The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-19
LIFE IN A ROYAL COURT.
Marie- -Antoiuette Describes Her Daily
Occupations.


Miss Anna l.. Bicknoll. author Of Life
In the Tuilerics Under tho Second EN-
pirc" contributes an article TO the Octo-
her Century of nrie-Antoinette as
Daupbine Miss Bickncl has ayailed
herself of new material from the state
Papers in Vienna An interesting docu-
ment from this source is the following
letter written by Maric.Antoinette to her
mother Maria Theresa, Empress of Aus
tria:
"Choisy, 18th July.
Madame my very Dear Mother:
II cannot express how mu,h I am
affected 10y your Msjestys kindness, and
protest that l have not yet received one
OF your dear letters without tears of re-
grct filling my eyes at being parted from
such kind ami tender mother; and
although l am very happy here, 1 should
earnestly wish to return to see my dear,
vary dear family, If only for short time.
"Wo have been here since yesterday,
and from ono o'clock in the afternoon,
when we dine, till one in the morning,
we cannot return to our own apartments,
which Is very disagrecable TO me. After
dinner we have cards till six O'clock /;
then we go to the play till half past nine !:
then supper; then cards again till one
O'Clock sometimes even half.past one; {;
only yesterday the King. seeing 1 was
tired out, kindly dismissed nee at eleven,
to my very gcat satisfaction, and I slept
well till half past ten.
"Your Majesty is very kind to show so
much interest In me. even to the extent
of wishing for an account Of how spend
my time habitually. l will say. there
fore that riss at 10 O'Clock, or 9 or
$3.50, and after dressing l say my prayers
then / breakfast after which 1 GO to my
aunts', where ! usually meet the King.
This lasts till 1890. At II / 90 to have
my hair dressed. At noon the Cham bre
is called. and any one of sufficient rank
NAV come In. l put on my rouge and
wash by hands before everyb ody; then
the gentlemen go out, the ladies' stay. and
dress before them. At 12 is mass; when
the King is at Versailles | go to mass
with him and my husband and my auDts;
Dauphin. but ALWAYS at the same hour
After mass We dine together before every
body, but il is over by 1880. as we both
eat quickly. / then go to Monsieur
Dauphin: il he Is busy l return to my
own apartments. where 1 read. / write,
or work for l am cmbroiderine a vest
for the King, which docs not get on
quickly, but / trust thnt, with Gods
help, 1t will be finished in few years
Cd. At go To my aunts'. where the
King usually comes at that time. At Z
the Abbe comes to me; at b the master for
the harpsichord, or the singing master,
till 8. At $3.50 / generally go TO my
aunts' when do not go out. You must
know that my husband almost always
comes with me to my aunts'. At card
playing till o; but when the weather is
fine 60 out, and then the card play ing
takes place in my aunts' apartments in
stead of mine. At . supper; when the
King is absent my aunts come to take
supper with us; If the King is there, we
go to them after supper; and we wait for
the King who comes usually at ll:l5
but lie on large scfa and sleep till his
arrival: when he is not expected we go
to bed at II. such is INV day.
II entreat you, my dear mother. TO
forgive me if my letter is too long: hut
nv greatest pleasure is to he thus In com
munication with your Majesty. i ask
pardon also for the blottod letter, but l
have had 70 write two DAYS running Mt
NV toilet having 10 other time mt my
disposal ana IL 4 do not answer all cues
tions exactly. trust that your Majesty
will make allowances for my having too
obediently burned your letter. l must
finish this, as have 10 dress and to 40 tn
the Kings mass | have the honor To be
your Majesty most submissive daughter.
'Maric-A ntoinette F"