Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-09-23

When She Finally Sarg For Him In
Munich II Drove Him Wild.
When Patti was In the Grst hcyday
OF her fame Ludwig H.. the mad king
Of Bavaria. set his heart on having her
sing for him at his private auditorium
In Munich. He wrote letter after let
ter begging. imploring. Offering cX.
trIvagant sums OF money. but Patu
resolutcly refused TO 90. She had heard
too many stories of Ludwigs freaks
and was desperately afraid of him. but
at last the king offered her n sum so
enormous that 1t seemed ridiculous TO
refuse it. Then the singer pluchcd up
courage and started for Munich. When
she and her maid alighted at the sta
ton not even a carriage was there TO
meet them. and they had TO inquire the
name Of the best hotel and call Il cab
That was the first shock TO the diva's
nerves ana temper. After luncheon she
started out to see the town and Incl
dentally TO examine the posters an
noumcing Europc's greatest singer. Not
n mention OF her name could she find
She rushed back TO the hotel and told
her maid to pack the trunks.
Just at that moment a resplcndcut
officer delivered letter from the king
The letter stated CURLY that his mai
esty would wait for her at 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 he ducts which his mai
esty wished TO hear. a programme
was inciosed. Patti wept with rage
Il have never been treated so bru-
tally" she said. IL shall leave ut once
Tell the king so. j will not sing
never, never, neverr' The officer
pleaded with the irate prlma donna
His majesty had been wild with ex-
element 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.
Resides" added the officer. you
know your king is-is-is"-
Cray" snapped Patti Eyes. that's
very comforting, isn't 1t? / don't know
why / ever came" Just then she
caught sight OF this postscript:
'The king commands Mime. Patti to
appear in pure white, without any
color whatever, and not by any means
TO wear satin gown, but soft wool
Silk Is painful to his majesty"
His majesty will have TO be panied
I have no white wooden gown except
my peignoir. / shall wear red velvet"
Red! groaned the officer. "Oh, no,
no! Red sends his majesty into fits
If you appear in red, he will scream
and have commissions. oh, do be pa
tent. madame! l will bring Nine
Fischer to you. She understands the
kings nerves. She will explain"
He fled from the 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 II into
q most becoming Greek robe.
Before the royal carriage arrived
at the hotel and Patti went to the pal.
ace. She WAS led through dimly
lighted rooms and corridors into Lud-
wigs private theater. which was in
utter darkness save for the moonlight
that entered through the windows.
an orchestra, somewhere out OF sight.
began a soft prelude. Through the
gloom she could just make out white
face in the royal box opposite the
stage. Not another auditor was In the
great hall!
Patti felt the cold shivers creeping
over her. She shook with nervousness
and fear, and when she should have
begun her aria not n sound could she
make. She opened her mouth. but her
throat was paralyzed 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 viOlns repeated the
prelude. Patti gathered herself to-
gether and made one heroic effort
Her voice rang out into the great
empty place. and the king sank back
into the dark box.
Patti, though badly scared, made the
effort Of her life ana finished the aria
from IA Trayi1ta" triumphantly and
stood flushed with victory Dead ST.
fence. Not "a sound came from the
gloom before her She went or the
stage Zoo p temper. Nine. Fischer was
behind tie scenes. and Patti waited
with her for Tie signal 10 sing the
next number a scngcr appeared
at Che door lis majesty had mad
enough music and had gone 10 his
apartments For moment Patu
stood stunned Then she laughed. The
rudcn1ss was So colossal that Il was
Funny Nine Fischer took the di "a t0