ANECDOTES OF A MAD KING.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 1 October 1913, Page 3

ANECDOTES OF A MAD KING.

In "My Past," by Countess Marie Larisch, there are some curious stories of the mad King Ludwig of Bavaria:

King Ludwig 11. of Bavaria would, allow no servants to wait on him at dinner, and when he pressed a spring his round table sank through a hole in the floor ; the next course was then set, and the "table assended into the dining-room again. Plenty of champagne in ice pails was placed near the King, and if the table did not return quickly enough- he flung, some bottles through the hole, as an emphatic reminder to the servants below that he objected to be kept waiting.

The King had a wonderful winter garden at Munich, which) was built on the roof of the Residenz. There was also an artificial lake with a painted panoramic background of the Himalaya mountains, and when the King sat in the gardens a .'lproperty' rjmdon shedite gaseous light over the snow-capped peaks. •

Queen Marie's bedroom was immer diately under the1 winter garden, and one night the Queen, who) was laid up with a heavy cold, was terrified out of her wits when she discovered that the lake was leaking through the ceiling-, and that a steady downpour was falling on her bed.

The. unfortunate lady did not quite know what to do, as she had been strictly enjoined by her doctors to keep in one teniperature; she hastily summoned her attentants, however, and they brought a large umbrella, under which ste took shelter until the leakage was repaired.

The King used often to command artistes from the theatre to perform in the winter gardens, and I remember the fate which befel Josephina Schefzky, a large, tall woman, whose one wish in. life was to attract Ludwig's notice. As all the singers sang- hidden behind screens, Josephina's chances of meeting the King face to face were exceedingly small; but what woman is ever at a loss for an expedient? She knew how. chivalrously romantic Ludwig could be on occasions, so she decided she would fall into the lake,) and entreat him to rescue her.

The eventful evening arrived, Josephine warbled Irer sweetest for the benefit of the listening monarch, and when the song was over plunged heavily into the lake.

There was a tremendous noise, and the water splashed to the topmost summit of the "Himalayas," but the lady remained chin-deep in the lake, whose still- waters were not so deep as they looked. "Save me, save me, Lohengrin!" cried the agitated singer.

The King rang the bell. "Get that woman out of the lake and send her home,'" he commanded, and the dripping Josephina, sadder and wiser, walked out of the water and out of the Residenz for ever.