KING OTTO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7293, 4 January 1902, Page 4

KING OTTO.

RECOVERING HIS REASON, (Daily Matl.) Within the walls of -tlhe Royal €astle of Furstenried — a majestic building, standing out with vivid whiteness against a sombre background of hill and iomsb— -there is being enacted a draana> which has few parallels in the history of the world. King Otto of 'Bavaria — King in name only — who (for a quarter of a century (has lived amid all itihe regal splendour of the castle, Ihopelessiy, oftentimes dangerously, insane, is at last believed' to be regaining his reason. He has broken ithe Wank, stubborn silence of many years; foe- !has spoken nationally. The change may be only temporary j his attendants 'hardly dare hope for more. > The twenty-five years of his confinement seem to have passed itlhe unhappy monarch uncounted. Queen Marie, his mother, and King Louis EL, his brother, both of whom have been long dead, occupy ibis " -thoughts daily. He discusses events of 1876 as if they were but of recent omnrrence. He is unaware thatjiie has been King since that year. In fact, .twenty-five years have wholly dropped out of his life, and he- is picking up the thread's as if they had never been broken. This is not the only page in the tragedy of the ancient house of Wittebbach. King Otto's brother, Ludwig 11., was also insane. He was deposed in consequence thereof,, and three days later committed suicide by drowning himself in the lake of Beror Castle. Prince Otto had been .pronounced insane before his accession to the -throne. Their mother, one of the most beautiful women in Europe, is said to have wept (herself blind at this accumulation of nldsfcrtunes. Though a vein of eccentricity bordering upon insanity has prevailed in> itihe Bavarian Royal Family fan two or three generations, the case of King Otto is undoubtedly the saddest. Both he and his brother were strikingly handsome youths. WMle the latter was on "the throne Prince Otto led a somewhat riotous 'life in the army. Though heir to the Crown of the second kingdom of the German Empire, 'he -was the only prince who, at a great 'banquet held dm recognition of the proclamation of William I. as German Emperory refused to (honour the toast. In consequence Bismarck caused to be.inserted iin -the "Official Gazette" a notification .to the effect that Prince Otto was temporarily insane. He was removed from Bavaria and returned 1 later to 'Munich quite insane. He was confined to 'Nymphenbnrg, a castle in'the immediate neighbourhood of that city, but at Ihs brother's wish no stringent supervision was kept upon his movements, with the result that the unhapoy youth more "than once evaded his guardians, and running "tin-rough the streets of Munich, created great consternation among the inhabitants. He was subsequently removed to Sohleissheian, which, being surrounded by a wall, • permitted him to take exercise without fear of his escaping into the outer world. He did not stay there long, hovveveri. -For many years he has dragged out fete unhappy existence at the Castle of Furstenried. He is waiited! upon with all the ceremony due to his exalted rank. His meals are served upon silver dishes. The unfortunate - monarch has an objection to taking exercise, consequently he is tortured with sleeplessness. He spends the long nights in stacking aloud to himself, and sometimes singing in a voice that is really beautiful. Should the afflicted monarch er.tireiy recover his reason he would," of course, occupy the Throne of Bavaria. For thirty years Prince Luifrpold, as Regent, has ably conducted the State's affairs. In the event ol the King's death, Prince Laitoold would succeed. The heir to the Regent nest in succession to the Throne is Prince Ludwig, a talented and ambitious soldier. His Princess, 'according to the Legitimist League of England, is the direct heir of *the Stuarts and of Charles the First. Prince Rupert, son of Prince Ludwig, will ultimately foe Kin>g of Bavaria-