The San Francisco call., 1906-06-17
MAD KING OTTO
NEAR To DEATH
Insane Bavarian Monarch
Cannot Live
Long.
Aware of High Position
Though His Memory
Has Gone.
SPECIAL CABLE TO THE CALL.

BERLIN. June 16.--It is only once a
year that the public hears anything of
the insane King of Bavaria. and that
is when his loyal subjects celebrate
his birthday, as occurred this week. 'If
your Majesty will graciously permit"
Herr Won Redwitz, the guardian of the
King, must so address him, for this
court etiquette requires. The term
majesty bestowed on the unfortunate
man is indeed a travesty, although
strange to say, while his memory is
gone, he is still conscious of his high
position. question which some years
ago he addressed to a servant proves
this. Believing that he spoke to one
of his ministers the King said:
Are the people satisfied? l hope So
Now tell me what time will the people
ask to be entirely happy?"
When the servant answered, "I do
not know, your Majesty" the King
looked at him as graciously as If he
had received a proper answer. His
health is not good, and his passing
away can only be question of time.
Everything has, of course, been done
to make the life of the King comfort
able. Castle Furstenried, where he re-
sides, is situated in most romantic
and picturesque region of the Bavarian
Alps. A magnificent park surrounds
the castle and the Kings quarters are
furnished in regal style. The King
occupies a suite of rooms whose walls
when bear valuable paintings by some
of the most famous artists.
The appearance of King Otto, who
like his brother Ludwig, was one of
the best-looking Princes in Germany,
has entirely changed. owing to his
dislike of physical exercise he has
grown stout and his head bears long
gray hair and beard
Owing TO his objection to any physi-
cal examination, the Kings ply
sicians are not certain whether he
has any organic troubles. Already, FIVE
years ago, people who saw the King
obtained the impression that his tragic
life was coming TO an end. He looked
pale, but this appears to have been
due to lack of exercise and irregular
living. The King, with strange
stubbornness, never eats at the right
time, so that the physicians decided
to put only cold food before him
rather than to allow him TO devour
such which has become cold. AS no
force can be used. the physicians and
attendants frequently find it difficult
to influence the King to go to sleep
or to take exercise.
II IL I6pOIlcQ AuulCH lAdl ne
still recognizes people. especially those
whom he knew IN his youth. When
the King sees such persons he puts his
hands to his head, as if wishing to re-
vive old memories, his pale face bears
a smiling expression. and when the
person before him bows he returns the
greeting.
There was also time when the King
conversed freely with birds which ne
seemed TO see-and then began to sing.
For days he sang the most beautiful
songs-and then stopped forever.
When the King has lucid moment
the doctors take advantage of the op-
portunity to make a diagnosis, and
then make a report which. of course,
is kept secret, 70 the Prince Regent.
But so much is known that the pass
ing away of the King can only be a
question of a few years His death
will be blessing in disguise for the
Prince Regent and his family. for there
are still people in Bavaria who believe
that the genial Luitpold is an n,er-
loper who has imprisoned their King
in order to come to the throne.