The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-11-20

THE NAN WHO REIGNs OyIR BAVARIA.
c. c. Fulton, ain one Of his letters from
Europe to the Baltimore .ASsettcsM, speaks'
<h,.. oe %ho N;,,o ~ Ravavia.3i ts .9QtJE D-s1

Europe to the Baltimore AHs0stCHm, spea1s
thus of the King Of Bavaria: to sios5aa9o-s1i
Bavaria has an oddity for King, who
spends most of his time in secluaOn at one o.
bis palaces in the mountains, ,He is the grand;
son of the old King of Bavaria, who, it win be
remembered, ran crazy after the dansuese
Lola Montez, took her into his palace. allowed
her to control tho destinies Of the country, ana
finally made her Countess Of Landsfeldt. Ihe
people stood it until forbearance ceased 10 oe
a virtue, and then drove her out Of the country.
The present King Ludwig ascended the throne
when he was only sixteen years Of age, and u
now but twenty four, and if all the stories
about him are true, he is as queer specimen
of ROYALTY az has existed during the present
generation. He is still single. and has the rep
utation of being scrupulously virtuous, having
dislike for the whole female sex. He does
not allow any one to see him when he can help
it; and though he seeks amusements Of various
kinds, endeavOrs to enjoy them in solitude, ex-
pressing anger and dissatisfaction if anybody
intsudes upon him. The only man who ever
had any influence over him was Wagner, the
great musical composer, who, at one time, so
completely controlled all his actions that he
was compelled by the people to leave. His
engagement to marry Princess is said to hav.
been suddenly broken off because she persisted
in refusing to express admiration tor Wagners
music, Among his freaks was the cOnstruc-
ton of lake on the top of his palace, in which
he sailed about for recreation. A few years
ago he took q notion that he wanted to see q
representation of an eruption Of Mount Vesu-
vius, and Immediately ordered the Court pyr0-
technist to proceed, regardless Of cost. to pro.
duce such a spectacle on q mountain near his
secluded palace He complied with the order,
but the representation was not satisfactory.
The Court pyrotechnist at Vienna was then
sent for, and made extensive preparations and
gave entire satisfaction, and had an order tor
it's repetition, the King expecting and thinking
that he was and would be the only spectator.
He, however. heard that the villagers had as.
sembled at the foot Of the mountain, and had
wtnessd the spectacle also. On hearing this
he countermanded the order for its reputation,
sent the pyr0technst home. and ordering the
urpo,naster of the village before him, severely
rated him for allowing the people to approach
the mnuntan. During the reign OF Wagner
he ordered a new opera he had written to be
produced at the opera house regardless of ex-
pense, and on the night Of it's production. took
| seat in the royal box, ordered all the doors
closed and locked, and the performance to pro-
ceed, with only himself as the audience.
King Ludwig is. however, harmless in his
vaparies, and as the country is prosperous. and
he has proved himself thorough German, the
people rather laugh than frown at his pecullar-
tiles. Although protesting to be Catholic.
he utterly refuses to join in the Corpus Christi
as his predecessors have done for hundreds Of
years, and is now done by the Emperor OF
Austria. He, however, took the lead for Ger
man unity, proclaimed war against France
before Prussia took decided action, and
has strong hold on tho hearts of the people:
He is regarded by some as nisanthrope. and
by others as somewhat Of an imbecile. but a.
Bavaria is now thoroughly under the control
of Prussia, it matters little who or what the
King may be. The Bavarian army is by treaty
under the command Of Kaiser William during
the times of war, and in peace it is tho play
thing Of the King.