In the evening was the gala opera.  Johan dined at Count Billow’s (the Reichskanzler) at five o’clock, while I dressed for the theater.  We were obliged to be there at eight o’clock sharp.  “Sharp” is the word here.  There is no loitering where the Emperor is concerned.  Everything is on time, and his Majesty is sometimes before the hour mentioned, but never after.

The Opera-house is rather small, but was beautifully decorated with garlands of artificial flowers hanging from the center of the dome down to the balconies, and from the proscenium boxes to the orchestra.  In the center of the house is the royal box, the balustrade of which is covered with real flowers.  From all the balconies are hung beautiful carpets covered with festoons.  The whole interior was a mass of color.

The Emperor and Empress sat, of course, in the front of the box, while the other chairs were filled by royal guests who had come to Berlin to congratulate the Emperor.  The King of Saxony, the King of Wuertemberg, and the other German royalties, all sat in the royal box.  The Emperor’s sons had their seats in the balcony.

The Ambassadors occupied the four proscenium boxes.  The highest princesses of the German nobility sat in the next balconies.  The Corps Diplomatique occupied the boxes and balconies adjoining the royal box.  All the officers and secretaries of the Embassies sat in the parquet.

When the audience was seated the directeur generale des theatres entered the royal box, came forward, and rapped with his stick three times, a signal that their Majesties were about to enter.  The royal party came in very quietly and took their places.  Every one in the house, of course, stood up and bowed.  It was a pretty sight from our balcony to see all the men’s heads in the parquet bend down while they saluted their Majesties.  It looked like the swaying of wheat by the wind.

Gradually all the lights were turned out and the overture commenced.  The opera was “Carmen” and Madame Destinn sang.

In the entr’acte the diplomats and the ladies and gentlemen in the first balcony were begged to go in the foyer, where they were presented to the different royalties assembled there.

The Empress was covered with magnificent diamonds and pearls, and the jewels displayed by all these royal ladies, and all the glittering uniforms of the princes and officers made a splendid sight.

The Emperor came toward me with a gleam of recognition, and commenced in an entirely unceremonious way, shaking me heartily by the hand: 

“How do you do?  It’s a long time since I saw you.”

“Not since Rome, when your Majesty was there in 1889,” I answered.

“So long ago?  I remember it so well!  As if it was yesterday!”

“I, too,” I said.  “I remember your Majesty being in the Statue Gallery of the Capitol, where you looked like one of the statues itself, in your white uniform.”