Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-09-21
CRAZY KING LUDWIG.
PATTI ONCE THREW HIM INTO A
FRENZY OF MADNESS.


Him II prcvc Him Wild.
When Patti was in the first heyday
# her fame. Ludwig II. the mad king
of Bavaria. st his heart On having her
sing for him At his private auditorium
in Munich. He wrote letter after letter,
begging. implorins. offering eStrava-
CANT sums of money, but Patti reSolute-
" refused to 60. She had heard too
many. stories of Ludwig's freaks, his
curses and his unreasonable commands
and she was desperately afraid OF nm
But at last the king offered her sum
so enormous that it seemed ridiculous
torefuse it. Then the singer plucked up
courage and started for Munich. When
she and her maid alighted at the sta
ton. not even carriage was there 10
meet them. and they had to inquire the
name of the best hotel and call cab
like any ordinary travellers. That was
the first shock to the diva'S nerves ANA
temper. After luncheon she started out
to see the town and incidentally 10
examine the posters announcing the
great honor conferred upon the citizens
of Munich by visit from Europe's
greatest singer Not a mention Of her
name could she find in the town. She
rushed back to the hotel and told her
maid to pack the trunks
Just at that moment resPlendcnt
officer was announced He saluted her
and delivered letter from the king
The letter stated curly that his majesty
would await her at o clock precisely
in the Royal palace. where his singer IN
ordinary, Nine. Fischer would give her
further directions Nine. Fischer would
also sing with Nine. Patti the duets
win. p lis mgjcSty wished TO hear a
rro.nMma was iuclosod Patti burst
into t.arS cf rage.
81 h.ye never been treated so bru-
tally. sac ,aid II shall leave at once
Tell the king 80 lwill not sing never,
never. ucy,yr" The officer pleaded with
the irate }riml donna She must not
disappoiut the ling Ills majesty had
been wild with excitement ever since
he knew she would come and had not
silent for three nights. 50 great was his
iov at the prospect of hearing her
Besides. added the officer. lyon
know our king is-iS-is--'
Crazy. snapped Patti Eyes, that's
very comforting isn't itI don t know
why ever came Just then she caught
sight of postscript she had not read
The king commands Nine Patti to
appear in pure white. without any
color whatever, and mt by any means
10 wear satin gown. but soft wool
Silk is painful 10 his majesty.
His majesty will have to be panied
have no white wooden gown except
my peignoir go tell the king shall
wear red velvet
Red" groaHod the officer "Oh, no.
no. Red sends his majesty into fits. If
Won appear in rod n viii scream and
have commissions OH, do be patient,
madame, | VIII bring Nine Fischer TO
YOU Sue understands the king nerves. /
She will explain
lie fled from the ruom, and. shortly /.
after Nine Fischer a,r-arcd upon the I.
scene She s.o.IcG Patti into good /.
hnmor and also attacked the v bite wool F.
peignoir and transformed it into
most becoming Greek role
Before : the royal carriage arrived at F.
the hotel and Pa;ti went 10 the palace .
She was laL through dimly lighted F.
rooms and corridors into I!udwig's pri- |
yate tbrater. which was in utter dark .
ness save fo. the moonli int that entered |
throu IN the windows Patti stood upon |
the dark stage. while an orchestra, |.
somewhere ont cf sight. began a soft |.
prelude Through the gloom she could /.
lust make odt white face in the royal |
box opposite the stage. Not another au-
ditor was in the great hall The whole /
thing was most uncanDy, and Patti felt /.
cold shivers creeping over her She
shook with nervousness and fear and /
when she should have begun her aria |
not a sound could she make. She open /
ed her mouth but her throat was para |
lived from nervous terror There was "A /
pause The king sprang up and leaned .
ipA Nhi' ''b W wv ''-N' ~ '''''N '''N~ ]
cleaning in the moonlight The vlollns .
repeated the prelude Patti gathered /
herself together and made one heroic |
effort Her voice rang out into the great |
empty place, and the king sank back |
into the dark box
Patti. though badly scared, made the /
effort Of her life and finished the aria
from LA Traviata triungphantly and /
stood flushed with victory Dead 81
lence Not sound came from the gloom /
before her. She went of the stage IN a /
temper His majesty might have given /
some sign Of appreciation Nine. Fischer /
was behind the scenes. and Patti wait
ed with her for the signal to sing the |
next number A messenger appeared at |
the door His majesty had had enough /
music and bad gone 10 his apartments