A MAD KING'S FREAKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2274, 30 September 1897, Page 50

A MAD KING'S FREAKS.

If Ludwig 11, the young King of Bavaria, was mad, it was from excess of majesty. The monarch of one of the smallest kingdoms of the world, his opinion of himself was magnificent beyond all dreams of grandeur. Ordinary people were not sufficiently exalted to be his companions ; ordinary occupations afforded him no gratification ; all the chateaux and palaces which he inherited when he came to the throne were Fqualid for one so great. Architecture and building were his ruling hobbies, and he was thus able to gratify the one delusion bj building mag- . Bificent edifices, the second by occupying his time in the most extraordinary fashions, and the third by shunning society and escaping the inspection of ordinary eyes, either in his gorgeous retreats, or by retiring to one of the more humble dwellings he erected on various mountain summits, where a few attendants awaited his unexpected visits. Ludwig's mania for solitude took the most unexpected j&wists. He enjoyed his own company best on those occasions when people whoie minds are less' phenomenally balanced consider companionship most essential. It was his fancy to have dramatic and musical performances for himself alone. Unfortunate theatrical managers and indignant musical directors, not daring to resist the royal whim, were

driven to waste their talent by providing entertainments. The thaatre was darkened, the orchestra, the chorus, and the full dramatic company were grudgingly provided, one and all detesting tha work of putting forth their best efforts for the amusement of an empty house, save for the solitary figare sitting silent and motionless in the shadow of the royal box. Music Ludwig loved, and many of his wildest extravagance? and maddest acts of prodigality were due to the influence of Wagner, his one friend and adviser. It was Wagner who prompted his most transcendent folly, the erection of a huge theatre at Bayreuth for that composer's glorification. One performance alone entailed an expenditure of £20,000, of which £15,000 was paid by the King, the rest being barely covered by tbe sale of tickets.

Beared from his childhood amidst the most anchantinej scenery, Ludwig dearly loved the lonely mountains and the Bilent forests in which hia possessions were so rich. Delighting to turn night into day, he would order his hones after dark; and the jingle of his sleigh-bells and the big cracks of the postiliocs 1 whips would bring tha peasantry to their bedroom casements to see a brilliant equipage flash by, a phantom that vanished in a whirl of snow-dust, a dream of red and gold and blue and silver, and above tho bead of the silent occupant two crowns glowing with electric light. It wa3 only the simple inhabitants of the Bavarian Alps who ever caught a glimpse of theae fairylike vehicles. The front of one was formed by a gigantic •hell borne by Tritons with little cupids seated on its edge whose tinj arms carried back wreaths to tha royal occupant. The ornamentation of another was so profuse that but three small spaces were left on the panel*, and those were occupied by delicate mythological Kcenes painted by the band of a famous Munich artist. The King's sleighs were never drawn by fewer than four horse?. He appears to have been fond of these animnlp, whom he called his " dumb courtiers." Bat, like everything else about him, they were compelled to suffer in order to gratify their master's fancies. During the winter of 1871 instructions were sent to the royal stables that tbe 30 beat horses thoy contained were, for several dayp, to be fed on nothing but oats. The grooms imagined they were to be entered for a race. Though a blinding snowstorm was raging, Ludwig commanded some workmen to at once sec about erecting a wooden tower in the forest adjoining his palace, and round this tower a gallery was to run. Finally, when his plans were matured, he stationed an orchestra of wind instruments nsar this erection, taking up his own position on the balcony. In the cornfields near he had scattered here and there drums, kettle?, and some soldiers with rifles loaded with powder, and an order was given that each man should remain hidden and silent. At a given signal the horses were led quietly to the foot of the tower. Then the King gave a sign which was understood by the leader of the orchestra, by the drums, kettle?, trumpets, and soldiers. In an instant the most infernal hubbub broke forth. Each drummer vied with the other to beat louder, the trumpeters nearly burst their cheeks, there were powder explosion?, shrill whistleß, and most diabolical howls. The terrified hoises broke their fastenings. Mad with terror they reared, wheeled, zigzagged ; plunging and kicking they galloped here and there ; with blood-red nostrils and floating manes they bolted in all directions, to the jeopardy of the orchestra and the terror of the drums and kettles in the fi-ld?. One by one they disappeared over the horizon, white with foam, still snorting and rolling tbeir eyes. It was days before some of them were found ; many were picked up enfeebled, still wild and terrified. Some had reached the mountains, others had penetrated the woods or become engulfed in the marshes. His majesty, however, was well amused.

The tricks Ludwig played on his horses he also inflicted on his servants. Everyone about him was in danger of life and limb. He injured at least 30 persons and one he killed, It is not to be forgotten, however, that he was mad, and ought long before this to have been under medical charge. For some offences his attendants were confiaed in the ducgeons of his castles ; for others they W6re banished to America. One miserable lackey was charged with looking too curiously at his eccentric master. For this he was compelled to wear a black mask over

hia face for a whole year. Aaother was simply stupid-; he bad a seal set on his forehead. The Kirg himself paid reverent homage to a certain tree, and there was a. hedge upon which he bestowed his benediction as he drove by. After a long absence be would embrace a column that stood at tbe entrance of his favourite country seat. — Merkiden Howard, in Pearson's Magazine.