Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-11
A MAD KINGS FREAKS
some OF THE WAYS LUDWIG HAD
OF AMUSING HIMSELF.

Amused.
II Ludwig II, the young king OF b.
vnria, was mad, it was from excess Of mni'
osty. The monarch Of one Of the smallest
Kingdoms Of tho world, bis opinion Of
himself was magnificent beyond all dreams
Of grandeur Ordinary people wore not
sufficiently exalted To DO his companions
Ordinary occupations afforded him no
qualification. All the ohnteaus and pal
noes which he inherited when he came TO
the throne wore squnlid for one SO great
Architecture and building were his ruling
hobbies, and ho was thus able TO GRITTY
the one dcusioD BY building magnificent
odilccs, the second by occupying bis time
IN thomost extraordinary fashions and the
third by stunning society md escaping
the Inspection Of ordinary eyes, oithor IN
his gorgeous retreats or by rssiring to -unc
of tho more humble dwolliogs be erected
on various mountain sun mits, whore n
fow attendants awaited his unexpected
yislts. Ludwig's MANN for solitude took
the most unexpected twists He enjoyed
this own company best on thusc occasions
when people whose minds uro less rhe-
numenuily balanced consider companion
ship most essential. 1t was his fancy to
have dramatic and musical performances
for himself nlone Unfortunate theatrical
managers and indignant musical directors,
not during TO resist the royal within, were
driven to waste their talent by providing
entertainments The thCator was dark.
ened tho orchestra the chorus and the
full dramatic company wore grudgingly
provided, ono and NIL detestibg tho work Of
putting forth thoir best efforts for the
amusement Of an empty house, save for
the solitary figure sitting silent and mo
tionless In the shadow Of tho royal box.
Music Ludwig loved, and many Of his
widest e1trayngances and maddest acts OF
prodlghlity were due 10 tho influence OF
Wagner, his one friend and Hdviscr IL
was Wagner who prompted his most tran
sccndcnt folly, tho erection Of a huge
thonter at BGir0uth for that composers
gloriilcation one performance alone en-
tailed an expenditure OF geo GOO, OF which
$1,000 wns paid by the king the rest be.
ing barely covered by tho sale OF tickets.
Reared from his childhood amid the most
enchanting scenery. Ludwig dearly loved
the lonely mountains and the silent forests
in which his possessions were so rich. Do
lighting to turn night into day, he would
order his hOrscB after dark. and the jingle
of his sleigh bells aud the big crack Of the
Positions whips would bring the peas.
antry to their bedroom easements to SEQ
brilliant oquipage fash by. phantom
that vanished in whirl Of snow dust, u
dream of red and gold md blue and silver,
and Hbove tho head Of the silnnt occupant
two crowns glowing with electric light.
it was only tho simple inhabitants Of the
Bavnrlnn Alps who ever caught glimpse
OF those fGiFyIiSe vehicles Tho front Of
one was formed by n gigantic sholl borne
by TritOns with little Cuplds seated on its
edge, whose tiny arms carried hnck
wreaths to tho royal occupant The ornn
inontation Of another was SO profnso TINT
but three small spaces were loft on the
panels, and these were occupied by delicate
NEUROLOGICAL scenes painted by the hand
Of famous Munich artist The king
sleigns wore mover drawn by Tower than
four horses. He appears to have been fond
Of those animals which he called his
dumb coEgticrs" But, Hike everything
elso about him, they wero compelled t.
suffer in order to crafty their master'f
fancies.
During tho winter OF 1874 instructions
were sent to the royal stables that tho so
best horses thoy contained were for several
days to be fed on nothing but oats. The
grooms imagined they were to DO entered
for race. Though binding snowstorm
was raging, Ludwig commanded some
workmen to at once set about erecting u
wooden tower In tho forest adjoining his
pnluoe, and around this tower u gallery
was to run. Finally when his pinns were
inatured no stationed an orchestra Of wind
Instruments near this erection, taking up
his own position on the balcony. In the
cornnelds near be had scattered here and
there drums, kettles and some soldiers
with rifles londed with powder, and mn or.
dor was given that each man should ro'
main hidden and silont. At II given sig.
nal tho horses were led quiotly to the foot
Of the tower. Then the king gave a sign
which was understood by the leader Of the
orchestra, by tho drums, kettles, trumpets
and soldiers. In an instant the most in
fernal hubbub broke forth Each drum
mer We'd with the other to beat louder, the
trump0ters nearly burst their checks, there
We're powder explosions, shrlll whistles and
most diabolicnl bowls The terrified horse.
broke their lastenings Mad with terror
they reared, wheeled, zigEsgged; plunginp
and kicking, they Rulloped hero and there
with blood rcd nostrils and floating munes
thoy bolted in all directions to the Jeopardy
OF tho orchestra and tho terror Of tn,
drums and kettles In the fields One by
ono they disappeared over tho horizon
white with foam, still snortlng and rolun,
their eyes IL was days before some o
them were found, Many were picked VI
onicebled, still wild and terrified. SOM
had reached the mountains, others hUt
penetrated the woods or become engulfct
in the marshes His majesty. however
was well amused