Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-08-08
LUDWIG THE 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
When She Finally Sang For Him In
Munich Il Drove Him Wild.


Diva by His Strange Whims, and
When She Finally Sang For Him In
Munich II Drove Him Wild.
When Patti was In the first heyday
of her fame Ludwig H., the ind 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 Ludwlg'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 n 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 diya'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
q 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 a letter from the king.
The letter stated curtly that his maj
estv 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
"I have never been treated so bru-
tally" she said. "I shall leave at once.
Tell the king so. l 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"-
Crazy" snapped Patti. Eyes, that's
very comforting, isn't it? I don't know
why ever came" Just then she
caught sight Of this postscript:
"The king commands Nine. Patti tC
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"
Ills majdsty will have to be panied
I have no white woolen gown excep
nv peignoir. l shall wear red velvet.
'Redr' groaned the officer. ooh, no
no! Red sends his majesty into fits
If you appear in red, he will scream
and have conyulsions. Oh, do be pa
tent madame! l will bring Nine
Fischer to you. She understands th'
kings nerves. She will explain"
He fed from the room, and shortl!
after Nine. Fischer appeared upon th'
scene. She soothed Patti into goo'
humor and also attacked the Whit
wool peignolr and transformed 1t int
a most becoming Greek robe.
Before Z the royal carriage arrived
Mt the hotel and Patti went to the pal
ace. She was led through diml,
lighted rooms and corridors into Lud
wigs private theater, which was Il
utter darkness save for the moonligh
that entered through the windows
Patti stood upon the dark stage, Will
an orchestra, somewhere out of sight
began a soft prelude. Through tn
gloom she could just make out a whit
face in the royal box opposite tn
stage. Not another auditor was in th
great hall.
Patti felt the cold shivers creepin
over her. She shook with nervousness
and fear. and when she should hav
begun her aria not q sound could sh
make. She opened her mouth, but he
throat was paralyZed from nervou
terror. There was a pause. The kin
sprang up and leaned forward out o
the box, his white face cleaning In tn
moonlight. The violins repeated tn
prelude. Patti gathered herself tC
gether and made one heroic eifor
Her voice rang out into the grea
empty place. and the king sank bac
into the dark box.
Patti, though badly scared, made tn
effort Of her life and finished the ari
from "La Traviata" triumphantly an
stood flushed with victory. Dead S
lence. Not a sound came from th
gloom before her. She went Off th
stage In a temper Nine. Fischer wa
behind the scenes, and Patti waite
: with her for the signal to sing IL
next number. A messenger appeare
G at the door. His majesty had ha
4 enough music and had gone to h
apartments. For a moment Pat
stood stunned. Then she laughed. I'll
e rudeness was so colossal that it Wa
funny. Nine. Fischer took the diva
supper and then home.
d The next morning Nine. Fisch'
> called at the hotel once more, accon
panied by the court chamberlain, WI
bore the promised check, an autograr
letter Of thanks from the king al
y some Jewels of great value. Xii
Ludwig. Nine. Fischer said, was in oil
Of his maddest moods, wild with r
d gret. cursing himself and cursing ia
|, ii. He had walked the floor all nigh
: groaning that he was a traitor Il