The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1908-08-05
LUDWIG THE LUAAT|C
Patti Once Threw Him Into a
Frenzy Of Madness.
A FREAK OF THE CRAZY KING.
He Frightened and Enrased the Great
Diva BY His Strange Whims, and
When She Finally Sang For Him IN
Munich II Drove Him Wild.

vvH&N VHG TtHMtty S&UH F0I S1tW W
Muniel, II Drovs 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.
travagant 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 %
enormous that 1t 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 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
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 Respondent
officer delivered a letter from the king.
The letter stated curtly that his maj
esty would wait for her at Z 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 50 bru-
tally" she said. II shall leave at once.
Tell the king so. I will not sing
never, never, neverv' 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, 'syou
know your king is-is-is"-
"Crazy," snapped Patti. eyes, that's
very comforting, isn't it? I don't know
4 why l ever CdluG. JUST tnCl SAC
caught sight Of this postscript:
'sThe 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 his majesty"
His majesty will have to be PANIED.
/ have no white wooden gown except
my peignoir. I shall wear red velvet"
/ "Redr' groaned the officer. sob, NO,
NO! Red sends his majesty into fits.
II you appear in red, he will scream
and have commissions. Oh, do be pa
tent, madame! will bring Mime.
Fischer to you. She understands the
kings nerves. She will 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 peignoir and transformed it into
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 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 havt
begun her aria not sound could she
make. She opened her mouth, but bel
throat was paralyzed from nervous
terror. There was pause. The kinl
sprang up and leaned forward out Of
the box, his white face cleaning in thu
moonlight. The violins repeated tn
prelude. Patti gathered herself to
, gether and made one heroic effort
Her voice rang out into the grea
empty place, and the king sank bael
into the dark box.
Patti, though badly scared, made th'
effort Of her life and finished the aTi'
from "La Traviata' triumphantly ant
: stood flushed with victory. Dead si
) lence. Not sound came from tn
gloom before her. She went of tn
} stage in a temper. Mime. Fischer wa
behind the scenes, and Patti waite
!, with her for the signal to sing tn
= next number. 4 messenger appeare
, at the door. His majesty had ha
enough music and had gone 10 hi
. apartments. For q moment Pat
stood stunned. Then she laughed. III
, Irudeness was so colossal that tt wa
, funny. Nine. Fischer took She diva I
, supper and then home.
, The next morning Mime. t1sehs
called at the hotel once more. accom-
q panied by the court chamberlain wh
= bore the promised check. an autograp
letter Of thanks from the king an
some Jewels of great value. Kin