Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-08-28
CRAZY KING LUDWIG.
PATTI ONCE THREW HIM INTO =
FRENZY OF MADNESS.

and when She Finally Sang For
Him It Drove Him Wild
When Patti was in the first heyday
of her fame, Ludwig II, the mad KING
of Bavaria, set his heart Gu having her
sing for him at his private auditorium
lin Munich. He wrote letter after letter.
begging, imploring, Offering extrava-
giant sums of money, but Patti resolute-
" refused to 60 She had heard toe
many stories of Eudwig'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
ito refuse it, Then the singer plucked up
courage and started for Munich. When
she and her maid alighted at the sta
ton, not even a 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 to
examine the posters announcing the
great honor conferred upon the citizens
of Munich by a visit from Europe
greatest singer. Not a mention OF her
name could she find in the town. Sac
rushed back to the hotel and told her
maid to pack the trunks
| Just at that moment a fespl~ ndent
/ officer was announced. He saluted hef
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 glVe her
further directions. Nine. Fischer WOuh!
also sing with Nine. Patti the duets
which his majesty wished to hc@r. A
programme was inclosed. Patti burst
into tears Of rage.
81 have never been trsated SO blu-
tally, " she said. 81 shall leave at once.
Tell the king So l will not sins-n0ver,
never, neyern' The officer pleaded with
the irate 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 fer three nights, SO great wac his
joy at the prospect of hearing her.
"Besides, added the officer, ''you
know our king is-is-is-"
Cray, snapped Patti. Eyes, that $
very comforting, ism t it? don know
why ever came. Just then She caught
sight of 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 satin gown, but soft wool
Silk is painful to his majesty.
His majesty will have to be panied
have no white woolen gown except
my peignoir. Go tell the king l shall
wear red velvet.
Red" groaned the officer. "Oh, no,
no! Red sends his majesty into fits. II
you appear in red, he will scream and
have COMMISSIONS Oh, do be patient,
madamel will bring Nine. Fischer to
you. She understands the king nerves,
She will explain. -
He fled from the room, and. shortly
after, Nine. Fischer appeared upon the
scene. She soothed Patti into good
huulOr 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 phi
vate theater, which was in utter dark
ness save for the moonlight that entered
through the windows. Patti stood upon
the dark stage, while an orchestra
somewhere out of sight, began a soft
prelude. Through the gloom she conld
just make out a white face in the royal
box opposite the stage. Not another an,
ditor was in the great hail. The whole
thing was most uncanny, and Patti felt
cold shlvers creeping over her She
shook with nervousness and fear and
when she should have begun her aria
not sound could she make. She open
ed her mouth, but her throat was para
lyzed from nervous terror. There was Il
pause. The king sprang up and leaned
forward cut of the box, his hite face
cleaning in the moonlight. The violins
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' triumphantly and
stood flushed with victory Dead 81
lence. Not Il sound came from the gloom
before her. She went off the stage in
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 had gone to his apartments.
For a moment Patti stood stunned.
Then she laughed. The rudeness was SO
colossal that il was funny. Nine.
1 FISCHER took the diva to supper and then
home.
The next morning Nine Fischer called
at the hotel once more, accompanied bv
the court chamberlain, who bore tbe
promised check, an autograph letter of
thanks from the king and some Jewels |
OF great value. Nine Fischer s explana-
ton OF the concert fiasco pleased Patti !
more than the jewels. King Ludwig,
she said, was in one of his madGcst
moods. wild with regret, cursing him
self and cursing Patti. He had walked
the floor all night, groanng that he
was Il traitor for Patti = voico had O.,
ravlshed his senses that for one mo.
ment he had gone over to Italian music
and had been false to Wagner to Wap-