The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-09-24
A MAD KINGS FREAKS.

II Ludwig H., the young King of
Bavaria, was mad, it was from excess
Of Majesty. The monarch of one of
smallest kingdoms in the world. his
opinion of himself was magnificent be-
yond all dreams OF grandeur. Ordina-
ry people were hot sufficiently exalt-
ed to be his companions; ordinary
occupations afforded him no gratifca-
ton: all the chateaux and places
which he inherited when he came to
the throne were squalid for one so
great. Architecture and building
were his ruling hobbies, and he was
thus able to crafty the one delusion
by building magnificent edifces, the
second by occupying his time in the
most extraordinary fashions, and the
third by stunning society and escap-
ing the inspection of ordinary eyes,
either in his gorgeous retreats, or by
retiring to one of the more humble
dwellings he erected on various noun
tain SUBMITS, where 4 few attendants
awaited his unexpected visits. Lud-
w..gs mania for solitude took the most
unexpected twists. He enjoyed his
own company best on those occasions
when people whose minds are less phe-
nomenally balanced consider compan-
ionship most essential. 1t was his
fancy to have dramatic and musical
performances for himself alone. Un-
fortunate theatrical managers and in
dignant musical directors, not daring
to resist the royal v him, were driven
to waste their talent by providing ell
tertainments. The theatre was dark
ened, the orchestra, the chorus, and
full dramatic company were grudging-
ly provided, one and all detesting the
work of putting forth their best efforts
for the amusement of an empty house,
save for the solitary figure sitting 81
lent and motionless in the shadow of
the royal box. Music Ludwig loved,
ana many of his widest extravagances
and maddest acts of prodigality were
due to the influence of Wagner, his
one friend and adviser. 1t was Wag-
ner who prompted his most transcen-
dent folly, the erection of a huge thea
tire at Bayreuth for that composers
| glorifcation. One performance alone
| entailcd an expenditure of f20, 600, of
which fl5,OO0 was paid by the King,
the rest being barely covered by the
sale of tickets.
Reared from his childhood amidst
the most enchanting scenery Ludwig
dearly loved the lonely mountains and
the silent forests in which his posses
sions were so rich. Delighting to turn
night into day, he would order his
horses after; and the gingle of his
sleigh bells and the big cracks of the
Positions whips would bring the
peasantry to their bedroom easements
to secs brilliant equipage flash by, a
phantom that vanished in whirl of
snow dust, dream Of red and gold
and blue and silver, and above the
head of the silent occupant two crowns
glowing with electric light. 1t was
only the simple inhabitants of the Ba-
varian Alps who ever caught glimpe
of these fairylikc vehicles. The front
Of one was formed by a gigantic shell
borne by Tritons with little cupids
seated on it's edge whose tiny arms
carried back wreaths to the royal oc-
cupant. The ornamentation of anoth-
er was so profuse that but three small
spaces were left on the panels, and
these were occupied by delicate my
biological scenes painted by the hand
of Il famous Munich artist. The
Kings sleighs were drawn by fewer
than four horses. He appears to have
been fond of these animals, whom he
called 'dump courtiers." But like
everything else about him, they had to
suffer in order to CRAFTY their masters
fancies, During the winter Of 1874 III
structions were sent to the royal sta
bles that the thirty best horses they
contained were, for several days, to be
fed on nothing but oats. The grooms
imagined they were to be entered for
a race. Though binding snow
storm was raging, Ludwig command
ed some workmen to at once set about
erecting wooden tower in~the forest
adjoining his palace, and around this
tower gallery was to run. Finally,
when his plans were maturcd, he sta
toned an orchestra of wind instru-
ments near this erection, taking up his
own position on the balcony. In the
corntlclds near he had scattered here
and there drums, kettles, and some
soldiers with rides loaded with powder,
and an order was givcE that each man
should remain hidden and silent. At
given signal the horses were ledqui-
city to the foot Of the tower. Then the
King gave sign that was understood
by the leader Of the orchestra, by the
drums, kettles, trumpets, and soldiers.
In an instant the most internal hubbub
broke forth. Each drummer We'd with
each other to beat louder, the trumpc-
t,rs nearly broke their checks, there
were powder explosions, shrill whis-
ties, and most dialolical howls. The