Year: 1873

burghers Of Munich Is the singular
mania Of the young King in regard to
theatrical affairs. II is a well known


fact that King Louis III looks upon the


theater as the prime source OF popular
education; that he considers Friedrich
Won Schiller and Moliere the two dra-


matists without whom the stage could
never have acquired il present emf
nenoe; and that he, the Wittelsbach
ruler himself, has written a play, which
he not only, as might be expected, values
very highly, but which, in his opinion,
is combination OF all that is praise.
worthy both in Schiller and Moliere.
This wonderful play is entitled "The
Fan OF the Marchioness, and there ex-
lists but a single manuscript copy Of il.
II contains three acts, and it was writ.
ten in Alexandrine verses. That is all
that is known about it. No profane
critic has as yet cast his eyes upon it,
but one person has seen il performed on
the stage, and yet the whole company of
the Royal Theater Of Munich knows il
by heart; aud the play has, moreover,
been performed already upward Of a
dozen times with scenery and decora-
tions such as have rarely been bestowed
upon the tragedies Of the greatest mas
ters.


The explanation of all this is very
simple one. King Louis II is man Of
the most retiring character. Most Of the
time he lives in utter seclusion. The
pomp and splendor of royalty are most
distasteful 10 him; and, rather than APP
pear at a gala review of his army, he will
plead sickness, or, without cause, bury
himself in the Alpine retreats Of the b.
varian Highlands. The stage is his
favorite pastime, but TO witness public
performances when everybody rises from
his seat and bows to him as soon as he
makes his appearance is so distasteful TO
him that for years he has not set foot in
his own theater at Munich, except on the
occasions which we are about to specify.


About four months ago the actors of
the Royal Theater, in the above men
toned city, received from the manager
oe the stage the cast of a play entitled
The Fan of the Marchioness. whose
author he said, wished to remain uu-
known, but which was TO be rehearsed
Immediately A week afterward the
first rehearsal took place, and a few days
later the actors and actresses who were
to appear in it were startled by the mott
fication that they were to play the piece
after midnight on the Sd OF March. The
mast rigorous secrecy was enjoined upon
them and immediate dismissal was
threatened to those who should talk
about the affair. Who had ever heard
of such theatrical performance The
actors were all there, and when the cur
tain went up they vainly looked for an
audience. No one was present to wit
ness their performance but young man
dressed in loose suit of gray, his hand
some face adorned with n small, well
trimmed mustache. The young man
was seated in the left proscenium box,
and he seemed to follow the perform
ance with rapt attention. The expert
enced actors did their best to play their
parts. None of them had ever per-
formed under more singular, not to say
discouraging, circumstances. Applause
there was none. The curtain went down,
and it went up again, before dark and
empty house. The only spectator pres
ent was, to all appearances, highly in
terested but not even once did he clap
his hands.


Finally, just as the neighboring clock
of st. Catharines church struck four,
the play was over, and the actors went
home. This singular performance has
been repeated since then dozen times.
The actors are almost in a state of re-
volt, for it seems unnatural for them to
play to no audience without marks OF
applause or disapproval simply before
one young man who, if he wears
crown, profits by his royal prerogatives
in very curious manner.