The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-07-27
MARIE ANTOINBTTB.

Mu1l1u AIlUlINn1InI
Once a Week,
The following "reminiscences are iust
now peculiarly timely when the Paris
ians have Just celebrated the fall Of the
Bastlle, which, as the Due do Lioncourt
told Louis the XVI, signiaed the ruin
Of the monarchy.
Early one morning toward the end Of
the year 1850, an elderly woman OF aris-
tocratiC appearance and dressed in the
height Of the fashion OF that age, inclu-
diHga an enormous hoopskirt Of rich bro
cade, and deliberately frizzed and pow
dered hair, crossed one OF the gorgeous
anteChambers Of the palace Of Versailles,
preceded by a little page clad in u red
velvet suit, embroidered with gold lace,
who carried a lighted candle in his
hand. The page knocked lightly at
the door at the further side oil
the nntechamber, and, without paus-
ing, opened it and passed into the
darkened room to which 1t afforded en-.
trance, followed by the noble femme de
chambre, who was none other than the
celebrated Mime. Campan. In the CEN
ter OF the room was u huge four.post
bedstead, the richly broidered curtains
OF which were closely drawn. Crossing
the room, Nine. Calnpan silently un.
bolted a door on the opposite side, and u
nohlemQn In full dress entered, followed
in his turn by a Servant OF the cham.
ber'' Of lower rank, who carried across
his arm q dressing gown OF still cloth OF
gold, lined with u quilted red silk.
Quickly and silently the two men APP
preached to the side OF the ponderous
edilCe which did duty rs a bed, and
reyerently pulled aside the heavy cur.
taius. A stout man with q fat, good
humored face stuck his head out and
yawned once OF twice. 1t WIS his Cath
Ollie majesty, King Louis NYI. OF France,
and like one OF the meanest OF his sub.
jeCts, he was no doubt thinking that it
was very pleasant beneath the em-
broidered coverlet, and possibly
very chilly and very unCom-
Portable outside thereof. However,
even kings can not lie in bed all day, SO
his majesty summoned up that resolu-
ton which was in scarce u decade to EN-.
able him to lay his head upon the block
without a tremor, and stepped out OF
bed, having first indicted his royal feet
into q pair OF tleeCe.lined slippers, held
out for their reception by tho nobleman
who knelt before him. Then the dress.
ing gown OF cloth OF gold was carefully
wrapped around his rotund form, and
with another yawn or two his highness
shuiiled across the room and disappeared
through the door by which his attend.
ants had Just entered. Ho was preceded
thither by Nine. Campan, who when he
had passed through 1t bolted Il carefully.
She then threw back the shutters from
the great square window, admitting q
flood OF light into tho apartment, after
which she pulled back the curtains OIL
the bed on the side opposite 10 that from
which the king had descended, and left
the room, which was Immediately enter.
ed by a crowd OF ladies OF honor, headed
by the Princess de Lamballe, who pro.
Cecded TO assist her majesty in making
her toilet.
The queen, for whom all this elabor'
ate ceremonial was performed, was
about twenty-five years Of age, and.
allowing for the Courtier eyes Of all con
temporaries, who could see nothing but
what was admirable In any one above
the rank OF a prince Of the blood, must
have then been exceedingly beautiful
with q face perfectly oval, large liquid
eyes, and q bopntiful supply OF silky
hair. Brought up In the almost demo
CratiCAlly simple court Of Maria Theresa
the ten years she had since spent frs
rs Dauphiness, and then as Queen o
France, had not habituated her to the
burdensome etiquette or the most cere
moniouS court In Europe, and so hel
lovely face was Clouded with an all o
only half concealed wearIness and dis
dain, rs she underwent the tedium o
dressing. Throughout this lengthy
process nothing was handed To her di
reCtly, even her gloyeg being placed OF
Ioig golden satver called o eaqtiere
BEFORE lie toilet however, she hat
taken her bath tsGiSc bathed In q lonI
gown OF English flannel, buttonec dowr
to the hem and lined throughout with
linen), dressed anew in q laCe.trimmeC
Chemise and O white tatIety bedgown
and repaired once more To bed, whort
the Princess de Lamballe had presented
her with a simple breakfast Of chocolate
aud fine rolls. Here she lay until noon
when the room was filled will
n%oblemen, eCclesiastics, ladies OF thu
court, and officers OF the guard, for thu
grand toilette was 10 take place and thit
was the time appointed for all high Ii
rank TO pay their respects. These shI
saluted according TO their rank, q smilI
to one, q nod to another, and a stated!
inclination to a third, until at last thu
dressing Of the enormous pyramid o
hair was concluded, and she Withdrew
into her closet TO complete her toilet
Emerging thence, she was escorted b
the chapel, where the king, who had II
his turn gone through almost aB cerDmo
NOUS ai attlring, was already present
and facing the grand altar the HUSBAND
aud wife heard mass. Returning shl
passed into the cabinet OF tho nobility
q room leading TO her own chamber, anl
tho maitre d'hotel, d digniled parsonage
furnished with q stat some seven feet Il
length, having announced that tn
"aueUn was served" the royal pal
dIned, the table service being periorinet
by tho lady OF honor and four noble
women in full dress. Then, the inca
being over, the queen retired 10 ho
apartment, was diversed Of her hool
: and train, and for the first time that da.
found herself a woman, and not sinpl,
a queen,
IL was now growing dusk, and III.
queen, dressed In q simple costume
White muslin, had received q visit iron
! her t%wo.year.old daughter, who wa
\ brought ia by her nitro and tutors, an
had played with and iondledthe child
% though she we're the humblest mOthe
In her domlhlohB. She was noy romi
= nally working with idly taken bLitehe
/ on alitlle square Of tapestry, but In II
/. Rlily listening with hali.suppruesOd lau
I. glitter 10 some story told her by Tho Cor
Is Ipsse do polignNc, with meaning ShruE
q and tell.tAle sinking Of the voice. Sue
A. denly Nine. Camp9n entered the root
and whlBperedto her majesty, who ln9l
: cd crimson, hastily rose, and leavink III
COmteSso without a word passed lot