Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-15
PACE WAS TOO SWIFT
Real Cause of the Crazy Kings
of Bavaria.
THEIR LIVES INTEMPERATE
Present Ruler Reigns in Form
Only.
CREATION OF A KINGDOM
Carried Out by Napoleon - Uprising
Of Andreas Hofer-Career of Sofa
Montez, the Dancing Girl
CREATION OF A KINGDOM
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald

BY WILLIAM K. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
MUNICH, August 90 1906. :
Romance writer's have told the world that
a mysterious curse hangs over the Wittel-
bach dynasty. which has ruled, Bavaria
for seven centuries. but it is very largely
the results of dissipation-wine, women and
extravagant indulgence. I have seen It
called "a gigantic sorrow" 'the atrocity of
fate" 1.-The awesome breath of the AL
mighty and by other large and stately
terms. but this perpetual tragedy of a ma
ton would not have occurred II the Lud-
wigs and Ottos had left wine and women
alone; If they had gone to bed at 10 o'clock
at night and got up to breakfast at 8
o'clock in the morning, and worked all day
like honest men, instead of initiating the
emperors of Rome in the qualification of
their depraved tastes and sensuous appe-
tiles. And they should have done this.
being aware that there had been signs of
insanity among their ancestors as long ago
as Frederick Christian, who reigned in the
earlier part of the eighteenth century.
Otto, the present king. is so crazy that
he is not trusted alone. and the newspapers
occasionally publish a report that the para
Lament intends to depose him and appoint
a successor, but, although his mind is
tirely gone. and he does not know right
from wrong. or light from darkness. Otto
will be allowed to reign over Bavaria as
long as he lives through Prince Liupold, his
uncle, the regent, who Is eighty-six years
old, but in perfect health and as vigorous
physically and mentally as man Of fifty.
He does not NEEDLE with politics. and has
been an admirable executive. If anything
happens to the king he will be elected to
succeed him. If the king should outlive
his uncle. the regent, Prince Ludwig
Charles will ascend the throne He is the
oldest nf TfnNnld hi1 y-tf ho
Archduchess Maria Theresa, many believe
to be entitled to the throne of England.
because her grandfather had a better title
than Queen Victoria. There seems to be
no intention among any of the political
parties to agitate the question of the retire
ment of Otto or the succession. Everybody
is satisfied with the status quo.
Reign Of the Witte1bachs.
The authentic history Of Bavaria runs
back to 500 B. c., but really begins with
Charlemagne. whose grandson, Arnulf, gov
erned the kingdom and elevated Liupold.
Count of Scheyern. ancestor Of the present
dynasty. to the rank of margrave. This
was in 9O7 A. D.. and the Wittelbachers
have been In power ever since The kings
have mostly been called Ludwig
Ludwig the Bold.
Ludwig the Pious.
Ludwig the Roman,
Ludwig the German,
LuQW1g the MILO.
Ludwig the Severe,
Ludwig the Big Beard,
Ludwig the Hunchback,
Ludwig the Hasty,
Ludwig the Rich,
and so on. and beside them there have been
a lot Of Ottos with similar pseudonyms to
describe their individual characteristics,
others, like Carl the Fat and Louis the
Lazy. The Wittelbachers are great fam
lily. and have produced many kings. They
have furnished several emperors for Ger
many and Austria. The great Frederick
Barbarossa was a of Welt, Duke of
Bavaria, and Charles Albert, who was
crowned emperor of Germany and claimed
the throne of Austria, also came from the
same stock. Otto III, king OF. Hungary in
1872, was the son of one of the Ludwigs.
William I, king Of Holland in 1865; Gus
tavus x king of Sweden in 1860. both be-
longed to the family. and in later years it
has produced Otto. king OF Greece. and
Amala, his queen. Queen Elizabeth of
Prussia, Queen Amelia of Saxony. the queen
of Naples, the last two expresses of Aus
tria, Charlotte and Elizabeth, and many
others who wore crowns.