The booths were splendidly painted and gilded,
adorned with lusters and flowers, and bore the arms and cipher of Mme.
la Duchesse de Bourgogne. At the back of each booth a large mirror
reflected the whole. . . . The Duchesse de Bourgogne left this hall,
after the collation, delighted with all that she had seen and heard.
Since the ball-room was so crowded with masks, the princess returned to
the hall of comedy, where they held a smaller court ball until two
o'clock, when she went to the grand ball to see the masks. She was
much amused there until four in the morning. When Mme. la Chanceliere
and the Comte de Pontchartrain conducted her to the foot of the
staircase, she thanked them much for the pleasure they had given her.
This fete brought many congratulations to Mme. la Chanceliere."
La Palatine, Duchess of Orleans, has left among her letters a
description of her costume on a day of august ceremonies. "The crowd
was so great," she wrote, "that we had to wait a quarter of an hour at
the door of each salon before entering, and I was wearing a robe and an
overskirt so intolerably heavy that I could scarcely stand erect. My
costume was of gold woven with black chenille flowers, and my jewels
were pearls and diamonds. Monsieur had on a coat of black velour
embroidered with gold, and wore all his great diamonds. The coat of my
son was embroidered with gold and a variety of other colors and it was
covered with gems.
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