He never came back, however, and apparently forgot both the charming day in Friedrichshafen and Princess Emma of Waldeck-Pyrmont.
[1] The grandson of King Louis Philippe of France, and eldest son of the Duc de Nemours and Victoria, née Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. [↑]
[2] The present Queen-mother of Holland. [↑]
CHAPTER XIII
Ludwig and the Artistes of the Stage—Josephine Schefzky
His subjects began to give up the hope of seeing their King a husband. Several political parties, however, hoped that they might be able to influence him through a mistress. Their expectations were disappointed also in this. After the breaking-off of his engagement, the fair sex played but a small part in the King’s life. He seems to have looked upon women with the same eyes as the poet Holberg, who in one of his letters writes that he regards them as “pretty pictures”—to be looked at, but not to be touched! Those who knew Ludwig are entirely agreed that he never felt real love for any woman, not even for his betrothed wife, though at one time he appeared to do so. To Richard Wagner, he said at one of their first meetings: “You do not like women either, do you? They are such bores!”
Ludwig’s indifference did not, however, prevent him from feeling friendship for several women.[1] His artistic interests, moreover, brought him into contact with others of them; and in his youth he often summoned actresses and women-singers to his palaces in order that they might recite and sing to him. He astonished them by his remarkable memory, for if they left out but a single word he would immediately supply it. Not infrequently he would himself take a part in a dialogue, and his gifts of elocution are said to have been charming.
Some of his experiences with the artistes whom he invited to his palaces can hardly have contributed to increase his respect for women. The fêted actress, Frau von Bulyowska, declaimed before him at Hohenschwangau fragments of Schiller’s dramas. For some time he delighted in Mary Queen of Scots; he had her engraved, he had her painted, he had her acted at the theatre. The aforesaid actress, who had taken the part of Mary Stuart, had to stand as model to the court painter, who made sketches of her for use in a painting of that unfortunate Queen. Frau von Bulyowska thought this was the outcome of an interest on Ludwig’s side in her person; and she unreservedly avowed her intention of seducing the young Monarch, and of playing the rôle of a Madame de Pompadour at his court.