How England's great sovereign was dressed the writer of the journal does not so well remember, for in those days Eugenie was the cynosure of all eyes, and people rarely looked at anything else when they could get a glimpse of her lovely face.
It appears, however, that the Queen sported an India shawl, hoops, and a green bonnet, which was not particularly becoming to her red face.She and Napoleon entered the building first; the Empress (who was in delicate health) was carried in an open chair, with Prince Albert walking at her side, a marvellously handsome couple to follow the two dowdy little sovereigns who preceded them.The writer had by bribery succeeded in getting places in an ENTRESOLwindow under the archway, and was greatly impressed to see those four great ones laughing and joking together over Eugenie's trouble in getting her hoops into the narrow chair!
What changes have come to that laughing group! Two are dead, one dying in exile and disgrace; and it would be hard to find in the two rheumatic old ladies whom one sees pottering about the Riviera now, any trace of those smiling wives.In France it is as if a tidal wave had swept over Napoleon's court.Only the old palace stood severely back from the Champs Elysees, as if guarding its souvenirs.The pick of the mason has brought down the proud gateway which its imperial builder fondly imagined was to last for ages.The Tuileries preceded it into oblivion.The Alpha and Omega of that gorgeous pageant of the fifties vanished like a mirage!