The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-14
Otto the Swinish Lunatic. and How
He Recame Such.

New York, April 13.-The Herald says:
At intervals that portion of the world
which is interested in the golden book Of
royalty is reminded that the mad King
Otto of Bavaria, descendent of the Count
Palatine Otto of Wittelsbach. is still liv-
ing. by reports of his approaching death.
Doubtless if it should prove to be a veri-
table prediction there would be scant
mourning in Bavaria or elsewhere when
the curtain falls forever upon the life Of
the unhappy man who succeeded to the
royal prerogatives of one quite as I'M
happy.
The genius of tragedy seems, indeed. to
have chosen this house Of Wittelsbach as
favorite haunting place wherein TO
evolve scenes and incidents illustrative
of its sad characteristics, terror and pity.
IF, like the tabled house of Aureus, the
faint of blood has not rested upon the lin
tel insanity has blighted the lives Of its
offspring, and the hearts of its members
have been previously wrung by pangs
scarcely less poignant than those caused
by violence and crime.
The history of the realm of Bavaria goes
far back into the dim past of the middle
ages QUO the GItdL u NItI manly NlU
renewed the imperial Office, invading
Rome and establishing a Holy Roman
Empire of the German nation. encoun-
tered trouble of a serious kind with a re-
bellious Duke of Bavaria. Henry the
Quarelsome of Bavaria claimed the re-
gency under the infant Emperor. Otto
III, but was denied by the imperial
Diet. Thereafter, as King and Emperor
fought for the mastery in the chaotic
political condition OF the time, Bavaria
fell to the lot of the adherents of one or
the other as the tide of battle flowed.
But in the time Of Frederick T.. the ehroic
Barbarossa, a definite landmark appears
in the annals of the picturesque and an
cient Duchey. In 1850, when Henry the
Lion of Saxony had been humbled for the
moment by the Emperor. Bavaria, as one
Of the dependencies Of the imperial sway
was allotted to the Count Palatine Of
Wittelsbach, Otto or, Othon. From that
time to the foundation OF the present
royal line by the Count PaIatine. Chris
tian H., the succession is sufficiently
clear.
To name this succession IS unnecessary.
Far moro TO the PURPOSE in giving life to
q page OF history and presenting posi-
BILE causes of disastrous effects would il
be 70 describe the eager struggle between
awakening national thought and feudal
tradition struggle still going on today
in the German empire-to contrast the
OF one period with thescep-
ticism OF another. and TO show the wreck
OF weak minds in a contest only TO borne
by the strong in heart and spirit.
Otto Wilhelm Luitpold is the son 81
King Macmillan IL. and Princess Marie
of Prussia He was borne AT Munich on
April! .. 1S4S, and has been insane more .
than half his life. He nominauy sue
ceeded to the throne on June 10. 1SS6. when
his brother, King Ludwig II committed
suicide by drowning himself in the beauti-
ful Lake OF Starnburg. in the Park Of
Berg Castle. three DAYS after his daposl-
ton on the score OF insanity. Otto's sue
cession was a mere form. As the regency
Of his uncle, Prince Luitpo,d. es,ab-
lished upon the deth-onement of Ludwig
II. was continued and finally affirmed by /
the Bavarian Diet.
The unfortunate Otto however. was not +
born insane. The faint which. & may be (
was II Ms CLoOl- Vas maze F.
virulent and active by the Circumstances I
of his life. Thus. while his brother Lud- E
wig. with a brilliant imagination and
true instinct for art. sought comfort IN .
.ural designs. even when madness had +
aid its dark hand upon his mind. O,to,
II d groser nature, and with more ~
worthy tastes. had become lover than the /
beasts and was building houses o. mud.
The royal brothers were trained in z 1
school in which the church had strong 4
hand. The regimen Of their lives might 4
have served as the model q youths de-
voted 20 a sacred calling. Their rovsl 4
mother. in her attempt 20 i1nplaut the
owe Of simplicity 81 their minds. denied .
.hem Injuries which TO lad os pleb.an
7lood even would surrender without VIC
,Tous and prolonged protest The r-in-
'es were not even taught 20 ride. ard
King Ludwig never mounted a horse an
Il summoned suddenly 10 ire throne IN
50
The life OF exotic plants was II fact ;As