Identifier: greatestnations05elli (find matches)
Title: The story of the greatest nations, from the dawn of history to the twentieth century : a comprehensive history, founded upon the leading authorities, including a complete chronology of the world, and a pronouncing vocabulary of each nation
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Ellis, Edward Sylvester, 1840-1916 Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1870-1942
Subjects: World history
Publisher: New York : F.R. Niglutsch
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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the reading ofMolieres plays; and we even find him inviting the author to dine with himalone, that all the supercilious court might see the value set upon this ex-valetand play-actor, whose body the churchmen refused to bury in consecratedground. Other great literary names adorn Louiss reign, too numerous to men-tion ; indeed, the whole court began to take a literary tone. This court was far different, far more gorgeous than in any previous era.Louis wished to have all his nobles around him. He discouraged them fromstaying home on their estates. They might grow too powerful and rebelliousthere. So those who insisted on absenting themselves from his circle, werewatched with jealous suspicion. To keep the faithful ones amused there was one continuous round of feastsand fetes, picnics, and hunting parties. Often one of those neglected estateswas squandered upon a single entertainment. Not since the height of Romansplendor had Europe known such magnificence of display, such brilliancy of
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France—Splendor of Louis XIV 889 wit. It has been said that the courtiers of this period had no Jiome life, and thecharge seems sadly true. They had no time for real happiness. With all this resplendent world centering round one man, and a vain manat that, you can imagine what flattery was heaped upon him. His court de-clared him the sun of the universe, and Louis, accepting their homage, tookfor his emblem a rising sun. All these royal extravagances made the countrys money flow like water.And we have not yet spoken of Louiss two most extravagant tastes—for warand for building. These, he felt, were the two things best calculated to dis-play his splendor to the outside world. Bridges and good roads multiplied allthrough France, and huge fortresses rose on her every frontier, the work ofLouiss famous military engineer, Vauban. You can imagine, too, what enor-mous palaces were required to house Louiss multitudinous court, with its end-less retinue of servants. The magnificent edifice

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