Daily Yellowstone journal., 1884-09-11
HIS eAvARlAN MAJESTY.
An Eccentric Ruler with u Passion
for Hunting and Wagner.

toT nuhtbn8 huO wosucfs
l''inseys Magazine
Multifarous are the anecdotes fables.
some of them, | really believe told of
the king. lie is a misogynist, hater
of court ceremonials, yet wthal man
who stands upon his dignity; passion
ate lover of music and mountain
scenery, and great sticklcr for the
autonomy of Bavaria. lie will not
have it Prussianizod AT any price. His
fayoritc seat is hunting-lOdge up in
the mountains. II is SAID that he
sleeps in large, lofty room. with the
ceiling painted to represent the firma-
meni, ana a practicable moon shedding
a mellow light from one quarter of the
artificial heavens. The perspective is
managed so as to give the illusion of
spaciousncss, and through the distant
trees cut out on the canvas, ms he re.
clinc>, may he heard tile plash of falling
waters. Their lullaby bushes him 10
sleep. Mecenas had fondness for the
same s0poritic.
Sometimes his majesty rises in the
night, has black steed saddled. and
dashes of NJ whirlwind speed up and
down the Hill roads which are well
kept for that rcason-like a phantom
horscman pursued by some relentless
decree of the supernatural powers. The
finest stud in Bavaria is to be found in
his stables. but the cattle are east soon
and Often they are thoroughly worn
out and broken down after very few
years in the royal service. He plays
practical Jokes on his retinue sometimes.
Ii is related of him that minister ar
rived in hot haste once to crave an audi
encc on important business of stale. The
king was out hunting the cbamois, but
by some chance the minister succeeded
in catching the party. Ludwig pre-
ceded him to a gamckeeper's hut, where
he sometimes used to lunch, and went
in, telling him to attend him. The min.
lister waited one hour, two hours, and ut
last, losing patience, and fearing that
his royal master had been attacked by
some sudden Illness. forced in the door.
No king WI, there. lie had made his
exit by window at the back. and was
away on the high hills in pursuit OF the
game.
In the capital his majesty often com
mands AN opera-generally one from
Wagner. for whom he has ~ strong a
prediction as predecessor on thu
throne had for Lola Montcz, and this
opera is produced in the middle Of the
day. The th. atrc is darkcned. and no
one is admitted to the auditorium but
himself. II be is pleased he sends the
prima donna. not bracelet nor ring,
but bouquet Of flowers plucked by his
own hands. lie once had "IOhengrin"
enacted on the Starnberger See, the Dor
ders of the lake having been illuminated
a giornO at his expense. When the war
with France broke out he was displeased,
but dared not attempt to stem the tide
Of universal German feeling. However,
he declined to 90 10 the front and with
drew himself 10 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 10 Nun
ich to pass the victorious Bavarians in
gala review. The king fed again to the
mountains. lie knew the popular com
man,ler would receive an enthusiastic
greeting. and he did not choose To play
second fiddle in his own capital to any
domestic foreigner. lie takes deep in
terest in the Passion Play" and when
Josef Meyer was drafted intoa fighting
contingent. he gave strict orders that he
should be detained at Munich aud en-
p.oyed as clerk in the war Office. The
village of the Mystery lost its own share
in that conflict which brought mourning
to 50 many humble firesdes in the faith.
erland, aud of the actual performers two
or three who had speaking paris in 1870
were killed in the field or >uccumhd to
their wounds.