THE TOILET OF LOUIS XIII.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2045, 24 July 1875, Page 4

THE TOILET OF LOUIS XIII.

The description of one morning in the King's life at Versailles is appalling enough to our nineteenth century ideas. At eight o'clock in the morning,-while an officer de fouriere put more wood ou the fire in the King's bed-room, the King still sleeping, valets were noiselessly opening the window-shutters,"taking away the " en -cas," or night collation (which consisted of bread, wine,, water, with an enamel cup and some plntes and napkins, sometimes also a bowl'of soup or a cold roa3t chicken.) the night-light, and a wax candle, which burned all night in a silver candlestick placed in a silver basin on the floor. Bon temps, the first valet, who had been dressing in the nnte-cbam-bcr-meantime, soon came in- again, and remained silently waiting till the clock struck the half-hour, which was the hour "fixed the night before for the King's reveille. . Soon it struck, and Bonternps, approaching the King's bed, said, " Sire, it is time." Then he went into the antechamber to announce that his Majesty was awake After the King had left his bed, the Due do Beauvilliers put on him his robe de cliambrc of rich stuff, and St. Qucntin presented the wig the King had chosen, and which he piit on himself. Bontemps put on his stockings, and' gave him his embroidered velvet slippers. When the king put them on, he again crossed himself with holy water, came out of the railing r< xind his bed, and placing himself near the chimney in a large arm-chair asked for the first entree. The Due de Beauvilliers repeated aloud, "La Premiere entree," and a lacquey of the chamber who was near thf» door made those whose right, from their offices, or by" favour, it was to come into the petite levee. This was a shaving day, and while Charles do Guisquo jirepared the water and held the basin, Quentin shaved him and sponged his face with a soft sponge, the King himself being allowed to dry his own face, while Boaternps held the looking glass! After this came the " grandes levees," to be admitted to which was a distinction for which-even princes.-often sighed in vain. . . . The King's toilet went on.

His cliaussons and garters were brought, and Gabriel Bachelier gave them to His Majesty, who himself puj; them on. Gregoire de Bougucrolles then presented to him his " Tiaut dd chasses," to which were attached silk stocking's; and the Sieur Pierre d'Orvalle put on the King's shoes, with their diamond buckles; two pages, dressed in red velvet, embroidered with gold and silver braid, took away the slippers, while the King fastened his garters with diamond buckles. He had a right to fasten them, but when he undressed at night it was necessary that the head valet de chamlre. should unfasten the garter of the left leg, while one of the valets of the wardrobe might undo that on the right! . . . After having

breakfasted, Louis took off Ms dressinggown, and the Marquis de la Salle, master of the wardrobe, pulled his camisole off by the left sleeve, while Bontemps brought the right sleeve- Bachelier brought the King's shirt, wliich had been just •warmed, and gave it to the Due de Beauvilliers. The Dauphin, having got rid of his hat and gloves, approached the King and gave him,his shirt. And so they got his Majesty dressed. Bachelier and St-Michel, valets of the wardrobe, brought the sword, waistcoat and the blue ribbon ; the Due de la Eochefoucauld fastened on the sword, put on the vest, and put across it like a scarf, the ribbon, to which was attached the cross of St Esprit in diamonds, and the cross^ of St Louis, tied together by a red ribbon. The King of France-was dressed!