ed ones witnessed a
performance of "Iphigenie," a new tragedy by Racine, which was most
admirably played by the royal troupe, and much applauded by the Court.
There followed a grand illumination of the great fountain at the head
of the canal--a display whose beauty and ingenuity "surprised every
one"--even the luxury-surfeited guests of Versailles. Besides an
encircling balustrade six feet in height and ornamented with _fleurs de
lys_ and the arms of the King (all of which glowed with a golden light
most lovely to look upon), there were high pedestals that appeared to
be of transparent marble, with ornaments representing Apollo and the
Sun, whose device Louis, instigator of all the splendor of Versailles,
had adopted as his own insignia. These decorations were made after
designs by Lebrun.

On the night of the thirty-first of August, the sixth and last day of
the fetes, the Court witnessed what seemed to be indeed a magic
spectacle. "His Majesty," it is recorded, "coming out of the chateau
at one o'clock in the morning, beneath a starless sky, suddenly beheld
about him a miraculous rain of lights. Ail the parterres glittered.
The grand terrace in front of the chateau was bordered by a double row
of lights. The steps and railings of the horseshoe, all the walls, all
the fountains, all the reservoirs, shone with myriad flames. The
borders of the Grand Canal were adorned with statues and architectural
decorations, behind which lights had been placed to make them
transparent. The King, the Queen, and all the Court took their seats
in richly ornamented gondolas. Boats filled with musicians followed
them, and Echo repeated the sounds of an enchanted harmony."

Thus ended the fetes of 1674--the last of their kind that were given by
Louis XIV.

The Versailles calendar of events was divided into three periods: the
season of the winter carnival, the pious observances of Easter, and the
summer-time festivities. Ordinarily, in the winter months, there was a
hunt on foot or horseback almost every day. In the warm season the
Court often took part in a promenade by boat on the Grand Canal,
followed by a concert and a feast for the ladies at Trianon or at the
Menagerie. Ladies were always invited in great numbers to such
parties. Sometimes they walked among the orange trees or made a tour
of the gardens in light carriages, or repaired to the stables to watch
the trainers putting the royal mounts through their paces. And