Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-11-13
By MasScr s. Eisoly.
The Ways of Marie Antoinnette.

o'clock, at which hour her first lady Of the bed
chamber entered the room, snd came wi hin the
gilt railing which sur. unded the b. j, bringing IN
one hanl pin cushnn, and in he ether the book
containing patterns of all the queens dresses, Of
which she had usually lhry.six for each season,
besides muslin and other common dresses. The
Queen marked with prs the threo she chose TO
wear in the coutse Of that day; one during the
evening-at card party, a ball, or theatre. The
book was then delivered TO a foounan, who carried
/. it to the Lady of the wardrobe. She took down
from the shelves and drawers these dresses end
basket with the linen, &C., which her majesty
would want that DAY. Great wrappers of green
tailety were thrown these things, aud foot
men carried them 10 the queens dressing-room,
Sometimes the queen took her breaffs, in bed
and sometimts in her bath. Her linen dress was
trimmed with the richest lace; her dressing gown
was of white iaflety and the slippers in which she
stepped to the bath were of white d!mity trimmed
with lace.
Two women were kept for the sole business of
attending TO the bath, which usually rolled in.
TO the room upon castors.--The bathing gown was
! of fine flannel, with collar and cuffs, and lining
throughout oifne linen. The breakfast, of coffee
or chocolate, was served on a tray which stood on
the cover of the bath. Meantime, one Of the la
dies warmed the bed with II silver warming pan,
and the queen returned 10 it, sitting up in her white
tailrty dr,ssing.gown, and reading or, if any one
who had permission to visit her at tha, hour
wished to see her. she took up her embroidery.
This kind OF visit, mt PERSONS rising, is cuOtoma-
( ~ abroad ani II has been SO long so at the Court
Of France, that certain classes OF persons were an
| der,t1od 10 have night 10 visit the queen at the
! hour OF her evre, as 1t was caed.-These persons
were the physicians and surgeons Of the court ;
any m ssengers from the king the queens sec
ary and others that there were often, besides
the ladies in waiting ten a dozen persons visit
ing the queen as she sat up in bed, al work, tax
ng her breakfast.
The great Visiting hour, however, was noon
when tie queen went into smother room to have
her hair dressed. We see in prints how the hair
was dressed al that time-iizzel and powdered
| and piled up with silk cushions and ribbons and
! flowers, ill the wonder was how any head could
bear such weight. It took long time 10 Lrc,s
a lady's hair in those days. The queen sat before
a most splendid t0ilctte>tabe in tie middle Of the
room. The ladies' who had been in waiting fol
| lNenty'iouI hours now wcnt out, anI gave place
to others in full dress, with rose.cu0reJ brocadt
petcoats, wide hoops and high head dresses wlll
lapi e's, and all the iincry Of court. The ushe
took his place before ihe fold ng doors great
chairs ard oo's were set in a circr fpr such visit
ors as had night t. set down ia The presence u
yaItty. Thus IN cred the liic, Of The palace tn
govrrnrss of The royal children. the princes of th
royal family, the secretaries uf state. the captains
the guard, snd on Tuesdays, the foreign umba sa
dIrs. According 20 their rank, the queen ehe
nodl 10 .hem Il, they entered OF b " ed her head
or leaned her arm upon the toilet table, as If aboa
TO rise. This last salu,alion was only To the roya
p;iul ess.-Sho never actually lose for her hai
dresser was powdering her hair