The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-06-04
BAVARIA'S MAD MONARCH.
THE CURIOUS FANClES WHICH
BESET THE BRAIN OF Louis.

BESET THt. BRAIN OF Louis.
HE Estravaxant Expenditures aud
the bankruptcy into which
They have led Him, who
will be His Successor?
BERLIN, May l2.-Decidedly King
Louis Of Bavaria is mad. All doubts on
the subject have been set at rest by his
most recent performance. A few days
ago, angered by the failure cf his prime
minister, Baron Won Lutz. to procure the
funds he requires for the continuation OF
his vast building operations, he actually
dispatched two rrivates Of his regiment
Of horse guards to Munich with written
orders to seize. bind and carry oil to the
Castle Of Hohenschwangan the Pres.
ident Of the Council. Fortunately the
soldiers took the precaution Of calling on
their colonel, who was on leave Of ab.
sence in Munich ut the time, before ex.
ecuting the royal commands, and he Of
course ordered them to do nothing fur.
ther in the matter. Proceeding imme.
diately to the palace Of Prince Luitpold,
the Oldest member Of the royal family,
he informed him Of the Kings orders,
and on the following day meeting OF
all the princes was summoned to discuss
what was hest to be done.
In order to fully appreciate the extra
ordinary nature Of the proceeding it
must be borne in mind that Louis ii. is
but the constitutional monarch Of = very
democratic country. and that the priv.
ileges of roy atty are sO circumscribed
that the King is actually being sued by
his innumerable creditors in the Law
courts, just a. any ordinary citizen
might be. Although Louis does not
seem able to understand it, the days Of
the "divine right Of kings" and the
Lords annointed" are indeed passed
away; and although matters will not be
allowed to come to such a crisis, yet
there 10 absolutely nothing legally to pre-.
vent the King from being arrested for
debt, just as an ordinary citizen. II he 10
either unwilling or unable to obey the
judgments obtained against him by his
creditors.
Popular feeling is very strongly against
him, especially IN Munich, for most OF
his creditors are inhabitants OF the cap.
ital, who are well nigh ruined by his re.
fulal to pay. His extravaganza is incor-
rigibie, and can only be accounted for
by his hitherto latent insanity. The ne.
ctssity Of dethroning him is openly dis
cussed on all sides by his faithful sub.
jects. Two years ago the principal mem.
lers Of hs family, touched by his ex-
pressions of regret and by his promises
Of amendment, united in paying of
some Of his most pressing debts, and
again, about twelve months later, his
uncle, Prince Luitpold, advanced him
sum of $780, of his own private for.
tune to save him from his creditors. The
Prince, however, soon had reason to re-
pent of his generosity. Three weeks af-
terward he found that work had been
recommended at all the palaces which
the King was engaged in building, and
that several enormous fresh debts had
been contracted for furniture, etc.
Justly exasmrated. old Prince Luitpold.
who Is over 20 years Of age, arrived at
Hohenschwangan and demanded to see
his nephew. The latter absolutely
declined to receive him, where
upon the Prince forced his way into the
KINGS presence. Before. however, be
had time to utter a word Louis spraDg
backward, touched a button which
cam Q a sliding panel to open in the
wall, and, like a gnome, disappeared as
quick as lightning. Among other re.
cent purchases which he has made,
may mention q magnificent chandelier
Of Dresden china, costing the small sum
of R2OO, 900; a state bed which cost
$1SO,OOO, and whole cabinet de toilette.
with all its appurtenances OF the finest
Dresden porcelain, valued at fiOO. 900.
OF course none Of these things has been
paid for. A celebrated Allenist doctor,
who was smuggled into the royal apart
ments at HObenschwangan quite re
Gently, disguised as servant. managed
undetectel to watch him very closely,
and came to the conclusion that his in
sanity was still further augmented by
delirium tremens, brought on by drink.
ing vast quantities OF mixture Of
brandy and champagne. One moment
he lies in the most complete lethargy,
then suddenly he bounds up and rushes
about in an extraordinarily violent man.
ner.
His debts at present amount 70 over
$4,000, 900, and might be settled in time
il it were possible to prevent him from
contracting fresh ones. Indeed. the
mere financial side Of the question is OF
comparatively secondary Importance 9
when compared with the political as
rect OF the case.
Il is quite patent to every one that
Louis, in his present state of mind, can
not be permitted TO continue to reign
But who Is to succeed him. or even to
undertake the formation OF regency:
His only brother, Prince Ohio, is hope.
lessly mad, and a few years ago escaped
from his keepers, entered the cathedral,
and, marching straight up to the high
altar, began there public confession of
most horrible and purely imaginary
crimes. The people who reside in the
neighborhood of the lovely chateau of
Nymphenbourg frequently see him rush.
ing wildly about in the garden dressed
only in his night shirt. Prince Lilt-
pold, already mentioned above. and who
is the only person to whom the regency
could be entrusted, 10 notorious for his
stroug anti Prussian and ultra Catholic