New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-08-03
An Eccentric King.

The eccentricities of the young Alng
Louis III of Bavaria have OF late become
such that the question whether or not the
present representative OF the house OF WIZ
telsbach is insane. ia more anxl0usly agl-
tated in Munich, and more especially at the
Imperial Court at Berlin. than ever before.
The former curious freaks Of the King have
all been forgotten his expenditure OF
900 for initiating at his castle OF Ho'
henschwagan the hanging gardens OF queen
Semiramis his attempt to build pyramid
like that of King Cheops on the famous
Lechfeld and his numerous tirtatons with
royal princesses, whom he Tilted most uI.
tremendously when they had most reason
to look for an offer of his heart and hand.
But that which engrosses at the present
time the attention of the good burghers ct
Munich is the singular mania OF the young
king in regard to theatrical affairs 1t is
well known fact thai King Louis III. looks
upon the theatre as the prime source OF
popular education; that he considers Fred.
erick Won Schiller and Moliere the two
dramatists without whom the stage could
never have acquired its present eminencei
and that he, the Wittelsbach ruler himself.
has written play, which he not only, as
might be expected, values very highly, but
which, in Ills opinion, is a combination OF
all that is praiseworth both in Schiller and
in Moliere. This wonderful play is entitled
1.-The Fan Of the Warehouses; and there
exists but single manuscript copy OF it.
l. contains three acts, and is Written to
Alexandrine verse; That is al that ia
known about it. No profane critic has yet
cast his eyes upon it. but one person has
seen it performed on the stage. and Yet the
whole company of the Royal Theatre OF
Munich knows it by heart; and the play
has been performed upward OF a dozen
times with scenery and decorations such as
have rarely been bestowed upon the TRACE"
dies of the greatest masters
The explanation Of all this is a very sim.
pie one. King Louis III. is q man of the
most retiring character. Most OF the time
he lives in utter seclusion. The pomp and
splendor OF royalty are most distasteful to
him. and rather than appear at gala re.
view of his army. he will plead sickness,
or, without cause, bury himself in the al.
pine retreats of the Bavarian highlands.
The stage is his favOrIte pastime, but to
witness public performances when every.
body rises from his seat and bows 10 him
az soon as he makes his appearance, is so
Cistastetul to him that for years be has not
set foot in his own theatre at Munich, ex.
cept on the occasions which we are abou.
to specify.
About four months ago the actors Of the
Royal Theatre in the above mentioned city
received from the manager OF the stage tho
cast of play entitled The Fan Of tho
MarchiOness," whose author, he said, wished
TO remain unknown, but which was to DO
rehearsed Immediately. week atterward
the rehearsal took place, and 2 few day9
later the actors and actresses who were to
appear in it were startled by the notifica-
ton that they were to play the piece after
midnight on the third of March. The mos.
rigorous secrecy was enjoined upon them.
and immediate dismissal was threatened to
those who should talk about the affair.
Who had ever heard of such theatrical
performance! The actors were all there.
and when the curtain went mp they yainly
looked for an audience. No ole was present
to witness their performance but young
man dressed in a loose suit Ci gray, his
handsome face adorned with small, well.
trimmed moustache. The young man was
seated in the left proscenium box, and no
seemed to follow the performance with raps,
attention. The experienced actors did their
best to play their parts well. None of them
had ever performed under more singular.
not to say discouragiDg circumstances.
Applause there was none. TIE curtain
went down, and it went up again, before a
dark and empty house. The only spectator
present was, to all appearances, highly in.
terested, but not even once 81! he clap his
hands.
Finally, just as the neighooring clock Of
st. GATHERINGS Church struck four, tho
play was over, and the actors went home.
This singular performance has been re.
peated since then a dozen times. The &C.
tors are almost in q state Of revolt, tor 10
seems unnatural for them to play 20 no an.
dience. without marks OF applause or diss
approval; simply before one young man
who, II he wears a crown, profits by bic
Royal prerOgativesin a curious manner