Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-07-17
LUDWIG THE LUNAT|c
Patti Once Threw Him Into a
Frenzy of Madness.

Frenzy OF Madness.
A FREAK OF THE CRAZY KING.
He Frightened and Enraged the Great
Diva by His Strange Whims, and
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, 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 sum SO
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 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 resplendent
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 mai
esty wished to hear. A programme
was inclosed. Patti wept with rage.
81 have never been treated so bru-
tally" she said. IT 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, 'you
know your king is-is-is"-
Cray" snapped Patti Eyes, that's
very comforting, isn't it? I 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 a 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. shall wear red velvet.
! +. 'sRedv' groaned the officer. "Oh, no
no! Red sends his majesty into fits
Il you appear in red, he will scream
and have commissions. Oh, do be pa
tent madame! will bring Nine
Fischer to you. She understands thu
kings nerves. She will explain"
He fed from the room, and shortly
after Nine. Fischer appeared upon tho
scene. She soothed Patti Into goot
hrEmor and also attacked the white
4 wool peignoir and transformed 1t int
most becoming Greek robe.
Before the royal carriage arrived
at the hotel and Patti went to the pal
4 ace. She was led through dimly
lighted rooms and corridors into Lud
wigs private theater, which was il
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 thu
gloom she could just make out white
face in the royal box opposite thu
stage. Not another auditor was in til,
great hall q -
J, Patti felt the cold shivers creepin,
over her. She shook with nervousness
and fear, and when she should have
begun her aria not a sound could sht
make. She opened her mouth, but hel
throat was paralyzed from nervou.
terror. There was pause. The kinl
!: sprang up and leaned forward out o.
the box, his white face cleaning In thu
moonlight The violins repeated til,
!. prelude. Patti gathered herself to
gether and made one heroic effort
Her voice rang out into the grea
empty place, and the king sank bacl
!. into the dark box. "
Patti, though badly scared, made TIL,
effort OF her life and finished the aris
from 'eLa Traviata'' triumphantly ant
stood flushed with victory. Dead 81
lence. Not sound came from th,
, gloom before her. She went Off til,
stage in temper Nine. Fischer wa,
!. behind the scenes, and Patti waitet
I with her for the signal to sing tn,
next number. A messenger appeared
] at the door. His majesty had ha,
enough music and had gone to hi
j apartments. For moment Patt
!, stood stunned. Then she laughed. Tn
/ rudeness was so colossal that 1t wa,
Nh, TNfc1sIbn,. 4ooJy a.