Rat catchers of our time

[Halcon]( [Mail & Guardian Newsletter logo](#) [mg.co.za]( [The Ampersand Daily Newsletter from the M&G team](#) [Divider Strip] July 29 2020 | [View in browser]( [Divider Strip] [Facebook icon]( [Twitter icon]( [Instagram icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( Hi there, Rattenfanger von Hameln, also known as the Pied Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin, is the titular character of a legend from the town of Hamelin in Germany. The legend dates back to the Middle Ages, describing a piper, dressed in multicolored or pied clothing, who was a rat-catcher hired by the town to get rid of a massive rat infestation. When the townspeople refuse to pay as promised, he unleashes a terrible vengeance by using his instrument's magical power on their children, leading them into a mountain pass, never to be seen again.This version of the story spread as folklore and has appeared in the writings of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the Brothers Grimm, and Robert Browning. For a time, the legend was a mere folktale kept alive by generation after generation of Hamelin residents, until the story began receiving broader audiences through a retelling by the Brothers Grimm. But the tale is much more than fiction. There is evidence to suggest something deeply troubling did happen in the German town on June 26 1284. The date appears again in Hamelin's town chronicle. In the year 1384, the entry simply reads, "It is 100 years since our children left." Another reference comes from a Latin chronicle from the German town of Lunenberg. In the 16th century we begin to find more accounts of the events in Hamelin. In 1553 the chronicle for the town of Bamberg offered the first German-language report. In The Pied Piper: A Handbook, Wolfgang Mieder provides translations of the various historical accounts of the Pied Piper story, and looks at the explanations about what might have actually happened. Although elements of the story do change (the rodents came later, around the time of the Black Plague) and become darker with each iteration; and although some scholars today believe the story is a metaphor about mass emigration rather than abduction, it is amazing to note that, even then, so-called creatives had a hard time getting paid for services rendered. Now, we wouldn't dream of absconding with your children, but you must admit we are the rat-catchers of our time. If you value this service, please consider a [donation or subscription](. Quality journalism needs your support now, more than ever. Long story, short New epicentre: With more than 3 000 Covid-19 infections each day since the weekend, KwaZulu-Natal is emerging as the latest epicentre of the pandemic in the country. Paddy Harper reports that, although the province still trails the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and the Western Cape in total numbers, it has [alarmingly emerged with the highest infection rate](. Premier Sihle Zikalala has put the increase down to a number of factors, but has specifically urged residents to keep funeral attendance to fewer than 50 people. New frontier: Although the problems of mortals still rage on, Virgin Galactic is furiously working to secure a commercial visit to the gods. The company has unveiled what the cabin will look like in its VSS Unity -- a vessel designed to take six passengers to the edge of space. Although the exact launch date remains unknown, company founder Richard Branson is looking to charge a [cool $250 000 per ticket](. Wild Bill explains: US Attorney General William Barr will tell Congress that the deployment of federal law-enforcement officers to [forcibly disperse protests]( in Oregon was justified because demonstrators' attacks on a federal courthouse represented an attack on the US government. Six mayors have demanded that Congress block the Trump administration's unilateral deployment of federal agents in cities. Retelling it like it isn't: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." Erm, not quite. Unlike Jesus's words as quoted in the Book of Matthew, there appears to be another reading of that scripture in South Africa. As Eusebius McKaiser explains, a school's Christian ethos did not give it the [right to deny entry]( to a nine-year-old grade two learner wearing isiphandla (a cultural wristband). Mystery solved: Human remains discovered in a forest near the Russian city of Yekaterinburg belonged to the last Russian [Tsar Nicholas II and members of his family]( the Russian Investigative Committee announced in a statement on Friday Donny don't do it: Twitter said on Tuesday that it had suspended Donald Trump Jr's account for 12 hours because a tweet he had posted violated the social media site's [misinformation policy]( on Covid-19. Have a lovely day and do send us any tips, feedback or legends to EditorOnline@mg.co.za Until tomorrow, Kiri Rupiah & Luke Feltham [Divider Strip] [Old Mutual]( [Divider Strip] [Creta]( [Divider Strip] [Facebook icon]( [Twitter icon]( [Instagram icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( You are receiving this email on {EMAIL} because 1.) You're a member of "Mail & Guardian" or 2.) previously subscribed [M&G logo] 25 Owl St, Braamfontein Werf, Johannesburg, 2092 Want to be removed? No problem! [UNSUBSCRIBE]( Email support: help@media-connect.co.za - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -