Post by Louis XIV on Dec 22, 2022 17:37:45 GMT
The Social Whirlwind by Sieur Matheus Mallette
Each month this winter, I believe that we have reach the nadir of the social season only to be disappointed that the next month is even more dreary than the last. February was a sad continuation of this cycle. Only the valiant efforts of Lords Bougiedure and Balls made the month bearable.
Lord Balls’ contribution was the presentation of the play The Arrival of Godot starring Mdm Heloise d’Armagnac running at the Theatre Johi. The Baron de Torcy hosted newly arrived Dominican priest Father Vincent de Pooh in his box but sadly, the performances were not well attended as the usual luminaries of Parisian society were absent. The Opening Night party hosted afterwards at the Fleur-de-Lys was an intimate affair will little of society significance to write about.
Lord Bougiedure’s absence from the theater is easily explained by his almost constant presence at the Royal Court during the month. He attended the Parlement of Paris, exercising a little used provision allowing a former city governor to advise the King on matters of State. He was quite eloquent but much of his advice to the King focused on the Crown Prince’s involvement with foreign agents.
Lord de Bearne first appearance in society this month was at ceremony where the King awarded the Barony de Salins in Burgundy. The Grand Duc proved once again that he is master of the dance as he and Mlle Bougiedure, who attended the Grand Ball with him, were both quite the most elegant of all. Later, the Grand Ducs de Deols and de Chevreuse were seen conversing over wine.
Government meetings in the third week were quite the affair, despite the absence of the fairer sex. The Minister of State’s opening speech was met with thunderous applause but Lord Balls’ inaugural speech as Secretary of State was almost a disaster. The theater impresario is noted for his playwriting skills but was not up to the task of making a recitation of internal affairs in the provinces interesting. Almost inexplicable was the attendance of Lord Bougiedure seeing as he stepped down from the post of Controller General of Finance at the end of last year but we frequently in the King’s ear to point out the political machinations of the King’s Brother, Prince Gaston, with a visible effect. Lord de Bearne followed up his successful opening speech with an equally successful audience with the King that resulted in special recognition by His Majesty in front of the assembly of ministers.
The social event of the month, if not the season, was the baptism of Lord Bougiedure’s first son in the final week. Held at the Cathedral de Notre Dame on the Ile de la Cite and presided over by the Cardinal Armand Jean du Plessis, the event was attended by nearly everyone not serving at the front. Lord de Bearne and a younger sister of Lady Bougiedure stood as godparents. Seen in the assembled mass were Lord and Lady Balls, Lord De’Ath escorting Mlle Chabert, and Father Vincent de Pooh. The Grand Duc de Chevreuse hosted a formal dinner party at his residence but the absence of the Grand Duchess was noticeable as the conversation amongst the dinner guest was quite dull despite the valiant efforts of the Grand Duc himself.
Each month this winter, I believe that we have reach the nadir of the social season only to be disappointed that the next month is even more dreary than the last. February was a sad continuation of this cycle. Only the valiant efforts of Lords Bougiedure and Balls made the month bearable.
Lord Balls’ contribution was the presentation of the play The Arrival of Godot starring Mdm Heloise d’Armagnac running at the Theatre Johi. The Baron de Torcy hosted newly arrived Dominican priest Father Vincent de Pooh in his box but sadly, the performances were not well attended as the usual luminaries of Parisian society were absent. The Opening Night party hosted afterwards at the Fleur-de-Lys was an intimate affair will little of society significance to write about.
Lord Bougiedure’s absence from the theater is easily explained by his almost constant presence at the Royal Court during the month. He attended the Parlement of Paris, exercising a little used provision allowing a former city governor to advise the King on matters of State. He was quite eloquent but much of his advice to the King focused on the Crown Prince’s involvement with foreign agents.
Lord de Bearne first appearance in society this month was at ceremony where the King awarded the Barony de Salins in Burgundy. The Grand Duc proved once again that he is master of the dance as he and Mlle Bougiedure, who attended the Grand Ball with him, were both quite the most elegant of all. Later, the Grand Ducs de Deols and de Chevreuse were seen conversing over wine.
Government meetings in the third week were quite the affair, despite the absence of the fairer sex. The Minister of State’s opening speech was met with thunderous applause but Lord Balls’ inaugural speech as Secretary of State was almost a disaster. The theater impresario is noted for his playwriting skills but was not up to the task of making a recitation of internal affairs in the provinces interesting. Almost inexplicable was the attendance of Lord Bougiedure seeing as he stepped down from the post of Controller General of Finance at the end of last year but we frequently in the King’s ear to point out the political machinations of the King’s Brother, Prince Gaston, with a visible effect. Lord de Bearne followed up his successful opening speech with an equally successful audience with the King that resulted in special recognition by His Majesty in front of the assembly of ministers.
The social event of the month, if not the season, was the baptism of Lord Bougiedure’s first son in the final week. Held at the Cathedral de Notre Dame on the Ile de la Cite and presided over by the Cardinal Armand Jean du Plessis, the event was attended by nearly everyone not serving at the front. Lord de Bearne and a younger sister of Lady Bougiedure stood as godparents. Seen in the assembled mass were Lord and Lady Balls, Lord De’Ath escorting Mlle Chabert, and Father Vincent de Pooh. The Grand Duc de Chevreuse hosted a formal dinner party at his residence but the absence of the Grand Duchess was noticeable as the conversation amongst the dinner guest was quite dull despite the valiant efforts of the Grand Duc himself.