The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-13
His Bavarlan Majesty.
Tinsley's Magazine.


Multifarious are the anecdotes-fa-
bles, some of them, really believe
told of the king. He is misogynist,
hater of court ceremonials, yet withal
a man who stands upon his dignity;
passionate lover of music and noun
tain scenery and great stickler for
the autonomy of Bavaria. He will not
have it Prussianized at any price. His
favorite seat is a hunting lodge up In
the mountains. 1t is said that he
sleeps in large, lofty room with the
ceiling painted to represent the firma-
ment, and practicable moon she'd
ding a mellow light from one quarter
of the artificial heavens. The perspec-
tive is managed so as to give the Illus
ion of spaciousness, and through the
distant trees cut out in the canvas, as
he reclines, may be heard the plash of
falling waters. Their lullaby bushes
him to sleep. Macenas had friendli-
ness for the same soporific. Some
times his majesty rises in the night, has
a black steed saddled, and dashes off
at Il whirlwind speed up and down the
hill roads-which are well kept for that
reason-like phantom horseman pur-
sued by some relentless decree of the
supernatural powers. The finest stud
in Bavaria is to be found in his stables,
but cattle are cast soon and often; they
are thoroughly worn out and broken
down after a few years in the royal
service. He plays practical jokes on
his retinue sometimes. 1t is related of
him that minister arrived in hot
haste once to crave an audience on i'm
portant business of state. The king
was out hunting the channels, but by
some chance the minister succeeded in
catching up to the party. Ludwig
preceded him to a gamekeeper's hut,
where he sometimes used to lunch and
went in, telling him to attend him. The
minister waited one hour, two hours,
and at last, losing patience, and fear
ing that his royal master might have
been attacked by some sudden illness,
forced in the door. No king was
there. He had made his exit by
window at the back and was away on
the high hills in pursuit of game. In
the capital his majesty often commands
an opera-generally one by Wagner,
for whom he has strange predilec-
ton as predecessor on the throne had
for Lola Montez-and this opera is
produced in the middle of the day. The
theater is darkened, and no one is adj
mitted to The auditorium but himself.
If he is pleased he sends the prima
donna, not a bracelet or ring, but a
bouquet of flowers plucked by his own
hand. He once had "Lohengrin" en-
acted on the Starnberger See, the bor-
ders of the lake having been illumina-
+oI ole Of
the war with France broke out he was
but dare not attempt to
stem the tide of universal German feel
ing. However, he declined to go to
the front, and withdrew himself to his
beloved solitudes while the stirring
events which led to the building of the
German empire were thrilling the
world with excitement. At the close
of the duel of Titans, the crown prince
of Germany came to Munich to pass
the victorious Bavarians in gala review.
The king fled again to the mountains
He knew the popular commander
would receive an enthusiastic greeting,
and he did not chose to play second
fiddle in his own capital to any do
nestle foreigner He takes a deep in
terest in the passion Play" and when
Josef Meyer was drafted into fight
ing contingent he gave strict orders
that he should be detained at Munich
and employed as clerk in the war
office. The village of the Mystery lost
its own share in that conflict which
brought mourning to so many humble
iresides in the fatherland, and of the
actual performers two or three who
had speaking parts in 1870 were killed
in the field or succumbed to their