ng donned his silk stockings
and diamond-buckled garters and shoes--acts that he performed "with
address and grace." On alternate days, when his night-cap had been
removed, the nobles and courtiers were privileged to see the King shave
himself, while a mirror, and, if the morning was dull, lighted candles
were held before his face by the first _valet de chambre_. Occasionally
His Majesty briefly addressed some one in the room. The assemblage was,
by this time, augmented by the admission of secretaries and officers
attached to the palace, whose position entitled them to the "first
_entree_." When his wig was in place and the dressing of the royal
person had proceeded at the hands of officers of the Wardrobe (there
were, in all, sixty persons attached to this service), the King spoke the
word that opened the ante-chamber doors to the cardinals, ambassadors and
government officials that awaited the ceremony of the _grand lever_, or
"grand rising," so-called in distinction to the more intimate _petit
lever_. Altogether, no less than one hundred and fifty persons were
present while the King went through the daily ceremony of the rising and
the toilet.

When the Sovereign of France had breakfasted on a service of porcelain
and gold, had permitted his sword and his jeweled orders to be fastened
on, and, from proffered baskets of cravats and handkerchiefs, had made
his choice; when he had prayed by his bedside with cardinals and clergy
in attendance; had granted brief informal interviews, and had attended
mass in the chapel of Versailles, it was his custom to ask for the
Council. Thrice a week there was a council of State, and twice a week a
finance council. Thus the mornings passed, with the exception of
Thursday morning, when His Majesty gave "back-stair" audiences known to
but a few, and Friday morning, which was spent with his confessor.

Louis was always a busy man of affairs and never shirked his kingly
duties. It was a principle of his life to place duty first and pleasure
after. He told his son in his memoirs that an idle king showed
ingratitude toward God and injustice toward man. "The requirements and
demands of royalty," he wrote, "which may, at times, appear hard and
irksome, you should find easy and agreeable in high places. Nothing will
exhaust you more than idleness. If you tire of great affairs, and give
up to pleasures, you will soon be disgusted with your own idleness. To
take in the whole world