The Portland daily press., 1899-04-22

msnds Given Her by Ludwig II. OF
Bavaria-FIight of the King and Its
Explanation.
New York SUM-
When Adelina Patti, now Baroness
Ce ierstrom, was spending her last honey
moon on the Riviera, she met m old
friend, Mime. Fischer, well-known Ger
man singer, at dinner. The baroness
| was most extravagant in her expression OF
delight at the meeting.
"You must know" she said to the
other guest, "Mme. Fischer helped me
through the worst ordeal of my life. All,
how angry and how scared was. and
what u fool l felt, and how kind you
were, my friendl" Then she once more
flung herself upon Mime. Fischer's oapa-
cious Teutonic bosom and embraced her.
After the transports had subsidized slight
ly some one asked for the story. Of the or
deal.
ooh, 1t was long, long ago." began
Patti.
"Ja; thirty years." assentetd Nine.
Fischer, who has left the stage and
grown old and fat, and isn't asha med OF
it. Patti, who still oontemplates fare
WI II tours, and Is insistently young, and
plays the role of blushing brittle most
charmingly, looked depressed for mo-
ment, but soon cheered up and went on
wi tn her story.
When she was in the first heyday OF her
fame, and all Europe was going mad over
her. Ludwig H., the mad King of Ba-
yaria, set his heart on having her sing
for him at his private auditorium IN Mu-
mich. He wrote letter after letter, beg
ging, imploring, Offering extravagant
sums of money, but Patti resolutely re-
fused to go. She had heard too many
| stories o; Ludwig's freaks. OF his frenzied
alterations, his curses and his unreason-
able commands, and she WAS desperately
afraid of him. But, at last. the king
offered her sum SO enormous that 1t
seemed ridiculous tolrefuss IL. Then the
singer plucked up courage and started for
| Munich She was accustomed to honoIs
almost royal when she visited the EURO
| pean capitals; and, rs Ludwig had been
l
| to be greeted with great ceremony in Mu
MICH When she and her maid alighted
| at the station not even u carriage was
| there to meet them. and they had to in
ouire the name of the best hotel and cal
a cab like any ordinary travellers. That
was the first shock TO the diya's nerves
and temper. After luncheon she started
out to see tie town and, incidentally, to
examine the posters announcing the
great honor conferred upon the citizns of
Munich by visit from Europe's greatest
singer. Not mention of her name coulc
she find in the town. She rushed bach
TO tho hotel and told her maid to pack
the trunks. She would shake the Gust o
Munich from her Louis Quinze boots at
once.
| Just at that moment Respondent ofb
Ger was announced. He saluted her with
| profound respect and admiration, which
| ware balm TO her smarJing pride, and de-
liyeped "A letter from the king. The let
| ter stated CURLY that his Majesty woulc
await her at O'Clock precisely. IN th'
ROYAL Palace where his singer-in or d
| nary. Nine. Fischer would also sing witt
Nine. Patti the duets which his Majesty
wished to hear. programme WAS In
closed
| To the utter rout and demoralizatior
| of the Bavarian army, as represented
Inv the gorgeous officer, Patti burst int
tears of rage and stamped her fuot vic
iously.
| az have never been treated so brutal
w." she said. II shall leave at once
Tell the king so. l viii not sing-never'
l-neyerl neveri'' The crescenGo New
err" endet on high G. The officers kneei
knocked together; but. to the honor o
Bavaria be 1t said, he retrested only e
the door. Then he stopped and pleaded
with the irate prima donna: She mus
not disappoint the king. His Majest!
had been wild with excitement ever sine
he knew she would come, anu had no
slept for three nights, so great was his 10!
ut the prospect of hearing ner. Tint
ruffled plumage subsidized somewhat un
der this skill iul treatment.
"Besides," added the officer, ~ OF
know our king is-is-is-well. he Is =
"Crazy," snapped Patti YES, that's
very comforting, isn't it.;s ldon't know
why | ever came Just then she caugn
sight of a postscript which she had no
read, ~
.rrhv king commands Mime. Patti tc
appear in pure white, without any colo
whatever. and not by any means 10 weai
a satin gown, but soft wool silk Il
painful to his Majesty.
/ Patti fell into cnair ueipless WIN
wrath and said whatever, thirty year:
ago, was the equivalent for well, that
the limit"
ellis Majesty will have to be panied
have no woollen gown except my peig
NOR. 30 tell the king shall not obe
any such silly orders. I'll wear a re-
velvet. 40,
"Red ! groaned the officer. ''Oh, no
no. Red sands his Majesty into fits
IL YOU appear III red he Will scream an
have commissions. Oh. do be patient
mntiame. will bring Mime. Fischer t.
you. She understands the kings nerves
She will explain.
He fled from the room, and, shortl
7 after Nine. Fischer appeared upon tn
!. scene she was fat and good natured
and was IA favorite with the king becaus
of her wonderful blond hair, which b
required her to wear loose about he
. shoulders whenever she sang to him. Sh
0 soothed Patti into good humor. aud tn
; diva really began to be interested in hi
nervous Majesty. Nine. Fischer also al
tackled the white wool peiRnoir. an
: transformed it into II most beoomin
4 Greek robe.
n Ilaf,ra z tina ROYAL carriage arrived n