The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-07

II Ludwig II, the young king of Ba-
voria. was mad, il was from excess of mai
ostv The monarch of one of tho smallest
1,nedoms of the world, his opinion of
himself was magnificent beyond all dreams
Of grandeur Ordinary people were not
snOicieutly exalted TO DO his companions
ordinary occupations afforded him no
crati0cntion. All the Chateaus and pal
80 which he Inherited when he came 20
tbe tbrcne were squalid for one so great
Architecture and building were his ruling
Lohbies. and nc was thus able TO crafty
che one duusiou by building magnificent
odiGees. the second by occupying his time
in tbemost extraordinary fashions and the
tbird ly stunning society and escaping
tho ipspectiOn of ordinary eyes, either in
his gorgeous retreats or by retiring TO one
~ fine more humble dwellings he erected
on various mountain SUBMITS, where Il
fov attendants awaited his UNEXPECTED
visits Ludwig's mania for solitude took
tbe most unexpected twists He enjoyed
this own company best on those occasions
,vhon PEOPLE whose minds are less phe-
pomcually balanced consider companions
shin most essential. 1t was his fancy to
have dramatic and musical performances
for himself alone. Unfortunate theatrical
managers and indignant musical directors,
not daring 60 resist the royal whim, were
driven To waste thoir talent by providing
entertainments. The thCator was dark
pncd. the orchestra, the chorus and the
full dramatic company were grudgingly
provided, one and all detosting the work Of
uuttug forth their best efforts for the
amusement of an empty house, save for
the solitary figure sitting silent and mo.
tionless in the shadow of the royal box.
Music Ludwig loved, and many of his
widest cXtravagancCs and maddest acts Of
prodigality were due to the influence Of
Wagner, his one friend and adviser. 1t
was Wagner who prompted his most tran
sccndDnt folly, the erection of huge
theater at Baireuth for that composers
glorilcaton. One performance alone en-
tailed an expenditure of ego 900, of which
el50O0 was paid by the king, the rest be-
ing barely covered by the 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. De-
lighting to turn night into day, he would
order his horses after dark, and the jingle
of his sleigh bells and the big crack of the
Positions whips would bring the peas
antry to their bedroom easements to see
a brilliant equipage flash by a phantom
that vanished in a 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
Bayarian Alps who ever caught glimpse
Of these fairylike vehicles. The front of
one was formed by gigantic shell borne
nv Iirit la IL,
edge whose tiny arms carried back
wreaths TO the royal occupant. The orna-
montation Of another was so profuse that
but throo small spaces were loft on the
panels, and these were occupied by delicate
psychological scenes painted by the hand
of famous Munich artist The kings
sleiehs woro never drawn by fewer than
four horses He appears to have been fond
Of these animals, which lie called his
dumb courtiers. But, like everything
else about him, they wero compelled to
suffer IN order to crafty their masters
tancics
During the winter of 1874 instructions
were sent 60 the royal stables that tho 80
best horses they contained were for several
Jays To he fed on nothing but oats. The
groonS imagined they were to be entered
Tor u race. Though a binding snowstorm
was raging, Ludwig commanded some
Workinen TO at once set about erecting
wooden tower in tho forest adjoining his
palace, and around this tower u gallery
was To run. Finally when his plans were
matured no stationed an orchestra of wind
Instruments near this erection, taking up
MS own position on the balcony. In the
Corn1elds near he had scattered here and
there drums, kettles and some soldiers
with rifles loaded with powder, and an or
uer was given that each man should re-
main hidden and silent. At q given sig
nal the horses were led quietly to the foot
OF the tower Then the king gave sign
which was understood by the leader of the
orchestra, by the drums, kettles, trumpets
anu soldiers. In an instant the most in
iernal hubbub broke forth Each drum
lner Wed with the other to beat louder, the
'ruihpeters nearly burst their cheeks, there
were powder explosions, shrill whistles and
most diabolical howls The terrified horses
uroke their fastenings. Mad with terror,
.ney reared, wheeled, zigZagged; plunging
@nu kicKing, they galloped here and there;
WIN Dlood red nostrils and floating names
eH'y polted In all directions to the jeopardy
VI the orchestra and the terror of the
urulis ana Kettles in the fields. One by
one they disappeared over the horizon,
"hite with foam, still snorting and rolling
t .helr eyes. 1t was days before some of
mem were found Many were picked up
tSuleepied, still wild and terrified Some
.iau reached the mountains; others had
penetrated the woods or become engulfed
~, - the marshes. His majesty, however,
was well amused.
Ane tricks Ludwig played on his horses
ne aiso inflicted on his servants. Every
I no ABOUT him was in danger of life and
NM he injured at least 80 persons, and
S Suo no Killed. 1t Is not to be forgotten,
,nowever, that he was mad and ought
i ons pelore this to have been under med
,uai charge. For some offenses his attend
oa n.s were confined i'm the dungeons of his
A,"e' Tor others they were banished to
ohla. One miserable lackey was
ooa with looking too curiously at his
ronnlc master. For this he was COM
f -. 10 wear black mask over his face
e. whole year. Another was simply
TS p lilo had n seal set on his forehead.
no KING himself paid reverent homage to