s made enemies by whatever turn she took, and was caught in a
network of intrigues from which extrication was almost impossible.

[Illustration 5:
_A GARDEN PARTY UNDER MARIE ANTOINETTE AT TRIANON
After the painting by Emile Bayard._
_Parade was the primary requisite: she was obliged to keep up the
splendor and attractiveness of the French monarchy. In spite of the
vigorous remonstrances of her mother, the empress, she persisted in her
wild career of dissipation and extravagance, and drew upon herself more
and more the disrespect of the people, especially in appearing at places
frequented by the disreputable of both sexes, by entering into all noisy
and vulgar amusements, by her disregard and disdain of all the
conventionalities of the court. As a place in which to vent all these
emotions, these ebullitions of affections and amusements, the king
presented her with the chateau "Little Trianon," where she might enjoy
herself as she liked, away from the intrigues of court._]

Here, in this whirl of social excesses, her habits were formed; hers
being a lively, alert, active nature, fond of pleasure and somewhat
inclined toward raillery, she soon became so absorbed in the
many distractions of court life that little time was left her for
indulgence in reflection of a serious nature. Her manner of life at
this time in part explains her subsequent career of heedlessness,
excessive extravagance, and gayety.

At first her aunts--Mmes. Adelaide and Sophie--succeeded in partially
estranging her from Louis XV., who had taken a strong fancy to his
granddaughter; but this influence was soon overcome--then these aunts
turned against her. Her popularity, however, increased. Innumerable
instances might be cited to show her kindness to the poor, to her
servants, to anyone in need--a quality which made her popular with the
masses. In time almost everyone at court was apparently enslaved by
her attractions and endeavored to please the dauphiness--this was
about 1774, when she was at the height of her popularity.

However, there developed a striking contrast between the dauphiness
and the queen; Burke called the former "the morning star, full of
life and splendor and joy." In fact, she was a mere girl, childlike,
passing a gay and innocent life over a road mined with ambushes and
intrigues which were intended to bring ruin upon her and destined
eventually to accomplish their purpose. By being always prompt in her
charities, having inher