PUTTING THE KING OF FRANCE TO BED.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 408, 2 October 1875, Page 3

PUTTING THE KING OF FRANCE TO BED.

At eleven o’clock came the officers on duty, and the courtiers. Everything was ready, a splendid toilette table with lace and gold brocade. The dressing gown of white embroidered Lyons silk on a chair of red morocco, the chemise wrapped in a piece of tafl’ety; on the railing a double cushion of the cloth of gold, called sultan, with the nightcap and handkerchiefs on it. By it were the slippers of the same material as the gown, placed near the pages of the chamber, standing against the railing. The monarch arrived, the first gentleman of the chamber received his hat and sword, and handed them to an under official. The King commenced a conversation with the courtiers, that was longer or shorter according as he found it pleasant, and was often much too long for our sleepiness and weary legs. After the conversation was finished the King went within the railing, knelt with the chaplain-in-waiting alone, who held a long taper-stand of silver gilt, with two tapers, while the princes could only have one. The chaplain recited the prayer quoisumns omnipotens Dens ; and when the prayer was finished, the taper was handed to the first servant of the chamber ; and he, at the King’s orders, gave it to any gentleman to be extinguished. This honour was so much appreciated in France that many aspirants could not disguise their disgust if they did not obtain it. Marshal de Broglie, the conqueror of Bergen, a blue ribbon and a Marshal of France, covered with glory at forty years old, seemed to feel the deprivation more than any one. , . . After

the prayer the King took off his coat, the right sleeve being held by the Grand Master of the Ward’-obe, and the left by a master of the first rank, and always in descending order, if the higher officers were not present. Then the King took his shirt; it was given him by the first gentleman of the chamber. But if one of the princes of the blood was present, it was he who had the right to put on the night-shirt, which was considered a great honour. Then the first gentleman of the chamber presented the dressing gown to the King, whilst he took his purse, an immense bunch of keys, telescope, and knife from his pockets, then let his small clothes fall down upon his heels, and, standing thus would often again converse for a long time. At last he sat down in an armchair, a servant of the chamber on the right, one of the wardrobe on the left, knelt down, and each took one of the King’s feet to pull off his stockings, then the two pages of the chamber advanced and put on his slippers, that was the time for departure. The usher gave the signal, “ Bass, gentlemen. ” No one remained but the princes, the special service, and those who had the little entree. They talked to the King while his hair was being prepared for the night. That was the time for pleasant speeches and little anecdotes. —Recollections of a Page at Court of Louis XVI.” —(Hurst and Blackett.)