The Taney County republican., 1904-05-19
PATHS EXPERIENCE.
She Sang Alone to the Mad King Of
Bavaria,

Tho following remarkable story,
which we believe is quite new TO
English readers. reaches US from
gentleman who neard II from the lljI
OF ono Of Nine. PATHS intimate frien Is.
II was more than thirty years ago.
when Europe was ringing with the
fame Of Nine. PATHS matchless voice,
that Ludwig H., the mad Kins OF
Bavaria, set his heart on hearing the
diva sing In his private theatre IN
Munich. He wrote letter after letter
begging, even imploring her to sing
TO him and sfferirg her extravagart
sums Of money. but Patti. dreading
the experience, perslstently refused
his offers. At last Ludwig tempted
her with a fee SO enormous that she
could not resist II. and she yielded
When she reached Munich on the
day appointed she found to her disgust
for she was accustomed to being re.
ceived everywhere as Queen that
not even a carriage had been sent Tor
her and she and her maid
made their way az best they could
to the nearest hotel. She had
scarcely finished luncheon when q
gorg-ously attired officer was an.
nounced. who handed her n letter from
the King. with tho curt Information
that he should except her at ! O'Clock
punctually at the Palace. where Nine.
Fisher. who would sing with her,
would give her futhcr directions With
the letter was programme drawn Up
by His Majesty.
This cavalier treatment Of the
"Queen Of Song" was more than she
could bear. and Nine. Patti. stamping
her foot In anger, exclaimed. Il have
never been treated so rudely In my
life. will not sins-never! never!
never! and you can tell the King sol"
And II was some time before The
messenger. with all his diplomatic
arts, could smooth her ruffled plumes.
But the crown!ng indignity was to
come: for Just 10 madame had reco ,cr-
ed her eoua unity her eyes fell on .
postscript TO the letter. which had -.
capped her notice at the first reading.
II ran thus The King commands
Nine. Patti to appear in pure white.
without any color whatever. and Let
by any means 70 wear a satin gown.
but soft wool. SILK Is painful to bis
Majesty"
For once the great prima donna had
no words to meet such unparalleled
insolence. and she fell back into
chair In helpless amazement When
she recovered her speech II was TO de-
clare point blank that she could rot
aud would not appear In whlte-''and
that ended the matter" However. In
time her sense Of amusement and the
officers pleading triumphed over her
Indignation. and she promised to obey
Tho roval inetructionR
Before I the royal carriage arrived.
and Patti was driven to the Palnce
and conducted through long, dim
corridors and rooms to the private
theatre, which. TO her amazemcnt. she
found In absolute dorkness save f'r
the fltful lirht Of the moon. As she
stood on the dark stage and an unseen
orchestra began a soft prelude, she
iancied she saw through the gloom a
white face staring from a box opp site
her. 1T was horrible" she after a"id
said. the great. black. empty thea.
tire, the strains OF music coming from
I knew not where, and that one white
face. the only suggestion Of life any.
where. looki'g at me from out Of the
darkness. Cold shivers ran down my
back and when opened my mouth to
begin the aria not sound came from
IT,"
would be difficult TO imagine .
situation more trying even to q per-
son Of the st ongest nerves. The King.
for he was the owner Of the uncanny
white face, when he failed to hear the
expected voice. rose excitedly from
his seat and leaned forward out of the
box. the moonlight falling on his
epcctral face The growing horr1r az