The great interest of the summer was the Exposition Universelle which was to take place at the Trocadero, the new building which had been built on the Champ de Mars.  The opening was announced for the 1st of May and was to be performed with great pomp by the marshal.  All Europe was represented except Germany, and almost all the great powers were sending princes to represent their country.  We went often to see how the works were getting on, and I must say it didn’t look as if it could possibly be ready for the 1st of May.  There were armies of workmen in every direction and carts and camions loaded with cases making their way with difficulty through the mud.  Occasionally a light case or bale would fall off, and quantities of small boys who seemed always on the spot would precipitate themselves, tumbling over each other to pick up what fell, and there would be protestations and explanations in every language under the sun.  It was a motley, picturesque crowd—­the costumes and uniforms making so much colour in the midst of the very ordinary dark clothes the civilised Western world affects.  I felt sorry for the Orientals and people from milder climes—­they looked so miserably cold and wretched shivering under the very fresh April breezes that swept over the great plain of the Champ de Mars.  The machines, particularly the American ones, attracted great attention.  There was always a crowd waiting when some of the large pieces were swung down into their places by enormous pulleys.

The opening ceremony was very brilliant.  Happily it was a beautiful warm day, as all the guests invited by the marshal and the Government were seated on a platform outside the Trocadero building.  All the diplomatic corps, foreign royalties, and commissioners of the different nations who were taking part in the exposition were invited.  The view was lovely as we looked down from our seats.  The great enclosure was packed with people.  All the pavilions looked very gay with bright-coloured walls and turrets, and there were flags, palms, flowers, and fountains everywhere—­the Seine running through the middle with fanciful bridges and boats.  There was a curious collection of people in the tribunes.  The invitations had not been very easy to make.  There were three Spanish sovereigns, Queen Isabella, her husband, Don Francois d’Assizes, and the Duc d’Aosta (King Amadee), who had reigned a few stormy months in Spain.  He had come to represent Italy at the exposition.  The marshal was rather preoccupied with his Spanish royalties.  He had a reception in the evening, to which all were invited, and thought it would be wise to take certain precautions, so he sent one of his aides-de-camp to Queen Isabella to say that he hoped to have the honour of seeing her in the evening at the Elysee, but he thought it right to tell her that she might perhaps have some disagreeable meetings.  She replied:  “Si c’est mon mari de qui vous parlez, cela m’est tout a fait egal; si c’est le Duc d’Aosta, je serai ravie de le voir.”