At Versailles there is an annual Grand Masquerade in honour of those held by Louis XIV and Louis XV. The military nobility of eighteenth century Louisbourg held their own masquerade parties, and recently the animators there decided that they had to be present at the Versailles recreation. Looks like they brought it off. At the Fortress you may have encountered the soldiers and fishers in their shapeless woollens -- who were maybe more representative of the community. But given the chance, they clean up real nice.
Kristy Martell and Ruby Fougere, who were among the Versailles party, will speak on the topic "Louisbourg to Versailles: An Historical and Cultural Journey" at the next Old Sydney Society meeting, 27 February 2020, 7:30 PM at the Sydney Museum, 173 Charlotte St., Sydney, Cape Breton.
