Washington Journal., 1943-03-19
GLIMPSES OF SOME CONTEMPORARIES
Ludwig II of Bavaria
Ludwig II of Bavaria
By Edwin EMERSON

When Durckhelm stepped OH MS car az
the terminal station in Munich, an older ON
Ger of his regiment was on the platform with
orders to put him in arrest. In a carriage
the Count was taken to the War Ministry.
There. after a few words with the Minister,
he was put under guard to await his court
martial for characterization and Indictment
to treason.
Meanwhile King Ludwig spent a restless
nioht in his Neuschwanstein castle, not know
inc what to do. When Hoppe, his hair
dresser. came to the royal bed chamber IN the
morning, the King took hold of his apron ana
asked anxiously: "Do you think me mad?
Hoppe broke low and wept. Tears came 10
Ludwig's eyes. Patting the barber on the
shoulder be said mournfully: "When you
want to do my hair tomorrow, you may nave
To look for my head in the Pollat's whlrl
pools"
All that day, while they were celebrating
at Munich what to do with the King, Ludwig
spent wandering about his castle, mournfully
looking at its splendid mural paintings OF
Tannhauser, Lohengrin and Sigurd or gaz-
ing from windows and eyrie balconies, as II TO
look for his aide-de-camp's return. once ne
asked whether there were any word from
Hohe~nschwangau. OF those who had fingered
Of the upper castle, waiting for another call
to arms, the most part we're allowed TO 60 70
their mountain homes. Further care OF the
Kings safety was left to Herr S~onntag, the
almighty Amtmann of the Schwangau. Only
"a few of Ludwig's most faithful servltors
dared to speak to the King OF flight. ODER
|holzer. the coachman, offered to get the horses
and carriage ready to drive with the King
over the Tyrolese pass to Reutte. Ihere ne
might get word to his cousin EllzaDeth or
to her husband, the Austrian Emperor at
Vienna.
During the night King Ludwig wandered
through his lofty castle, gazing mournfully
at it's noble paintings, as it to say farewell
Outside a storm broke and rain drops pelted
against the window panes. When the King
at length sank into a deep chair, staring up
at the ornate ceiling of his study, his man
servant Weber and the coachman Oberholzer
with the footman Mayr crept into the room
and timidly approached the King. lie looked
upon them kindly, saying: nYou are all that
lis left me of the faithful. Unless my guards
regiments have risen and freed Count Durck-
helm to come with him to my rescue | am
undone. Ny uncle will rob me OF my throne.
That | could stand, but / can't stand being
called a mailman. May Heaven punish the
~plotters who are after me-
Then the King divided among them all his
ready cash. To the coachman and groom he
gave 1000 marks each and gold stick pms,
to Weber 1900 marks and a diamond clasp.
Thinking it inadequate he gave Weber a
voucher on the Royal Exchequer for 10000
marks. Together with money he handed
Mayr a prayerbook, saying: "Pray for me!
no longer need anything; but, hold, | still
need the key to the turret room
Mayr, fearing that his royal master planned
to cast himself from the balcony OF the turret
overlooking the dark water OF the Alpsee,
stammered that the lock to the turret room
was rusty, so that the key no longer would
turn it. He pretended that the key had been
sent down to the village locksmith, for him
to change it.
The King murmured: sMust | then put
up with my fate?" and stalked into his bed
chamber.
Meanwhile in Munich the two commissions
that had been sent to deal with King Ludwig
had returned without having had a glimpse
of him. But the medical commissioners, who
had taken sworn statements from a number
Of persons about the person Of the King, drew
up a report of 20 closely written pages, after
ward published in the Court Gazette.
Medical Experts Verdict
It began: eve, the undersigned four nerve
specialists, however painful it was to pass
Judgment on the mental state Of His Majesty,
after reviewing the attached testimony con-
corning manifest symptoms OF His MaJesty's
psychich alterations, have found 1t over
whelming evidence. 1t has brought us to an
unanimous conclusion, that His Majesty King
Ludwig II is suffering from that form OF
mental disease, which by medical men is
classified under the term p0raNosa."
The four experts gave it as their further
opinion that His Majesty's incapacity for a
normal conduct Of his affairs and those Of the
kingdom, already manifest during many
years, was bound to continue indefinitely
throughout the remainder of his life.
The Grown Council, under the presidency