New-York tribune., 1897-08-29
4 MAD KINGS FREAKS.
SOME OF LUDWIG IT'S WAYS OF AMUSING
HIMSELF

From Pearson's Magazine.
If Ludwig H. the young King Of Bavaria was
mad, ii was from excess Of majesty. The mon
arch of one Of the smallest kingdoms or the
world. his opinion of himself was magnihcent
beyond all dreams of grandeur. Ordinary people
were not sufficiently exalted to be his com
panions; ordinlry occupations afforded him no
qualification; all the chateaus and palaces when
he inherited when he came to the throne were
squalid for one great. Architecture ard
building were his ruling hobbies, and ne was
thus able to crafty the one dclusion by building
magnificent edfces, the second by occupying
his time in the most extraordinary fashions ana
the third by stunning society and escaping the
inspection Of ordinary eyes, either In ms
gorgeous retreats. or by retiring to one OF the
more humble dwellings he erected on various
mountain SUBMITS. where few attendants
awaited his unexpected visits. I-udwig's mania
for solitude took the most unexpected TWISTS
He enjoyed his own company best on those oc-
casions when people whose minds are less phe-
nomcnally ba anced consider companionship
most essential. 1t was his fancy to have dram
attic and musical performances for hInscit alone.
Unfortunate theatrical managers ana indignant
musical directors, not daring To resist the royai
whiln. were driven to waste their talent by pro-
viding entertainments. The theatre was dark
oned. the orchestra. the chorus and the full
dramatic company were grudgingiy proV.d"d
one and all detesting the work of putting forth
their best efforts for the amusement of an
empty house for the solitary figure sitting
silen; and motioness in the shadow Of the royal
box. Music Ludwig loved, and many OF his
widest extravdgances and maddcst acts or prod
iCality due to tn influence Of Wagner
his one friend and adviser. 1t was Wagner VINO
prompted his most transcendent folly. the ercc-
ton II q huge theatre at Bayreuth for that com
poscrs gloriiication. One performance alone
entailcd an expenditure OF f20o0o OF which
ft5,WM was paid by the King. the rest being
barely covered by the sale OF tickets.
lcared from his childhood amid the most
erchantin: scenery. Ludwig dearly loved the
lonely mountains and the silent forests IN "hich
hi. -.x,S n igh
nixht into day ne would order his horses after
DARK; and the jingle Il his sl.i:hb-lls and th-
hi. crack ef the positions whips would brins
the p-assntry to their bedroom easements 10
see n brilliant cGuipaSe fash by, phantom that
vanished in whirl Of snO~dust, dream or
red and gold and blu. and silver, and above the
h ad Of the si'-nt occupant two crowns glowing
with electric light. 1t was only th- simple m
hahitants Of the Bava,ian Alps who ever caught
a glimpse OF these fairy ike vehicles. The front
of formed by a gigantic shell borne by
Tritons with ittle cuDlds seated on It's edge,
whose tiny arms carried back Wreaths to tn
royal occupant. The ornamentaton Of another
nr0fusr that but three small spaces were
left thr panels and these were occupied ny
delicate mytholcgical scenes painted by the
hand of a famous Munich artist. The kings
sl"iehs were never drawn 10y fewer than four
horses. He appears to have been fond OF these
animals whom he called his dumb courters.
But. like everything else about him. they were
compelled 10 suffer in order to gratify thcir
masters fancics. During the winter OF IS'4
instructions Wcr" sent to the royal stables tnat
the thirty best horses they contained were Tor
several days to be fed on nothing but oats
The grooms imagined they We're to oe entered Tor
n race Though a binding snowstorm was
raging Ludwig commanded some workmen TO
at once set about erecting wooden tower IN
the forest djoining his palace. and around TINS
tower gallery was to run Flnally. "heh ms
plans were matured he stationed an orchestra
OF wind instruments near this eteCtion taxing
up his own position on the balcony. In the corn
fields near he had scattered here ana there
.,I sold li.TG u
loaded with powder. and an order was given
that each man should remain hidden ard silent
At a given signal the horses were led quietly u
the foot Of the tower. Then the King CAV"
sign which was understood 10y the leader OF the
orchestra, by the drums, kettles, trumpets and
soldiers. In an instant the most iRferna hub-
bub broke forth. Each drummer Wed with the
other To beat louder. the trumpeters nearly
burst their checks. there were powder explosions.
slrilI whistles and most diaholical howls IN"
terrified horses broke their fdstcrinKs. Mad W tn
terror they reared. wheeled. zigIasged; plung-
ing ard kicking they ealloped here and there;
with blood-rsd ncstrils and floating names they
boted in all directions 10 the jeopardy ot the
orchestra and the terror of the drums and
kettles in the fe ds. one by they disap-
peared over the horizon. white with foam. still
snoriing and rolling their eyes. 1t was days be-
picked up enfccbed. still Wild and terrified
Some had reached the mountains. others had
penetrated the woods or become engulfed in thr
marshes. His Majesty, however. was we'll
amused
The tricks Ludwig played on his horses he
also inflicted on his servants Every one about
him was in danger Of life and limb. He in
jurcd at least thirty persons and one he Killed
Ii is not to be forgotten. however. that he was
mad. and ought long before this 10 have peen
under medical charge. For some offences his
attendants confined in the dungeons of his
castles; for others they were banlshed To Amer
lea One miserable lackey was charged with
looking too curiously At his eccentric master.
For this he was compelled to wear black
mask over his face for whole year. Another
was simply stupid: he had n seal set on his
fnrnhead Tho King himself naid reXcrcnt