Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-11-27
Mad King Otto at Close Range.
REPORTED ADMITTED TO FuasT CASTLE WHERE MON
YEARS.

BY the especial permission of the
ayarian court authorities cor
espondent has ben permitted 10 visit
urstenfied castle. where the MAD
ing otto of Bavaria is confined for
fe.
King otto has been mad since 1871.
uring the Franco Prussian War he
I'D charge of a regiment, and While IN
lat capacity he gave obvious signs OF
rental inefficiency. In one case he or
cred his men TO march against an old
,aa on which he thought French SOL
iers were standing, while in reality
ne whole country was deserted, the
rench troops being many miles away.
1t Versailles on January Is, after the
reclamation OF King William as Ger
nan Emperor, a great state banquet
vas given to celebrate the event. IN
he course of this Prince Otto of Ba-
aria as he then was, made a most
actless and unealled for speech. which
gain evidenced his mental weakness
lie thereupon was sent to Furstenrled
md never since has been allowed to
.ome out.
/
minutes by railway from Munich. II
5 an old medieval castle, with mag
lificent gardens. Ever since King Otto
vas locked up the gates and hedges
nave been fitted with every conceivable
system of metallic network to prevent
1is escape. All the castle rooms are
furnished magnificently, but have not
been used for forty years. The King
md two medical attendants occupy an
apartment in the central part of the
building. The King himself has only
!. bedroom, which he shares with one
If the doctors in attendance and
1erculean valet, who always carries
oaded revolver under his pillow, ready
'or any emergency.
How the Mad King Looks.
An atmosphere Of deep gloom pre-
walls in these apartments, where one
,an hardly detect any proof of the
act that a royal parsonage, or even
ane person, is living there. One sees
% book, no pen-uothing that can In
ny way convey the idea of intellectual
work. on the Kings working table
we're a couple of medicine bottles; also
title pieces of wood which he cuts in
essantly, into small bits, believing
ometimes that he is celebrated
wood carving artist.
While the King and his doctors took
heir drive throuhg the castle grounds
was permitted to go through these
ooms. where the sad solitude is popu-
ated only by male servants in mag
ificent royal livery. When | reached
he gardens finally say the King him.
elf, but had To take care at first
hat he should not see me, lest he nave
fit of fury at the sight of a stranger
'ince he has been at Furstenried King
tito has seen nobody except doctors
nd servants, although several royai
ersonages have been permitted to OBJ
erve him. / do not think such per
Mission has ever been granted jour.
alist, in spite of innumerable applica
ions.
King Otto, when you look at hin
rom a distance, is not like a mad |
IAN at all. He is big and athletic, |
18th long white beard, carefully
roomed. He wears a dark brown suit |
ut like a military uniform. instead |
collar he wears a black woolen |
arsey. He vefy seldom wears any |
ind of headgear. When you approach |
i'm and look into his eyes you imme-
lately see that his case is hopeless
u, while as far as his physical person |
concerned the King is sound enough,
is brain is stopped forever, and his
I, of q 1nad n, ic L
lance is purely animal. He speaks
tile and only when hungry. Then he
arieks.
Essen Gleich, Essen." He cries
ntil an attendant comes with food.
Ie has no special diet except that he
forbidden alcoholic drinks. He es-
ecially loves fruit.
Strangely enough. near this sad mai
sty sort of royal usage is still OBJ
srved. None of the medical assistants
re allowed to speak to him unless
poken to or asked for something; SO