The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-02-18
\ MAD KINGS FREAKS.

! In the number Of palaces and astles
that he erected Ludwig II, who was
known as the mad monarch of Bavaria,
showed that he was eccentric, but he
also showed that his madness drank
from the same cup as genius. Not
only was he an artist, but his deep
study Of technique and complete mas
tery of detail stir our admiration. Just
as his wanton extravaganza awakens
our disgust or our pity. Yet even in
his reckless waste, in his refusal to cur
tail ends that they might be brought
within the reach Of means, there was
something kingly; it is evident that he
considered himself omnipotent. The
most expensive erections springing
somehow from an exhausted exchequer
were followed by palaces yet more
sumptuous. But, in spite of the fabu-
lous sums that were spent, few of the
buildings were ever completed, nor
were any of them inhabited for more
than the briefest periods.
Magnificent as were the castle of
euschv anstein and the palace Of Lin
derhof, the pi,a.>. OF III rrench:cmsee
eclipsed all that this extraordinary
mind had devised. Heavily in debt at
the time he commenced this fairy like
dwelling, he was involved still deeper
before it reached the tartncst state of
completion to which it was ever des-
tined to be brought.
King Ludwig seems to have been
strongly impressed with the pomp and
| glitter that attached to the name Of
| Louis XIV. The grand monarch of
France became model after which he
reached with the impotence of 4 child
raising its puny hands for the moon.
The palace of Versailles, which he had
studied during the scige of Paris, was
the princely pattern after which he
raised his own noble palace. Yet he
had visited Hungary, he had made fly
ing Journeys to Italy. he had taken
mysterious excursions into Austria to
study the most famous castles and the
most splendid structures before he
finally commenced his masterpiece.
And where was this fabulous dwell
ing raised? Not in the centre Of a
city, not upon some spot where the
shadow of his majesty might overawe
his subjects, but on an island in the
little lake Of Chem, far away on a
great marshy plain lying at the foot of
the snow-peaked Alps that the King
loved to keep in view.
A channel, three-quarters of mile
in length, leads from the lake to the
long, low range of buildings, which,
after the manner of the French palace,
form three sides ofa square. Once in
side, wonders after wonders fall upon
the astonished visitor like thunderbolts
There is the extravaganza Of dream
land, the glitter of an enchanted world,
the surprising developments of 4 phan
tasm. The pillarcd vestibule is orna-
mentcd with an cnamclcd group of pea
cocks, and leads to Il great court paved
with alternating slabs of black and
white marble To the right .S t.e
magnificent staircase. On the first
floor the hall Of the Kings Guards,
decorated all in gold and blue; the
grand ante-chamber in which the pre-
dominating color is lilac: and the Salon
de i(Eil du Bnuf-sO- called from its
immense bull's-cyc window-wherein
all is green. The Chambre dc Parade
is in exact imitation of Louis NIN's
bedchamber at Versailles; it is adorned
in purple and gold. And-thc news
causes one to hold his breath! the
lavishlv-gilued bed alone cost more
! than S625 900.
designer of this DARING palace was not
| considering cost. In the famous Hall
Of Mirrors no ornamcntation was too
rich or too costly. Everything within
this magic realm was beautiful and
rare One is overwhelmed with the
glitter of gold and the flash OF brilliant
color. Here. more than anywhere. we
are in some world that belongs to
| Aladdin. 1t is Illuminated with thirty
five lustres and $500 candles.
In the grand dining-room the table
asccnds and descends through the floor.
! Here King Ludwig III was wont to
dine alone, with a bust Of Louis XIV,
which be treated in every way As if he
were a great monarch himself, drink
ing his health in wonderful beverage,
the preparation Of which casts fifty
dollars daily. 1t was Ludwig's favor
| ite drink-a mixture of white wine and
champagne, prepared in a bowl, with q
, thick layer OF fresh, strong-scented
violets floating on the top,
Besides his puerile respect tor this
little god that he set up, the king
would stand for hours in Il reverential
attitude before Il statue Of Marie An
toinette, at the feet of which his at
tendants were obliged to kneel with
outstretched hands. When The king
! moved away, he did so backwards
Thus it is always with King Ludwig
H. The one moment we are astOunded /!
! by something grand that he accom-
plishcd; the next moment we are
shocked at his stupidity. There WAS