The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-09-09
LUDWIG The LUNATIC
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 Whins, and
When She Finally Sang FOR Him In
Munich X Drove Him Wild.
When Patti was in the first heyday
Of her fame Ludwig II, 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
4, ter, begging, imploring, offering e2-
ravasant sums Of money, but Patti
resolutely refused to 80. She had heard
too many stories Of Ludwig's freaks
and was desperately afraid Of him, but
at last the king offered her sum Sc
enormous that it seemed ridiculous TO
refuse It. Then the singer plucked up
courage and started foc 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 irst 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 Erope'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 a respondent
officer delivered letter from the king.
The letter stated curtly that his maj
esty would wait for her at I 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 tie king so. I will not sing
never. never, neverv' The officer
pleadsg with the trate Drima donna
Els lsaiesty had been wild with ex'
element ever since he knew she would
come and had not slept FOR three
nights. so great was his jog at the
prospect Of hearing her.
Besides" added the officer, you
know your king is-is-is"-
"Crazy," snapped Patti SEes, 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 q satin gown, but soft WOOL
SILK IS painful to his majesty"
'.Ris majesty viii have to be panied
! have no white woolen gown except
my peignoir. shall wear red velvet
.Redr' groaned the officer. "Oh, no
no. Red sends his majesty into fits
If you appear In red, he will scream
and have convulsions. Oh, do be pa
tent, madame! I 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 goo<
humor and also attacked the whitE
wool peignoir and transformed it int
q nest becoming Greek robe.
Before 7 the royal carriage arrived
at the hotel and Patti went to the pal
ace. She was led through dinl1
lighted rooms and corridors into Lud
wigs private theater, which was II
utter darkness save for the moonligh
that entered through the windows
: Patti stood upon the dark stage, while
an orchestra, somewhere out Of sight
began a soft prelude. Through th'
gloom she could just make out q white
face in the royal box opposite th'
stage. Not another auditor was in tn
great hall.
Patti felt the cold shivers creepin;
over her. She shook with nervousness
and fear, and when she should har'
begun her aria not sound could sh'
make. She opened her mouth, but he
throat was paralyZed from nervous
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 th
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 th
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 tn
gloom before her. She went of tn
stage in a temper. Nine. Fischer wa
behind the scenes, and Patti waite
with her for the signal to sing th
next number. a messenger appeare
at the door. His majesty had ha
enough music and had gone to hi
apartments. For moment Pat
stood stunned. Then she laughed. Th
rudeness was so colossal that it wa
funny. Nine. Fischer took the diva {
supper and then home.
The next morning Nine. Fische
called at the hotel once more, accon
panied by the court cham mberlc:n, VII
bore the promised check an autograp
letter Of thanks from the king an
some jewels Of great value. Kin
Ludwig. Nine. Fischer said, was IN on
Of his maddest moods, wild with re
gret, ezrsing himself and cursing Pal
Il he had walked the floor all nigh
groaning that he was traitor, 70
PATHS voice had so ravishe6 MS sense
that for one moment be had gone owe
to Italian music and had been false t
Wagner, the one musician who alon
had satisfied bis majesty's soul.
'TAat was better than having bore