The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-20
TIE LATE KING OF BAVARIA.
a Court Writer Tells the Story Of the
Life Of the Mad Ludwig.
Insanity Inherited by Prince Who Was
Greatly Loved by His People-His Love
for the Beautiful Queen of Italy.

Written for the Indianapolis Journal.
1t is not improbable that later generation
may read the story of the mad King OF bavaria,
Ludwig II, who committed suicide On June Ia.
like some romance Of medieval tmes douotlng
Its facts, since they are full of the glamour and
fascination which belongs to the poetry OF Gen.
turtles gone by. But King Ludwigs romantic
story belongs to the pages of well-authenticated
history When chroniclers relate that he gov
erned the kingdom second in size and population
Of the German empire; that it covers an area Of
90 292 square miles, and that the population large
" exceeded Ave millions that it was watered by
the rivers of the Danube, the Rhine, the Main,
the Lech and the Isar-its forests having
world wide fame its soil being the most pro-
ductiye in the world, its breweries and vineyards
notable the world overt will be asked
with wonder how he was left so long untrammeled
in eccentricities which, for years, were known to
be the result of hereditary insanity But the
secret unquestionably lies in the fact that, in
spite of all his vagaries-and no one living any
time in his court but became aware of them
Ludwig, of Bavaria, was certainly ardently
loved by many of his people, the peasantry hav-
originated when, as a captivating lad Of four
teen, he used to ride about the country, between
Nymphenburg and Munich, ready to exchange
smile and pleasant word of greeting with the
humblest person he encountered His insanity
had not then developed, and when, one day, In
his early boyhood he returned to the dreary
Castle of Nymphenburg, bringing with him
a pleasant lad who he had discovered was pos
Bessed of fine voice. one regarded it as any
thing but an act of gracious consideration, the
result of the young princes passion for music.
His boyhood was dull in the extreme, and his
love of tuneful sounds led him to encourage
everything muscal-to spend his own allow
Ance on musical instruments and a musical Ii
brary, cultivatina his enthusiasm for the art so
that when Lohengriu was produced, in 1862, what
wonder that the young Prince carried away
by the enchantment of music which would have
made Wagner famous had he never written
another line
The Prince dispatched an emissary to the COM
poser with signet ring Of great value, promis-
ing to be Wagner's patron when he should come
10 his throne and it is reported that he went about
FOR the next two weeks filed with dreams of the
Swan Knight-of the spiritual gusst-of Elsa
and of the weird melody which was already
called music of the future. Ludwig came to his
throne in 1864 His court once established in
Munich the promise to Wagner was re-
2eemed and the composer given a
handsome pension, in return for which
he was to form musical center in the Bavarian
capital. The opera house Of Munich stands not
Ear from the hugo palace where King Ludwig
then liyed-by far the handsomest royal pers SON
age in Europe-llved regarded with eyes or envy
and admiration by the young princesses of many
royal houses. No one had declared him insane
IN those days. He looked the ideal prince The
portrait which l have OF him, taken in those
days, represents him tall and graceful in fig
nre, with strongly marked but handsome feat
nres eyes full of fire and tenderness. and short
waving hair, fairer in hue than in his later
years. voice like music and smile full of
fascination; a love of art and a mind fairly well
cultivated made him social avis among
princes in Germany, and his first romance in his
own station in life began when. certain
night at the opera, in Paris, the blue eyes of the
Duke of Genoa's daughter rested upon
him. Royal people have their love-
stories, their romances, and, aIas their tragedies
ps well as people of commoner clay, but true
love in court life seldom runs smooth. The
Princess Marguerite, of Savoy, then in all the
dazzling freshness of girlish beauty-tall, grace
full blue-eyed and golden haired, with laugh
Bhny as a summer sky, had her own brief ro
nance during those few months of friendship
with the young Bavarian King The royal low
ers-although not openly acknowledged as such
very nearly entered into matrimonial ALI
Rnce from which kind Providence saved tho
lovely Queen of Italy
Court chroniclers are not agreed as to why all
question of this marriage was broken off, but
have heard from one of the Kings personal at
PENDANTS during his late years that this, as well
as all other suggestions of matrimony for the
Bavarian King, came to an end when
the question OF his majesty's health
was raised. The court of Munich, 80
far as social life was concerned was the dullest
4 have ever seen in continental capital. The
King led an extraordinary life, as every one
knows. travelling about from castle to castle,
returning to his palace in Munich at odd times
and seasons, and quarreling on every pretext
with his relations, who were obliged, for state
reasons, to live in the capital and who were In
elined to much more sociable existence than
their monarch allowed. The palace almost faces
p square to the north of which Is the residence OF
Prince Lultpold, the present regent OF Bavaria.
His daughter was greatly inclined to life in
which court gayeties should form a certain part
and during certain winter, few years ago,
recall this lively Princess's attempts to enliven
the dull routine of society But what could you
do when the King refused to permit any fes-
tivites but those ordered especially for himself
he frequently being the sole spectator of enter
tainments got up with elaborate care-the sole
person at banquet prepared Tor nifty people
the only auditor in the opera-house on occasions
when neither time nor money were saved to pro-
duce an opera with fine effect2 He was not on
speaking terms with his own mother woman of
remarkably fine and gentle character, and with
whom he had quarreled for some foolish reason.
4 saw her constantly going about on foot In Mu-
mich. with one lady in waiting and followed by a
footman, the only recognition of her rank being
that as she passed one in the street it was Gus
komary to move to one side of the pavement,
bovyinc IA the nuetlookinp little eldarly lady in
black passed you by. She made informal visits
10 various people in the town. but saw her son
only on rare occasions. such as the annual re-
QUEEN mass ordered for all royal percentages in
Bavaria The King is required to attend these
in state and his appearance is looked for eagerly
by all the people Etiquette demands that the
Queen mother should accompany him. but the
winter | have referred to Ludwig's hostil-
ity to his parent was so great that
no arrived at the church alone not even wearing