The middle class loved watching the social circles and lives of the wealthy. Though they had almost no contact beyond work, they truly loved watching.
Because there were people who wanted to watch, there were people willing to follow and photograph them. Then a whole series of new industries sprang up around parties: flowers, cakes, photographers—things needed for both birthdays and weddings.
Perhaps a father held a lavish coming-of-age party for his daughter to express his love. He might be utterly satisfied by a sweet "Thank you, Daddy" from her, but it did his daughter no good.
Even if a tutor tried to persuade them, they had to be willing to listen. Usually, a clear-headed mother would correct them. That was when women discovered just how hard people were to change.
Father and daughter were in it together, and the mother became the villain.
Marie Antoinette's balls at Versailles had been just as extravagant, and she had enjoyed them too. Yet even today, many people believed that France's financial collapse had been caused by Marie Antoinette's extravagance, even saddling her with the title of "Madame Deficit."
When Louis XV behaved improperly, the monk Massillon had led ten monks in fasting to admonish him. Later, Louis XV exiled all the judges of the high court. Massillon never became a cardinal in his lifetime. Having witnessed such a "tragedy," the nobles and clergy chose to keep their mouths shut and say only pleasant things. Such words were certainly pleasant to hear. It was someone else's money, and how they spent it was their own freedom. One could only wonder whether Marie Antoinette regretted it when she stood on the guillotine.
Friends who ate, drank, and made merry together were not real friends. A "little gift" of 300 US dollars was no small