a common work, to observe their impressions regarding the courses of instruction and to note their spirit and attitude towards things in general is, especially to the teacher of teachers, illuminating and suggestive. My word of greeting must now become one of parting. This is not so easy. In September when I gave up your class I tried to do so without formality. Some of my colleagues even did not know that l had gone. I left the goodbys until another time. Suppose we do so now. Sincerely, Wn.1.1AM C. Moons. Her Fiftieth Composition. In the new f-ll of his house sat the dean before a bright peat fire. Ile had had a long illness but was now a well man. In his hand was a new treatise entitled Was Aflfuffs occupation cvcr that of a Goldsmith ? Ignorance, he said thoughtfully gazing at a crimson cushion. placed on a box bearing the label ' War on. bacterin.,' is the pit num often falls in ll- Notc : My ink has dried up, so I can't finish this today. 12

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fighting with the dogs and killing the eats. Nothing seems to do any good. Have you caught many in this trap ? Frau Schmidt : No, I-QSudden knock. Door opens, and a woman rushes into the room.j Second Neighbor: Oh ! ohl What shall I do ? The rats a.1'e eating up all my cheeses, all my cakes, and even my puddings. Johann, my brother, found a nest of those terrible creatures in his best hat. It is spoiled forever ! Just look at it l QHolding up hat.j fSquealing of rats becomes louder.j First Neighbor: Perhaps we won't have to suffer any more from this pest. There is a report going about town that the matter is to be brought before the Mayor and the Corporation to see what they can do about it. They- QNoise of rats becomes so great that the conversation is drowned. Women at first clap their hands over their ears, and then drop their a1'1ns to clutch frantically at their skirts. They go through these movements for several minutes, and then dash wildly out of the room, Frau Schmidt bushing the baby, in the rear of the processiong Curtain. SCENE Il. Interior of Town Hall. Cllownspeople assembled in hall. Mayor and members of the Corporation seated on platform.J Mayor faddressing peoplej : Citizens of the town of Hamelin, you have before you a difficult matter to be settled. First citizen Crising excitedlyj: Difiicult? Have you just discovered it? For a long time we have suffered in silence from these rats. We have endured it as long as possible. The plague increases. The time has come when something must be done. All the townspeople are assembled ll81'6 to-day for- Second citizen Qjumping up and exclairningj: You speak too mildly, fellow- citizen I VVake up, sirs l What have you Cturning to the Mayor and the Corporationj done to help the town? Nothing, nothing, nothing! Do you think that we, with our hard-earned money, buy you garments lined with erniine for that purpose? Do you think we pay you to sit with your hands folded? QSits down.j Third citizen: It's shocking! Qturning to Mayor and Corporationj. Rack your brains, gentlemen l If you do not find a remedy soon, we, the people of Ilainelin, will remove you from oflicc. fhlayor and members of Corporation exchange looks. Dismay and consternation soon on their faces. Mutterings and cxclarnations of approval heard throughout audi- oiuw-, Mayor rises and comes forward. Deep silence prevails.j Mayor fwoai'il.viJ : filadly would I sell this crlnine gown which you mock. You say I liavo dono nothing for yon, but that is not true. My hea.d fairly aches I have thought. so bard about this matter. fri gentle tap is heard at the door. Mayor jumps, 14