National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-29
4 WHIMSICAL KING.

A correspondent Of the Boston Advertiser, writ
ing from Munich, says:
When 1 arrived in Munich the Bavarians were
looking everywhere for their King. He had
gone-disapPeared from their gaze. The court
was distracted the courtiers antie. They searched
for him in the palace, on the top Of his fayOrite
mountains, and nowhere could they find
their master. Suddenly telegram arrived from
Paris, telling us he had gone there ineognito-
rather he had attempted it. When q royal per-
sonage goes of suddenly without crying ''gare',
there must be something in It; but what this par
ticular something was no one knew. Several
days were passed in suspense, when the news
came that the King had gone to Paris to study the
chateau Of Versailles and the bed Of Louis XIV.
Some say the King is only original; others that
he is not quite sane at any rate he is young hand
some and peculiar. He hates and files from the
world; his people are nothing to him; he comes
and goes no one knows where.
He avoWs passionate admiration for Wagner
and his music and is In love with the oldfsshoned
majesty Of King Louis XIV. To initiate him he
is going to create another Versailles. He has
lakes, called Chiemsee. Ibeleve there used to bea
convent OF Benedictines on It, but the principal
the Bavarian Alps from Sonahe to Salzburg, in
Austria. Here he intends to reproduce the pal
ace and park OF Versailles The cost and laoor
the lake are matters Of little Importance TO this
youthful monarch. He was in the full tide Of
another erratic construction at Felsenburg, cost
ing already 600 900 ofrancs, but that ne mas now
abandoned after eight or nine years OF hard work.
But what cannot king dot Poets glow In their
praises Of his "beautful artistic nature; painters
put upon canvas his glorious deeds; even Wagner
makes music at his command, the populace, aWed
by such vast deeds, loves him, and the mystery
with which he suIrounis himself adds TO his popu.
larity. He is not like sovereign.
forgot who It was that was so unpopular that
on some journey, his courtiers, fearful that he,
should remark the dead silence that attended his
progress had the idea to attach some mechanical
Tss S crsd tsIf ma me
potentate, half asleep, would awake occasionally
to the consciousness Of his peoples devotion ard
congratulate himself on the gratitude they felt
for all his benefits In our day We are all actors;
some Kings play at being comedians some Princes
at being Jockeys, and, like them. break their
necks on race courses; but Louis II OF Bavaria
plays seriously the part Of King. Though ne has
or less beautiful and in good, repair, he VIII not
live in them, but prefers one OF his own making.
With great labor stone and iron are carried oY
man and beast to the summit Of some pet noun
tain, and there in the midst Of the forrest, only
surrounded by his eourtiers does he hold his cour
Extravagant stories are told OF htm-that ne
less with silkeD doublet aud hose, powdered wig
and proVerbial cane, preceded BY torches borne by
gail y-dressed pages, and followed BY his Cham
berlain. Again, In winter, he will go In golden
sleigh, rushing through villages, slum bertng In
the snow with frightful noise Of galloping horses
and sudden CLEAN Of hundreds OF torches, By
the time the villagers are aroused and realize
that It is the King, he has disapPeared. Then
orders the theatre TO be lighted, and At midnight
long after the last glses Of beer has been drank,
In quiet Munich, he arrives notselessly IN his box,
and the play begins. The actors do their painful
work Of performing q whole opera 70 an empty
house and to q dead silence. Suddenly the King
leaves as quietly as be came, and all is over.