The record-union., 1897-10-18
LIFE IN A ROYAL COURT.
Marie Antoinette Describes He1
Daily Occupations.

Miss Anna l.. Bicknell, author of
Life in the Tuileries Under the Sec
ond Empire" contributes an article to
| the October Century on Marie An
toinctte as Dauphine" Miss Bicknell
has availed herself of new material
from the state papers in Vienna An
interesting document from this source
is the following letter written by Marie
Antoinette to her mother, Maria The
| reSa, Empress of Austria:
'Choisy, 18th July
Madame, My Very Dear Mother:
| cannot express how much 4 am affected
by your majesty's kindness, and L pro-
test that l have not yet received one
of your dear letters without tears of
regret filling my eyes at being parted
from such a kind and tender mother;
and, although I am very happy here,
I should earnestly wish to return to
see my dear very dear family, if only
for a short time.
I'VE have been here since yesterday,
and from l o'clock in the afternoon,
when we dine, till / in the morning,
we cannot return to our own apart
ments, which is very disagreeable to
me. After dinner we have cards till
q o'clock; then we go to the play till
half past 9; then supper; then cards
| again till l o'clock, sometimes even
half past 1; only yesterday the King,
seeing that l was tired out, kindly dis
missed me at IL, to my very great sat
isfaction, and 1 slept very well till
half past 10.
Your majesty is very kind to show
so much interest in me, even to the
extent of wishing for an account of how
l spend my time habitually. I will
say, therefore, that 1 rise at 10 o'clock,
or 8, or half past 8, and after dressing
| say my prayers; then l breakfast, af-
ter which 1 go to my aunts', where
usually meet the King. This lasts till
half past 10. AT II l go to have my
hair dressed. AT noon the chamber
is called, and any one of sufficient rank
may ccme in. | put on my rouge and
wash my hands before everybody; then
the gentlemen go out; the ladies stay,
and dress before them. AT II is mass
when the King is at Versailles 1 go to
mass with him and my hus-
band and my aunts; If he is
not there I go with Monsieur the Dau-
phin, but always at the same hour.
After mass we dine together before
everybody, but it is over by half past
l, and we both eat quickly. I then go
to Monsieur the Dauphin; if he is busy,
1 return to my own apartments, where
l read, I write, or 1 work; for l am
embroidering a vest for the King,
which does not get on quickly; but 1
trust that, with Gods help, it will be
finished in a few years %. At 3 L go
fn f.s 4l
comes at that time At 4 the Able
comes to me; at ) the master for the
harpischord, or the singing master till
q. At half past 1 generally go to my
aunts' when I do not go out You must
know that my husband almost always
comes with me to my aunts AT Z,
card playing till 8; but when the wea-
ther is fine l go out, and then
the card playing takes place in my
aun-s' apartments instead of mine 9
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 a quarter before II: !:
but L lie on large sofa and sleep till
his arrival; when he is not expected we
go to bed at II. Such is my day.
L cntreat you, my dear mother, to
forgive me if my letter is too long; but
my greatest pleasure is to be thus in
communication with your majesty I
ask pardon also for the blotted letter,
but have had to write two days run
ming at my toilet, having no other time
at my disposal; and if do not answer
all questions exactly, I trust that your
majesty will make allowances for my
having too obediently burned your let
ter. l must finish this, as 1 have to
dress and to go to the Kings mass. I
have the honor to be your maiesty's
most submissive daughter
RIE-ANTOINETTE"