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Show THE ODDITIES OF THE BAVARIAN KING. The loyalty of the peasants of South Bavaria is quite touching in its simplicity and faith. The present King, Ludwig, can scarcely be said to be very popular in the capital, or among the upper classes of the country. He is a man of many peculiarities, some of which may be said almost to verge on mania. Young, handsome and accomplished, gifted with rare intelligence, and devoted to art and study he has, unfortunately, permitted himself to indulge in a morbid love of solitude and distaste for society, most prejudicial to himself and to his country. Every year of his life this morbid desire of seclusion appears to increase upon him, until, at the present moment, it has reached a pitch which scarcely seems to admit of reason. The King holds no court and entertains no one. He scarcely ever visits the capital, and then only for a day or two at a time for matters of urgent business. He has a number of castles all over the country, one more retired that the others, and in these he passes his time. They are mostly known by the name of hunting lodges or shooting boxes. But the King, unlike his father Maximilian, neither hunts or shoots. His whole time is passed in solitary study, or in the diligent pursuit of music and painting, to both of which arts he is devoted. He seldom stays more than a week in any one place and when he moves, does so in the depth of night. If in some quiet Bavarian village the night echoes are roused by a rapid rolling of carriage wheels and the quick tramp of horses' feet, you may know it is the King changing quarters from one lonely place to another, or perhaps, as he is occasionally known to do, indulging in the pleasure of a solitary midnight drive. He admits none to his friendship but artists and musicians, and of those he is a most liberal patron. But it is whispered in Munich gossip that the King proved absolutely too musical for Herr Richard Wagner himself, and that when, some years ago now, he invited the composer to stay with him for the mutual enjoyment of their beloved art, the maestro was, after a while, compelled to retire on the ground that he could not play "all day and all night too." It is popularly believed that the King never sleeps, but as we have ourselves seen a small pallet bed in one of his apartments we are inclined to think that he does occasionally indulge in some natural rest. The origin of all these peculiarities is sought in the fact that his father showed a great dislike to King Ludwig as a child, and so saddened his spirit; but they are, in truth, hereditary, and are shared by other members of his family. To his mother the King is said to be much attached; but thought often occupying the same house, it is believed that mother and son but seldom meet. |
