Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-30

! The suicidal death of King Louis II, by
drowning himself in Lake Starnberg was
after all, no more tragic than his life has
been for years. 1t was a strange ending
Tor king and yet no more strange than
! his whole careerha been.
| Too eccentric to be conscious that his
wild whims and caprices were Abnormal,
the shock which followed his deposition
| from the throne perhaps had partially re-
stored his mental balance and overwhelmed
| by humiliation he killed himself.
King Louis II. popularity known as the
Emusic mad monarch OF Bavaria" was
born in 1S45 and succeeded to the throne
ia 1864. He is q man OF genius, OF roman
| tic nature and an artist, with rather ca.
pricious opinions concerning political ques-
! tions. King Louis is an example OF the
type OF verile ideal beauty, thought of in
connection with the heroes Of the "Nibel.
ungen," justifying his appellation OF the
Knight Of the Silver swan" Tall, with
magnificent auburn hair and mustache,
with deep blue eyes, his embonpolnt, which
only began to show four years ago, added
to his majesty and to his stature and
makes him look the wished for champion
Of outraged innocence. Louis lives in deep
seclusion in his magnificent palace, spend
ing the greater part of his time on music
and painting. The description of the lakes
with their consolidated boats drawn by
living swans, in which the King reposes,
may be below or far SURPRISING the reality.
Very few have ever seen them, one was the
actress who created the role of Zscult. The
King was SO charmed with her singing that
he invited her to ride in one of his boats
and repeat her great aria. Becoming too
enthusiastic, she was about to fin. herself
into the royal arms, but the owner merely
~, noA h4~ s-A~ IT. 1atA
her to get out as best she could. 1t should
be added that the diva was Of dark com
plexion and anything but comely. In 1867
while he was visiting Paris and the Exposi.
tion, he became passionately euamored Of
the Empress Eugene. In accompanying
him to the station upon his departure, the
Empress embraced him, it is said, and
since then he has never allowed the lips of
another woman to brush the place. The
only one who tried got ducking for her
reward. The Inhabitants of Munich regard
count OF his passion for music the COM
poser, Richard Wagner, gained considers
BILE influence over him in the first years OF
his reign. The people, however, were
against the composer, and Louis was com.
PEELED to Danish him from court. He some-
times arranges great theatrical perform
ances at an immense expense, at which he
is the solespectator. Notwithstanding the
whimsical nature and spendthrift habits of
the King, in the internal Bavarian politics
he has shown himself equal to all occasions,
looking through the plans of the various
parties and trusting none OF them. In the
affairs Of Germany he has also played an
important part, giving substantial aid to
Prussia in the late war with France. After
the war he visited Paris and Versailles in
order to study their works OF art. Another
popularity of Louis is his enthusiasm for
Louis XIV. He initiates that monarch
studious!y and requires similar worship
from his courtiers. Louis never visits the
art studies with which Munich swarms,
which his predecessors made habit OF do
ing. He disIikes all festivities aud is in.
deed "Poi Solcil." He is unmarried.