Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-16

Marie AntOinette Describes Her Daily
Occupn tiOns.

Marie AntOinette Describes Her Daily
Occupations.
Miss Anna L. Bicknell, author of Life in
the Tuileries Under the Second Empire"
contributes an article to the Century on
Marie Antoinette as Dauphne.' Miss
Bicknell has awaited herself of new ma
terial from the state papers in Vienna. An
Interesting document from this source is
the following letter written by Marie An
toinette to her mother, Maria Theresa. EN-
press of Austria:
"CHOISY, 18th July.
"Ma6ame my very dear mother: L can
rot express how much L am affected by
your majesty's kidnesS. and l protest 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 / am very
happy here. ] should earnestly wish 10 re-
turn to see my dear, very dear family, il
only for a short time.
I'VE have been here since yesterday. and
from o'clock in the afternoon, when We
dine, TIL l in the morning. We cannot re-
turn to our own apartments, which is very
disagree cable to me. After dinner we have
cards till q o'clock; then We go to the play
till half-paSt 3; 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 dismissed me at H.
to my very great satisfaction, and l 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 / spend my
time habitually. / will say therefore, that
] rise at 10 o'clock, or 9. or half-past 9,
and after dressing 1 say my prayers: then
l breakfast, after which go to my aunts'
where l usually meet the king This lasts
till half-past 10. At IL ] go to have my
hair dressed. At noon the 'Cambre' is call
ed. and any one Of sufficient rank may
come in l put on my rouge and wash my
hands before everybody: then the gentle
men go out; the ladies stay, and l dress
before them. At II is mass: when the king
Is at Versailles go to mass with him and
my husband and my aunts; If he is not
there 1 go with Monsieur the Dauphin but
always at the same hour. After mass we
die together before everybody, but ii is
l then go to Monsieur the Dauphin: il he is
busy, L return to my own apartments
where l read, L write, or l work: for / am
embroidering vest for the king. which
does not get on quickly: but 1 trust that.
with Gods help, 1t will be finished in a
few yearstD. AT 1 go to my aunts' where
the king usually comes at that time. AT
the able usually comes to me; at : the
master for the harpsichord, or the singing
master till 6. AT half-past l generally go
tc my aunts when l do not go out You
must know that my husband almost al
ways comes with me to my aunts' At Z
card playing till o: but when the weather
Is fine go out, and then the card playing
takes place in my auntS' apartments in
Steau OF mine. AT y, 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 quarter before IL: but
lie on large sofa and sleep till his ar
rival; when he is Lot expected We go to bed
at IL. Such is my day.
Il entreat you. my dear mother TO for
give me If my letter is too long: but my
greatest pleasure is to be thus in comniu-
nication with your majesty. / ask pardon
also for the blotted letter. but / have had
to write two days running at my toilet
having no other time at my disposal: and
II do not answer all questions, exactly, l
trust that your majesty will make allow
ances for my having too obediently burned
your letter. l must finish this as have to
dress and to go to the kings mass. 1 have
the honor to be your majesty's most SUBJ
missive daughter.
MARIE ANTOINETTE"