The St. Johns herald., 1890-07-24
TIE MAD KING OTTO.
How Bavaria's Insane Monarch Enter
 tains Himself

tains Himself.
 The malady of King Otto, of Bavaria, has now taken the form of stupor, but there are still occasional outbreaks of violence. There is no prospect of recovery. or even of improvement, although his merely animal existence may continue for long time. He oc- cupies a suite of apartments on the ground floor, the doors of which, as we'll as the outside door leading into the garden, are always left open in the day time, as closed door immediately ex- cites his rage. The King seems suspi- cious of restraint, and his attendants hide as much as possible all appearance of authority over his movements. Once he broke all the front windows of his ap2rtInent, and since then the glass Las been protected by wire; but other wise there is nothing to indicate that Q lunatic inhabits the premises. The rooms are handsomely furnished, and every thing Shat can amuse the patient is promptly supplied.
 1 Not long ago some one tried the ex- pertinent of setting a small musical box playing in the Kings vicinity. He listened with evident pleasure, and socn afterwards larger instrument of the same kind was furnished at g cost 5000 marks. But he was indifferent to the louder tones, and began to show dislike to the instrument, which was speedily taken out of his sight. The King is always dressed in black. His beard is very long and thick, and he will not allow it to be trimmed. He often washes his hands and face, but can seldom be persuaded to take full bath. He is extremely fond of cigar cites, and smokes more than thirty day-enough in itself, one would think, to make him crazy and keep him so. Every time he lights a cigarette he burns a whole box of matches, and seems to enjoy the noise and the flame. He has good appetite and eats heartily of the food allowed by his physicians. He drinks several glasses of beer at dinner, and often calls for champagne, which is brought to him whenever the physician gives an assenting sign. He sits alone ct one end of the table, and his physician with the court mar shal and the adjutant occupy places at some distance. The King does not wish t0 be spoken to while he is eating, and never says any thing to his attend ants excepting to call for what he wants. He often walks in the park, but is very unwilling to drive out; probably be- cause it annoys him to be looked at by people on the road.
 The sensational reports concerning King Otto, which appear occasionally in the foreign newspapers, are for the most part false. He is said to long to return to his 'dear Munich," and to beg to be allowed to drive thither. But the truth is that he has no desire for any thing. His gaze is generally fixed on vacancy, and he does not appear to recognize even his servants. excepting an old woman who has charge of the silver. He has known her all his life; she used to carry him in her arms when he was baby, and it is touching to see how the last faint rays of his fading in telligenee rest upon her alone. When he sees her he calls her nana in loud voice and orders her to bring him a glass of beer, or whatever he may happen to think of; but he soon forgets what he has said and relapses into his usual state of apathy. Two of the most prominent physicians of Munich are in attendance during alternate weeks, and every Sunday the director of the insane asylum visits the palace to examine the medical report. At rare intervals the King speaks coherently to his attend ants, and it is said that soon after his accession to the throne he remarked to a lackey: "Henceforth you must ad dress me as Your majesty" But this story does not appear to be well founded, and it is certain that when Princess Therese went from the death bed of the Queen-mother to apprise her son of his loss he showed no sign of comprehension and was unmoved by the grief of the Princess. -Galignanis Messenger.