Frederick the Great and His Court

The halls glowed in the light of a myriad candles; the footmen were running hither and thither, giving a last touch to chairs and tables; the court gardener cast a last critical glance at the groups of plants he had been arranging in the saloons; and, in the picture gallery, the majordomo was decorating the tables destined today to furnish especially rich enjoyment to the queen's guests.