The “defiler-cour” almost invariably takes place on New Year’s Day, immediately after Divine service.  This service begins at ten o’clock, the men being in full uniform, and during the benediction a battery of artillery, stationed in the “Lust-Garten,” fires a royal salute of one hundred and one guns.

As soon as the last gun has been fired, the royal and imperial procession forms, headed by the grand marshal of the court, Count Augustus Eulenburg, bearing his wand of office, and leaves the court chapel.  When it reaches the “Weisse-Saal”—­one of the grandest apartments of this ancient palace—­the band stationed in the gallery commences to play, generally the Hohenzollern march.  The emperor and empress thereupon take their places on the dais beneath the great escutcheoned golden canopy, and in front of the two chairs of state that represent the thrones.  At the right and left are grouped the various royal and imperial personages present, while at the foot of the dais stands the grand master of the ceremonies for the purpose of mentioning to their majesties the names of those who pass before them.  At the back of the royal and imperial party are ranged the palace guard in their quaint, old-fashioned, and exceedingly picturesque uniforms.  The first to pass before the throne is invariably the chancellor of the empire, and while the emperor and empress merely respond with an inclination of the head to the salutations of those of minor rank, they invariably approach to the edge of the dais in order to give their hands to be kissed by the octogenarian Prince of Hohenlohe, who has held the office of chancellor ever since the retirement of General Count Caprivi.  The band plays throughout the entire ceremony, which is a most magnificent affair.

The so-called “spiel-cour” still keeps its name, implying card playing, although, as a matter of fact, cards are never played at court now.  In former times they constituted a very important feature of court entertainment, and the “spiel-cour,” or “le jeu de leurs majestes,” was the function to which those whom the anointed of the Lord desired to honor were most frequently bidden.  In earlier days, as soon as the guests had made their bows to the sovereign and to the princes and princesses of the blood, card-tables were set out, and gambling commenced, those to whom their majesties wished to accord special distinction and honor receiving royal commands, through the chamberlains-in-waiting to take their places at the card-tables of the king, or of the queen, as the case might be.

It was these royal games of cards at the Court of Versailles which contributed in no small measure to the downfall of the old French monarchy, and to the outbreak of the great revolution in Paris a hundred years ago.  The ill-fated Queen Marie-Antoinette of France became an inveterate gambler.  It was her craze for high play that led her to admit not only to her court, but also to her card-table, parvenus