Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-07-01

Ne,c York S,m.
Louis II, was born at Nymphenbouerg
on August %, 1915. As boy he lived
in seclusion with his tutors, and when,
upon the sudden death of his father, Max
imilian H., on March 10, 1864, he be-
came King, he ascended to the throne as
from the cradle, the usual experience Of
boyhood having never been his.
At eighteen King Louis was frail and
slender, fair-haired and handsome. 1t
was about this time that he witnessed his
first stage represeDtation-Wagncr's
"Lohengrin," and it fascinated him. He
sent for the composer and loaded him
with favors of the costiest kind. This
was perhaps the beginning of the mad
Kings extravagances. Wagner took up
his residence in Munich, and the King
caused all of the works Of the great COM
poser to be produced in magnificent style.
He himself made drawings for the seen
cry, and fortune was spent on costumes
and accessories. The courtiers became
jealous of the King devotion TO the COM
poser, and Wagner was finally sent away.
But he was made rich by Louis's iavors,
and their friendship never was broken.
The mad King had one other friend.
He heard a tenor voice one day singing
his favorite "Swan Song" from "Lohen-
grim He sought out the singer, en-
braced him and made him his aide-de-
camp The two were inseparable for a
long period, and the favorite tenor used
to float about on the miniature lake at
Castle Berg in a gilded boat drawn by
swans, singing to the lonely King on
shore.
The royal lunatic was fond Of seclusion
and wiful in his vagaries. To his hum
bier subjects in the country he was a
demi-god. To the citizens Of his capital
his extravagant doings became somewhat
tiresome. He avoided all society and
hid himself in some one or another Of his
palaces away from every one. Latterly
he had even dismissed his personal at
tendants, and went about from castle to
castle followed by a company Of light ar
tillery.
The young King was deeply impressed
by the extrayagant luxury with which
Louis XIV. of France surrounded him
self. He determined to eclipse in mag
nifcence and splendor the palace Of Yer
sailles, and he built palace at Ober-
Ammergau in imitation Of Louis's. 1t
was furnished in the style Of Louis XIV
and at lavish expenditure Of the money
Of his subjects. Balconies Of gilt and
statues set in inches of gold adorned it.
The walls were hung with Gobelin tapes
tries, gems of rare brilliancy sparkled in
the chandelier. and in his royal -leepl 2
room was bed which cost the prepos-
trous sum Of $4,000 1t was studded
with diamonds and other gems, and here
it was at times that the mad King strug-
gled against his besetting insomnia.
Back in this palace i a grotto cut into
the rocks in the mountain side. 1t Is
reached by tunnel. \ recent writer in
the Gqrtenlqv5c, a periodical published
in Leipsic, thus describes this fairy grotto:
1T Is a spacious stalatic cave with
many oHshoots, secret inches, and obscure
recesses, before which YOU stand. From
all corners, inches, and clefts Of the rock
from many recesses covered with col
ored glass. to right, 10 left, above, below
streams sea.of light, now yellow, now
green, now violet, rose, red, or blue, suf-
fusing all parts with an indescribable
splendor. Above all this flaming beauty
a rainbow spreads its lovely light The
principal cave Is about fifteen metres in
diameter and ten metres high. From the
background rushes, like liquid silver, gilt
tering and breaking into spray, beauti-
ful waterfall, which falls in bubbling cas-
cades down the face Of the rock. 1t feeds
a little pool, occupying three-quarters Of
the floor Of the cave, whose clear surface
reflects the blending lights with enchant-
ing beauty. On the lake i golden