Evening journal., 1900-07-21
CRAZY KING LUDWIG.
PATTI ONCE THREW HIM INTO A
FRENZY OF MADNESS.


Him Il Drove Him wild.
When Patti was in the first heyday
Of her fame, Ludwig II. the mad king
Of Bavaria. set his heart en- having her
sing for him at his private auditorium
in Munich. He wrote letter after letter,
begging, imploring, offering extrava-
CANT sums Of money, but Patti resolute-
/ ly refused TO go. She had heard too
many stories of Ludwig's freaks his
| curses and his unreasonable commands,
and she was desperately afraid Of him.
But at last the king offered her a sum
so enormous that it seemed ridiculous
/ 70 refuse il. Then the singer plucked up
courage and started for Munich. When
she and her maid alighted at the sta
tion. not even carriage was there TO
meet them, and they had 10 inquire the
name Of the best hotel and call a 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 visit from Europe's
/ greatest singer Not 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 a resplendgut
/ officer was announced. He saluted her
and delivered letter from the king
The letter stated curtly that his majesty
would 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 10 hear A
programme was inclosed. Patti burst
into tears Of rage
81 have never been treated 30 bru-
tally" she said. II shall leave at once.
Tell the king so. will not sing
never, neverr' 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 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, don't know
why 1 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 not by any means
e., ,,roo~ "a a,ffv frovrr l.uf roft xfoo1
Silk is painful 10 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.
'Redw groaned the officer. "Oh, no,
mol Red sends his majesty into fits. II
you appear in red. he will scream and
have convulsicns Oh, do be patient,
madamei / will bring Nine Fischer q
you. She understands the king nerves.
She will explain.
He fed from tho 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 al
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.
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 could
Just make out a white face in the royal
box opposite the stage. Not another au'
ditor 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 sound could she make. She open
ed her mouth, but her throat was para.
lyzed from nervous terror. There was O
pause The king sprang mp and leaned
! forward out Of the box, his white face
cleaning in the moonlight. The violinl
repeated the prelude. Patti gathered
7 herself together and made one heroic
3 effort Her voice rang out into the great
3 empty place, and the king sank bacl
into the dark box.
Patti, though badly scared. made th'
effort Of her life and finished the ari'
e from "La Traviata" triumphantly ant
stood flushed with victory. Dead 81
? lence Not a sound came from the gloon
Q before her. She went off the stage in
J temper. His majesty mightihave givel
some sign Of appreciation. Nine. Fische
was behind the scenes. and Patti wait
3 ed with her for the signal to sing tn
next number. A messenger appeared a
the door. His majesty had had enougl
g music and had gone to his apartments
9 For a moment Patti stood stunned
Then she laughed. The rudeness was s
= colossal that it was funny Nine
9 Fischer took the diva to supper and the
y home.
. The next morning Nine. Fischer calle
o at the hotel once more. accompanied b
y the court chamberlain, who bore tn
promised check. an autograph letter c
+ thanks from the king and some jewe