The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-08-05
TIE LUNATIC
Patti Once Threw Him Into a
Frenzy of Madness.
A FREAK OF THE CRAZY KING.
He Frightened and Enraged the Great
Diva by His Strange Whims, and
3 When She Finally Sang For Him In
Munich 1t Drove Him Wild.

- iva ny TITS StTGU5S sFneHS, SnS
When She Finally Sang For Him In
Munich 1t 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, fmploring.- offering ex-
travagant sums of money, but Patti
resoiuteiy 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 it seemed ridiculous to
refuse it. Then the singer plucked 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 cab.
That was the first shock to the diva's
nerves and temper. After luncheon she
started out to see the town and Incl
dentally to examine the posters an
nouncing Europe's greatest singer. Not
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 Respondent
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 the duets which his maj
esty wished to hear. A programme
was inclosed. Patti wept with rage.
81 have never been treated so bru-
tally" she said. 81 shall leave at once
Tell the king so. l will not sing
never, never, neverr' The officer
pleaded with the frate 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 fs-is-is"-
Gray" snapped Patti Eyes, that's
very comforting, isn't tt? don't know
why l ever came" Just then she.
caught sight Of this postscript:
'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 10 his majesty"
His majesty will have to be panied.
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.
II you appear In red, he viii scream
and have commissions. Oh, do be pa
tent madame! I Will bring Nine.
Fischer to you. She understands the.
kings nerves. She VIII explain"
He fed from the room, and shortly
after Mime. Fischer appeared upon the.
scene. She soothed Patti into good
humor and also attacked the white
wool peignofr and transformed It into,
q most becoming Greek robe
Before the royal carriage arrived
at the hotel and Patti went to the pal
o>O A&AC W. % AC0 tQIOukA OllllE
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 Write
face tn the royal box opposite the
stage. Not another auditor was I'M the
great hall.
Patti felt the cold shtvers creaptng
over her. She shook with nervousness
and fear, and when she should, have
begun her aria not 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
the box, hts white face cleaning In the
moonlight The victims repeatad 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.
Rdtll, tnOuga Dadly scared, made the
effort Of her life and finished the aria
from "La Travfata" triumphnntly and
stood flushed with victory. Dead Sd
lence. Not sound came from the
gloom before her. She went OF the
stage In temper. Mime. Fischer was
behind the scenes and Patti waited
with her for the sfuaa to sing the
next number. A messenger appeared
1t the door. His majesty had had
enough music and had gone to his
apartments. For a moment Patti
gtood stunned Then she laughed The
tudeness was 50 coioesM that Il was
funny. Mime. Fischer took the diva to
supper and then home
The next morning Nina Fischer
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