Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-05-11
CRAZY KING LUDWIG.
PATTI ONCE THREW HIM INTO A
FRENZY OF MADNESS.

TNGlNZf Of- mRONcSS.
He Frightened nnd EnrnEcd the
Great Divn by His Strange whims,
nnd when She Finally Sang For
Him 1t Drove Hin wild.
When Patti was in tho first heyday
Of her fame. Ludwig II, tho mad king
OF Bavaria, set his hoart On having her
sing for him at his private auditorium
In Munich. He wrote letter after letter,
aegg1ng, lmplOrlng, offering cXtrava-
CANT sums of money, but Patti rcsolute-
ly refused to go. She had heard too
many stories of Ludwigs freaks, his
curses and his unreasonable commands,
and she was desperately afraid Of him.
But at last tho king offered her sum
80 enormous TINT it seemed ridiculous
to refuse it. Then the singer puckcd up
courage and started for Munich. When
sho and her maid alighted at tho sta
tion, not even carriage was there to
meet them, and they had to inquire the
namo of the best hotel and call Il cab
like any ordinary travellers. That was
the first shock to the diva's nerves and
temper. After luncheon she started out
to sec the town and incidentally to
examine the posters Announcing the
great honor conferred upon the citizens
of Munich by Il visit from Europc's
greatest singer. Not mention of her
name could she find in tho town. She
rushed back to the hotel and told her
maid to pack tho trunks.
just at that moment Il rcSplendCnt
officer was announced. Hc saluted her
and delivered letter from the king
The letter stated curtly 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. Mmc. Fischer would
also sing with Mime. Patti the duets
which his majesty wished to hear. A
programme was inclosed. Patti burst
into tears of rage.
81 have never heen treated so bru-
tally" sho said. 81 shall leave at onco.
Tell the king so, will not sing-nevcr,
never. never!" The officer pleaded with
the irato prima donna. She must not
disappoint tho II q. His majesty had
been wild with .Acitement ever since
he knew she would come and had not
slept for three nights, so great was his
Joy at tho prospect Of hearing her.
"Besides,' Cdded tho officer, "you
know our king is--is-is-''
"Crazy,' snapped Patti. eyes, that's
very comforting, isn't it, don't know
why ever came just then she caught
sight Of n postscript she had not read:
'"Tho king commands Nine. Patti to
appear in pure white, without ahy
nplnr WI bx
to wear satin gown, but soft wool
Silk is painful to his majesty"
"His majesty will have to be panied
I have no white woolen gown except
my peignoir. Go tell tho king shall
wear red velvet.
"Redl" groanod the officer. "Oh, no,
mol Red sends his majesty into fits. If
gou appear in red, no will scream and
Navo commissions. Oh, do be patient
madamel 1 will bring Mmo. Fischer to
you. Sho understands the king q nerves.
She will explain"
He fed from the room, and, shortly
after, Nine Fischer appeared upon tho
scene. She soothed Patti into good
humor and also attacked tho white wool
peignoir and transformed it into n
most becoming Greek robe.
Before T the royal carriage arrived at
the hotel and Patti went to the palace.
She was hd through dimly lighted
rooms and corridors into Ludwig's pri-
vate theater which was in utter dark
ness save for tho moonlight that entered
through the windows. Patti stood upon
the dark stage. while an orchestra,
somewhere out OF sight, began soft
prelude. Through the gloom sho could
just make out II white face in tho royal
box opposite the stage. Not another au
ditor was In the great hall. Tho whole
thing was most uncanny, and Patti felt
cold ahivers creeping over her. She
shook with nervousness and fear, and
when she should have begun her aria
not sound could sho make. She open
cd her mouth but her throat was para
lyZed from nervous terror. There was Il
pause. The king sprang up and leaned
forward out Of the box, his white face
cleaning in the moonlight. The yiolins
tho prelude. Patti gathered
herself together and made ono heroic
effort Hnr vC;ce rang out into tho great
empty piuco, and tho king sank back
into the dark box.
Patti, though badly scared, made tho
effort Of her life and finished tho aria
from ella Traviata" triumphuntly and
stood flushed with victory. Dead 81
lenco. Not sound camG from tho gloom
before her. Sho went of the stage in
temper. His majesty might have given
some sign Of Appreciation Mime. Fischer
was behind the scenes, and Patti wait
ed with her for tho signal to sing tho
noxt number. A messenger appeared ut
the door. His majesty had had enough
music and had COMO to his apartments.
For moment Patti stood stunned
Then sho laughed Tho rudeness was so
colossal that it was funny. Nine.
Fischer took the diva to supper and then
ht ne.
Tho next morning Mmo. Fischer called
Mt tho hotel once more, acc YpaniGd by
tho court chamberlain, who bore tho
promised check, an autograph letter of
thanks from tho king and somo jewels