A History of Western Society: Printed Page 475
A History of Western Society, Concise Edition: Printed Page 475
Letter from Versailles
Born in 1652, the German princess Elisabeth-
I have nothing new to tell you; I walk and read and write; sometimes the king drives me to the hunt in his calèche. There are hunts every day; Sundays and Wednesdays are my son’s days; the king hunts Mondays and Thursdays; Wednesdays and Saturdays Monseigneur [heir to the throne] hunts the wolf; M. le Comte de Toulouse, Mondays and Wednesdays; the Duc du Maine, Tuesdays; and M. le Duc, Fridays. They say if all the hunting kennels were united there would be from 900 to 1000 dogs. Twice a week there is a comedy. But you know, of course, that I go nowhere [due to mourning for her recently deceased husband]; which vexes me, for I must own that the theatre is the greatest amusement I have in the world, and the only pleasure that remains to me. . . .
If the Court of France was what it used to be one might learn here how to behave in society; but — excepting the king and Monsieur [the king’s brother, her deceased husband] — no one any longer knows what politeness is. The young men think only of horrible debauchery. I do not advise any one to send their children here; for instead of learning good things, they will only take lessons in misconduct. You are right in blaming Germans who send their sons to France; how I wish that you and I were men and could go to the wars! — but that’s a completely useless wish to have. . . .
EVALUATE THE EVIDENCE
Source: The Correspondence of Madame, Princess Palatine, Marie-