Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-31
CRAZY KING LUDWIG.
PATTI ONCE THREW HIM INTO A
FRENZY OF MADNESS.
He Frightened ana EnraEcd the
Great Diva by His Strange Whims.
and When She Finally Sang For
Him Ii Drove Him wild

! Great Diva by His Strange Whims
and When She Finally Sang For
| Him Ii Drove Him wild
When Patti was in tie first heyday
| of her fame, Ludwig Il, the mad king
| OF Bavaria. set his heart cn having her
| sing for him at his private auditorium
! in Munich He wrote letter after letter,
begging, impiorins, offering exriava-
giant sums of money, but Patti resolutS
" refused to go. She had heard too
many stories of Uudwig's freaks, his
curses and his unreasonable commands,
and she was desperately afraid of him.
But at last the king offered her sum
so enormous that it seemed ridiculous
to refuse 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 TO
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 and
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 a visit from Europe 5
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 respondent
officer was announced. He saluted her
and delivered letter from the king.
The letter stated CURLY that his majesty
wosld await her at Z 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
which his majesty wished to hear.
programme was inclosed. Patti burst
into tears of rage.
- have never been treated so bru-
tally" she said. Il shall leave at once.
Tell the king so. will rot sing-never,
never, never'' The offic II pleaded with
the irato prima donna. She must not
disappoint the king. His majesty had
been wild with excitement ever since
he knew she would come and had not
slept for three nights. so great was his
joy at the prospect of hearing her.
Besides, - added the officer, ''you
know our king is-is-is-"
CRAZY" snapped Patti. eyes, that's
very comforting, isn't it? l don't know
why ever came. Just then she caught
sight of a postscript she had not read:
1.-The king commands Nine. Patti to
appear in pure white. without any
color whatever, and not by any means
to wear a satin gown, but soft wool
Silk is painful to his majesty"
''His majesty will have to be panied.
have no white wooden gown except
my peignoir. Go tell the king 1 shall
wear red velvet.
"RedP' groaned the officer "Oh, no,
mol Red sends his majesty into fits. If
you appear in red, he will scream and
have convulsicns. Oh, do be patient,
madamel I will bring Nine. Fischer to
you. She understands the king nerves.
She will explain. I"
He fed from the room, and. shortly |
after, Nine. Fischer appeared upon the |
scene She soothed Patti into good |
humor and also attacked the white wool |
peignoir and transformed it into a |
most becoming Greek robe.
Before the royal carriage arrived at |
the hotel and Patti went to the palace |
She was led through dimly lighted |
rooms and corridors into Ludwig's pri- |
vate theater, which was in utter dark |
the windows. Patti stood upon |
the dark stage. while an orchestra, |
out of sight. began soft |
prelude. Through the gloom she could |
just make ont white face in the royal |
box opposite the stage. Not another au
1itor was in the great hall. The whole |
thing was most uncanny, 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
I'd her mouth. but her throat was para
yzed from nervous terror. There was
pause. The king sprang up and leaned |
forward cut of the box, his white face
cleaning in the moonlight. The violins
the prelude. Patti gathered
herself together and made one heroic
sffort. Her voice rang out into the great
Empty place, and the king sank back
nto the dark box.
Patti, though badly scared, made the
Effort of her life and finished the aria
rom LA Traviata" triumphantIy and
tcod flushed with victory. Dead 81
ence Not Il sound came from the gloom
before her. She went off the stage in =