The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-07-14
LUDWIG THE LUNATIC
Patti Once Threw Him Into a
Frenzy OF Madness.
A FREAK OF THE CRAZY KING.

Wncn one FlnallJ Oan0 TOT E'lHl w
Munich II Drove Him Wild.
When Patti was In the first heyday
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 ex.
trayagant sums OF money. but Patti
resolutely refused TO go. She had heard
too many stories Of Ludwig's freaks
and was desperately afraid OF him, but
at last the king offered her a sum so
enormous that 1t seemed ridiculous to
refuse II. Then the singer plucked up
courage and started for Munich. When
she and her maid allghted 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 cab.
That was the first shock to the dlva's
nerves and temper After luncheon she
started out to see the town and incl
dentally 10 examine the posters an
nounclng Europe's greatest singer. Not
a 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 respondent
officer delivered letter from the king.
The letter stated CURLY that his maj
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 the duets which his mai
esty wished 10 hear. A programme
was inclosed. Patti wept with rage.
II have never been treated so bru-
tally" she said. 81 shall leave at once.
Tell the king so, / will not sing
never, never, neverw The officer
pleaded with the irate prima 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.
Besides" added the officer "you
know your king is-is-is"-
Cray" snapped Patti "Yes, that's
very comforting. isn't IL? don't know
why ever came" Just then she
caught sight of this postscript:
1.-THE king commands Nine. 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 bis majesty"
"Iis majesty will have to be panied.
I have no white wooden gown except
my peignoir. ! shall wear red velvet"
''RedP' groaned the officer. "oh, no,
MOI Red sends his majesty into fits.
II you appear in red, he will scream
and have commissions. oh, do be pa
tient, madame! | will bring Nine.
Fischer TO you. She understands the
kings nerves. She will explain"
He fed from the room, and shortly
after Nine. Fischer appeared upon the
scene She soothed Patti into good
humor and also attacked the white
a most becoming Greek robe.
Before Z 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.
Patti stood upon the dark stage, while
an orchestra, somewhere out of sight,
began soft prelude. Through the
gloom she could just make out a white
face in the royal box opposite the
stage. Not another auditor was in the
great hall.
Patti felt the cold shiyers creeping
over her. She shook with nervousness
and fear, and when she should have
begun her aria not a sound could she
make. She opened her mouth, but her
throat was paralyzed from nervous
terror. There was pause. The king
sprang up and leaned forward out of
he box, his white face cleaning In the
moonlight The violins repeated the
prelude. Patti gathered herself to-
yether 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
'ffort of her life and finished the aria
rom la Traviata" triumphantly and
itood flushed with victory. Dead 81
euce Not n sound came from the
yloom before her She went off the
tage In a temper. Nine Fischer was
behind the scenes, and Patti waited
With her for the signal to sing the
text number A messenger appeared
{ the door His majesty had had
'nough music and had gone to his
partments. For moment Patti
TODD stunned Then she laughed. The
was so colossal that 1t was
unny. Nine Fischer took the diva to
upper aud then home,
The next morning Nine, Fischer
allied at the hotel once more. accom-
anied by the court chamberlain, who
ore the promised check, an autograph
etter Of thanks from the king and
ONE jewels of great value. King
.udwig, Nine. Fischer said. was In one
{ his lnaddest moods, wild with re-
ret, cursing himself and cursing Pat
!. He had walked the floor all night,
roaming that be was a traitor, for
'atti's voice had so ravlshed his senses
hat for one moment he had gone over
, Italian music and had been false to
Z gner, the one musician who alone
ad satisfied his majesty's soul
''That was better than having bored |