The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-16

Win ina h1ngS upcle, OounL- OllD'
J Before entering directly upon the sub
jet OF this article, let me say q word
rs to this uncle Otto. He was "char-
sc'er" OF Munich, aad his natural pc.
culiarities Of person and dress were
rendered the more conspicuous nom
the fact OF his royal connection. To
zee this man-o over six feet tall, aud
weighing not more than l25 pounds
waking down Macmillan strss @, was
sight which, once beheld, would
never fade from memory.
His shape" was a source OF ex.
ceediDg concern 10 himself and per-
feet "clrcns" TO the on locker. His
upper lin supported an immense mus
tache, dyed an ebony black, aud
waxed opt 10 needle points at either
side; heavy shock OF curly black
hair, long and well oiled and per
fumed, covered q narrow and small
head, and in turn was su mounted by
a very diminutive dark green felt hat,
set j.untily on one side OF the head !;
the shoulders padded out squsre; the
frock-coat drawn tightly with one but
ton at the wasp-lke waist while the
lapels vera thus reed aside, reveal.
ing an elaboIately ruiIlsd shirt-bosom
set of with diamond studs. Add to
this heavy Rold.headed cane, swung
with wanton careles ness, and a gait
in walking which ! caunot better de-
scribe than as the "B)wery swagger,"
and faint idea OF Otto can be ga h.
cred.
Despite these oddities, however,
Otto WAS a kind-hear ed fellow, and,
with i tie humoring of his whims,
one found him far from an undesira.
bic companion. He was a patron OF
the different cafes, and IL was in the
billilrd room OF the Maximiian cafe
that msde his Acquaintance. At first
/ rather ex experienced feeling OF awe
at being introduced to so great a blue
blood, but the perfect nonchalance
with which he conducted himself
while we played our first game OF bill
lizards together speedily set me at ease,
and 1t soon came TO b5 part OF our
every days programme TO have three
or four games OF billiards after dinner.
Through these means became we'll
acqu tinted with this quaint character,
and | have gone 30 much into detail
regarding him because he it was who
enabled me 70 ascertain the peculiar
circumstances relating TO his royal
nephew which follows. During this
Intimacy much OF the domestic life Of
King Ludwig, past and present, was
revealed
II appears that the young king, early
In lie, developed ptcuiarlt es which
set him apart from the average of chill.
dren OF his aga. From his earliest
boyhood he manifested an aversion to
the companionship OF other children,
giving evidence OF an exOlusiveDes OF
disposition that developed until he
became a confirmed hermit.
As a boy he was sckly, peevish aud
headstrong, but not in the sense of
b ain-powtr, for in this respect he was
peculiarly deficient. He would cit
tor hours AZ tine as in brown
study, staring vacautly into space,
from which condition mel her threats
nor coaxing could arouse him. He
manifested assiduity or interest in
nothing save music, and one note
from musical instrument OF any de. |
fcription would create q change as il |
by magic. His musical instructor was
10 raptures over his pupils aptitude |
and progress. but those in charge Of |
the other branches of learning were |
discouraged, and IL was only after
years OF patient toll by the latter, and |
when he was far beyond the age OF |
the average child, that Ludwig mas.
tered the documentary educational
elements of reading, writing and arith-
meiic.
Once master OF the first OF these
three accomplishment Is, he devoted |
himself to novel reading, and when
sufficiently adva need 10 make his own
selections, chose the liShtest, TIA hest
and mott Sensational literature ob.
Ia Unable. All efforts of his parents
and tutors to interest him in matters
OF state craft, q knowledge of which
his prospective inheritance of the
kingdom demanded, were futile. He
doRgsdly refused 10 even listen to any
instruction OF substantial or practi-
cal nature.
His only subsequent acquisition in
learning was Gnowledge of the
French language, and the only use to
which he put this was TO read French
fiction. AT this educ ,tional stand
point he hes remained stationary to
the present day. At the age Of eight
cen years, though hi, body continued
to develop, his mind ceased to grow,
and exceptfo far as the lat er has been
directed in tue enaunel OF music, of
which he Ia MAJ ter as well as lover,
II has bsen practically dormant.
When, at the aga Of twenty. three,
he succeeded 20 tho thTonr, the tension !
and checks upon his y),t liul ecc n.
lriciiies were diminished, and the !
era Ia tendencies OF an uuevenly bal |
anced mind became greatly ex gger- |
ated. He immed ately laurched out |
upon the career which has led to the |
apparently ioex riCab'e financial con-
dit on With which all the world ia now
familiar.
One of his first acts after becoming
King was to order on elaborate re- |
modelling of TIE Hof Theater of Mu. |
mich. Uoon this work he lavished |
money Without int. Then he had |
some Of his favolite novels drama.
I Eed, and hired an extensive company
to interpret them. One Of the literary |
productions which ok hi' fancy was |
I ON the pen Of Richard Wagner. The |
late great maestro held no obscure
p ace as librsry author, but his pre-
eminent genius as a musical composer |
so overshRdowed his literary talents
that the world ia not very familiar
with the iacL The King was 80 well |
pleased With the production of this
first OF Wagner g operettas that he had |
more OF them prepared for the stage;
and btcomipg more aud more enrap- |
tured with them, finally sent for Wag- |
ner bimsef.
z wasuu1er b's roval paloua,r .
and doub, ess largely due to ii thai
Wagner came so rapidly and COM /
msndingly into public notice. Whist /
ever may be said of The faults of the
Mad King" his name must ever be |
commercially as -ciated with tina, of |
Wagner in cDnnel ton with establish |