The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-06-25

HOW THE MAD KING CAME TO THE
TIIRoNE--HIs MARVELLOUS
CAREER.

TIIRoNE--HIs MARVELLOUS
CAREER.
King Ludwig ii of Bavaria inher-
tied from bis father, Maximilian ii, q
coronet more than 700 years old, and
from his mother, Princess Maria,
cousin to the Emperor William of
Germany,the hereditary insanity which
brought his maternal grandfather and
an uncle to the mad-house, AMI made
his own career, in the fierce light
which beats upon throne, a spectacle
for all Europe. He was born at Nym-
phcnburg August 25, lS45, and was
years old when his grandfather, the
first Ludwig, alb dcated in favor of his
sou, Macmillan ii. Ludwig, on becom-
ing the crown prince and prospective
ruler of 100000 of Bavarians, was
plac, d under ecclesiastical instructors.
They allowed him no boyish compan-
ions.
King La wig attained his majority,
according to the Bavariau law, on
completing his eigltser,h year in
1862, and seven months later the sud-
den death of bis father, Macmillan,
placed him on the throne. The young
sovereign of one of the most prosaio
people in Europe lived in a dreamland
and built castles in the air. He un-
dertook, but without avail, to perpptu-
ate the policy of his father, but when
the crisis of 1870 between Germany
and France called nearly 100000 Ba-
varian soldiers to the field the King
was the only sovereign who took no
part in the stirring campaign. The
Bavarian army succeeded under abler
leaders, often bore the brunt of the
battle ahd returned to his capital full
of glory-once in charge of 2OOO
French prisoners about to be interned
in Bavarian fortress. The victors
were feted by the city, thanked and
substantially rewarded by the Queen
mother, who received them in one of
the stately galleries of the palace.
But the King was not there.
He was wholly occupied IN castle
building. In the rear of his castle he
had evcavated cave in the depths of
the mountain known as the Blue
Grotto. This reached by a tunnel,
leading into veritable fairyland. On
the artificial lake, so lighted as to re-
semble liquid gold, he was wont to
sail in golden gondola made to re-
semble a swan. TO present simula-
tion of breeze an ingenious steam
con,rivance was constructed by which
the waters were made to swish about
as though real waves, produced by nat
ural causes, stirred their surface.
He had built himself seven palaces,
one of them in the Ober-Ammergau
being built in imitation of the Palace
of Versailles, and furnished in the
most eXtravaeant manner. Gilt bal
comics, marble statues set in gold
inches, costly Gobelin tapestries, gems
of all kinds, stoves ornamenttd with
agates, chandeliers studded with dia-
monds and bed which cost f75,OOO
are among the features of this palace.
Not far away in hermitage. built ex-
actly after the one described by Wag-
ner in ''Die Walkure," and at the foot
OF the meadow on which it stands is
an artificial lake, the bottom of which
is lined with til to lr,yent the water
from soaking into the porous SOIL He
a,so built Moorish pavilion which he
called Morocco, and which is resplen.
dent in gold and jewellery.
Still another palace had roof gar.
den, on which he had reproduced as
neatly as possible the tropical garden
of Semiramis' palace. Lndwig was
liberal patron Of music and the drama,
and always witnessed performances
alone, seated in box of The darkened
thea'rr where not even the players
could see him. His favorite play was
Schillcr's "Maid of Orleans" and for
its production he had special scenery
painted from his own designs. So, too,
he had "Narcisse" mounted and cos
tuned at an expense of over 100000
francs, and had Charlotte Wolters, the
famous viennese actress, play the prin.
cpal role, he being the only witness.
lie was the friend and patron of
Richard Wagner and made it possible
for him to produce his works at Bay
reuth in magnificent style. Upon him
he lavished wealth and made rich
presents to the artists who aided him
in presenting his operas.
The Kings eccentricities multiplied
with his years and his private fortune
was swept away. His income from
the civil lists was so entaled that for
several years he has been at the
mercy of money lenders. The Bavar-
ian army, reduced from a war footing
of 100000 men TO little more than
10000, foot and horse, still left the
Government unable to bear the extrav-
agances of the King. The executive
power in Bavaria is vested altogether
IN the sovereign, whose person is de-
clared inviolable, but the responsibility
rests with the ministers, whose func-
tions are nearly the same rs those of
ministers of England. The income of
the crown from all sources did not ex
ceed S5,000,000 Annually.
The Government at last. to save it.
self from bankruptcy, refused nearly
three years ago to make any more ad-
vances. King Ludwig then dismissed
all his body servants, and after that
his attendants consisted only of a
troop of light calvary. These accom-
panied him everywhere he went, riding
beside lin at full speed. Among his
uncompleted projects was a splendid
Summer palace, which was expected to
cost S6,000,000 marks. The mad
Kings eccentricities have amused and
startled Europe for number of years.
He was at one time betrothed to Prin-
cess Sophia, now Duchess d'Alencon,
and sister of the Empress of Austria,
but being told that the Princess cared
more for the crown than for him, he
broke the engagement, ordered the