Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-10-21
LIFE IN A ROYAL COURT.


Marie Antoin,tte Describes II In n Letter
to Her Mother.
Miss Anna L. BicInell, author of
Life In the Tuileries Under the
Second Empire, contributes an ar
ticle to The Century on Marie An
toinette as Dauphine. Miss Bick-
nell has availed herself Of new ma
terial from the state papers in vi
emma. An interesting document from
this source is the following letter
written by Marie Antoinette to her
mother, Maria Theresa, empress of
Austria:
CHoIsY, July IL.
MADAME MY VERY DEAR MoTnER-I cannot
express how much am affected by your mai
esty' kindness, and protest that have not
yet received ono of your dear letters without
tears of regret filling my eyes ut being parted
from such kind and tender mother, and, al
though am very happy here, should ear
nestly wish to return to see my dear, very
dear family, if only for short time
We have Leen here since yesterday, and
from O'Clock in the afternoon, when we dine,
till in the morning we cannot return to our
own apartments, which is very disagreeable
to mo. After dinner we have cards till Q
o'clock Then we go to the play till half past
u then supper, ;hen cards again till o'clock,
sometimes even half past /. Only yesterday
the king, seeing that was tired out, kindly
dismissed me at IL, to my very great satisfac-
ton. and 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 habit
ually. will say, therefore, that rise at 10
O'Clock or o or half past 0, and after dressing
say my prayers. Then ! breakfast, after
which go to my aunts, where usually meet
the king. This lasts till half past TO- At III
go to have my hair dressed. At noon the
"chambre" is called, and any one of sufficient
rank may come in. put on my rouge and
wash my hands before everybody. Then tho
gentlemen go out, the ladies stay, and dress
before them. AT IL is mass. When the king is
at Versailles, go 10 mass with him and my
husband and my aunts. If he is not there,
go with monsieur the daupllin, but always ut
the same hour After mass we { ne together
before everybody, but it is over b. ,alf past /,
as we both cat quickly. then so IL monsieur
the daurhin. If lie is busy, return to my
own apartments, where l read l write or l
work, for am embrodering vest for the
KING, which does not get on quickly, but
trust that, with Gods help, it will be finished
In few years 10 AT go to my aunts',
where the king usually comes at that time.
AT \ the able comes to me. AT the master
for the harpsicEord. or the singing master,
till 9. AT half past 9 generally go to my
aunts' when do not go out. You must know
that my husband almost always comes with
me to my auuts. AT a. card playing till 0,
but when the weather is fine go out, and
then the card playing takes place in my aunts'
apartments lns,ead OF mine. AT o, supper.
When the king is absent, my aunts come 10
take supper with us. II the king is there, we
go to them after supper, and we wait for the
King, who comes usually ut quarter before
II, but lie On a large sofa and sleep till his
arrival. When he is not expected we go TO
bed at IL. Such is my day.
entreat 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. ask pardon also Tor the blot
ted letter, but have had 10 write two days
running at my toilet, having no other time Mt
my disposal, und If 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, us
have to dress and to go to tho king s mass.
have the honor TO be your majesty $ most sub
mlssive daughter, MARIE ANTolNETTE.