Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-08-29
Kinr Lnauir Of nayarla.

Correspondents Of Baltimore American'l
Bavaria has an oddly for king, who
spends most Of his time in seclnsion al
one Of his palaces In the mountains; lie
ia the grandson OF the old King OF Bava
ria, who, Il will be remembered, ran
crazy after n danseuse. The present
King Ludwig assembled the throne when
he was only sixteen years OF age, and Is
now but twenty.four;, aud II oil the
stories about him are true, he Is rs
queer specimen Of royalty as has ex-
isted during the present generation lie
is still single, aud has the reputation
of being sornpnlously vittoous. having
A dislike for the whole female sex. lie
does not allow any one 10 see him when
he can help it; and though he seeks
amusements Of various kinds, endeavors
TO enjoy them in solitude, expressing
anger and dissatisfaction IL anybody IN
trudes upon him. The only man who
ever had any influence over him was
Wagner, the great musical composer;
who at one time so completely controlied
ali his actions that he was compelled Dy
the people to leave. His engagement 10
marry a princess is said 10 have been
suddenly broken of because she persisted
in refusing 10 express admiration Tor
Wagners music. Among his freaks was
the construction Of a lake on the top OF
his palace. in which he sailed about IN
boat for recreation. A few years since
he took a notion that he wanted to see a
representation Of an eruption OF Mount
Vesuvius, and Immediately ordered the
court pyrotechnist to proceed regard
less of cost, TO produce such a spectacle
on mountain, near his secluded palace
He complied with the order, but the rep
resentation was not satisfactory. The
court pyrotechnist at Vienna was then
sent for. and he made extensive prepar.'
atoms and gave entire satisfaction, ana
had an order for its repetition, the hing
expecting and thinking that he was and
would be the only spectator. lie, how
ever. heard that the villagers had assem-
bled at the foot of the mountain, ana
had witnessed the spectacle also. Oh
hearing this he countermanded the or
der for Its repetition, sent the pyrno-
teehnist home, and ordering the burgo-
master of the village before him, Sc
verely rated him for allowing the people
TO approach the mountain. During tue
reign OF Wagner he ordered new opera
he had written to be produced regardless
of expeuse. and on the night of its pro
duction took a seat in the royal Dox;
ordered the doors closed and locked, ana
the performances to proceed, with only
himself as the audience.
King Ludwig is, however, harmless IN
his vagaries, and as the country is pros
porous, and he has proved himself a
thorough German, the people rather
laugh than frown at his peculiarlties.
He is regarded by some as misan-
thrope, and by others as somewhat OF an
imbecile, but rs Bavaria is now thorough
lv under the control and protection. OF
Prussia. it matters little who or what
the King NAV be. The Bavarian army
Is by treaty under the command OF the
Kaiser William during times OF war. and
in peace it is the plaything OF the hing'
IL will be remembered that the Bavar-
ian troops we're led in the Franco-Prus-
sian war by the Crown Prince OF Prus-
STA. and to their bravery and dash, many
of the decisive strokes of the war were
attributed. Recently, when the Crown
Prince visited Munich, he was received
by the people and the military with
great enthusiasm and honor. AT the
opera. house when he appeared the per-
Torrance was suspended, and so dem
onstrative were the people that it was
impossible to resume it. The King be-
came indignant and refused to see the
Prince, retired to his mountain chateau
and remained for some time in strict re-
tirement, scolding every one who came
near him for having extended such hon
ors to the Prince of Prussia.