The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-16

FIRST EDITION N
The West Point Festivities.
The Distribution Of Diplomas
Mark Lemon and Punch"
A Peculiarly Perplexing Predicament.
The Cuban Business i'm the House.
ETC., ETC., Etc., Etc, Etc.
The Distribution Of Diplomas
Mark Lemon and Punch. |"
A Peculiarly Perplexing Predicament
The Cuban Business i'm the House.
WEST POINT.

DipIomns-who Were There and How They
Looked-secretary Bellknap's Address.
WEST POINT, June 15.-A moonlit night and
a dance in store made every woman at West
Point a belle again last evening, and every man
a modern gay Lothario. The hop given to the
graduating class by the class of III (now the
first cass) had been announced to all visitors
here and round about by invitations. So,
directly after supper, at 7'30, there was lull
on the piaZzas and in the corridors of Cozzens'
and the West Point HOTEL and noise in the
chambers overhead as of the murmuring of
innumerable bees.
THE BALL-THE PEoPLE-THE DRESSES.
The cadets mess-hall had been festooned and
decorated very tastefully, and there dancing
began at 10 Z. M. Like almost every event of
the season at West Point, this hop was destined
to be pronounced unusually delightful The
best of music, excellent arrangements by the
committee, and the presence of large number
of refined and agreeable as well as distinguished
guests, conspired 10 make 1t so.
At IL o'clock Mrs. Grant entered the ball
room, leaning on the arm of Secretary Belknap.
Mrs. Belknap followed with General Pitcher;
Admiral Porter with Miss Schenck, General
Michler with Mrs. Slocum; and Senator Conk-
ling with Mrs. Howe. Most of the other celeb
rites arrived nearly at the same time. Before
attempting to describe the attire of all these
people, about whom wherever they go the great
public is so unappeasably curious, have had to
solicit the aid of my esteemed young friend Miss
Celia Perfectfit, who sits at my elbow advising
me in that regard.
short-sleeved gros grain pink silk, with long
train and an overskirt of the same material,
trimmed around the waist and sleeves, and
around the bottom, with point d d'Alencon. Pink
roses were set in her hair. Her pleasant face
and manners tended to propitiate those who had
the honor of an Introduction to her, though it
was complained-as it often has been before
that the Presidents wife had so bad a
memory of people whom she may have
met half dozen times before,
as to cause them to pay their respects
to her with nervous and often well-founded ap-
prehension that they will be neither recognized
nor treated with decent cordiality. An officer
residing at the post told me last evening that he
had been presented to Mrs. Grant three Cor four)
times in almost the exact spot where she was
sitting; that, as in duty and courtesy bound he
had just approached her to make his bow, and
that she made him perfectly conscious that she
recolected nothing about him.
The Secretary OF War, whose popularity has
been increasing ever since his arrival at West
Point received at the ball plenteous tokens
of the respect of the officers and the cadets.
Mrs. Belknap, true to the not remote but boun-
tiful traditions of her social career as the wife
of a Cabinet minister, deported herself so gra-
ciously as to inspire quick and cordial well
come, which was extended to her from every
side. She appeared in lilac silk under an ex-
quisite puffed and lace-insertion overdress-a
choice and becoming toilet
Admiral Porter, who entered in full uniform,
was perhaps the most snowy yet at the same
time one of the most commanding men in ap-
pearance, in the room. The Admiral, whose
heart is of course with the naval and the naval
cadets at Annapolis-where frolics of this kind
are more frequent and are apt to be a little more
costly and splendid than those at West Point
seemed to regard with critical but pleased eyes
the brilliant scene around him. Mrs. Porter,
who is invariably affable and at home, entitled
herself fairly to the distinction of belle in
addition to that of being the wife of the Vice
Admiral. Her Dress OF blue silk trimmed with
blue satin, was low-necked and with short
sleeves. A large diamond cross depended from
a chain at her throat
No supper was allowed to be provided by the
purpose being rigidly forbidden by the Superin-
tendent. Notwithstanding this, and in spite OF
the absence OF any beverage whatever besides
cold water, the dancing in the mess hall and in
the room devoted to the German was kept up
until late this morning.
DISTRIBUTION OF DIPLOMAS.
This morning, at IL o'clock, the diplomas
were delivered to the graduating class by the
Secretary of War. The scene of the ceremony
was removed from the burning plain where the
diplomas used to be distributed, and where long
addresses used TO be inflicted upon the cadets il
former years, to the shaded lawn in front of the
library building. There, when the spectators
had assembled, the entire corps of cadets
marched fran the neighboring barracks, headet
by the band, which never played more sweetly
than on this occasion. The graduates wore sidt
arms only. Stepping to the front they formed
line by themselves under the trees, while thu
drawn up in the rear. General Pitcher, the Su
perintendent, arose and introduced to the clas
the Secretary The names of the graduate
were then called.
AS each name was pronounced by the Super
intendent the latter handed an envelope con
tanning diploma 10 the Secretary, who in hi
turn presented II to the cadet who came forwart
10 receive it. There was hardly movement o
sound during this proceeding besides tn
march forward and return of the several cadets
and the voice of the Superintendent calling tn
names. The incident was singularly impressive
the military pomp and dignity which attendei
it tdepriving il of the school-boy flavor which i
usually inseparable from civic affairs of tn
kind. When all of the class had received tn
diplomas, the Secretary OF War addressed then
as foll0ws:-
Gentlemen OF the Graduating Glass OF ls7O:-Hay
ing been requested TO address you before the tie
forever severed which binds you to the institutio
which mas so long been our home, and which yo
are soon 10 leave 10 take places in the ranks
active life, willingly do so in brief words for fet
my naDly 10 impress upon you, in the full strengt
OF its importance, the gravity OF the duties whlc
VIII soon deyolye upon you. Drilled to perfectiO
as you have been in military movements skilled q
you have proven yourselves in those subjects
study which IL has been the labor OF your academi
life TO learn taught you have been n your cOurs
OF instruction faithfully and with devotion by thos
gentlemen who, as professors OF that ii
stitution, have given II a name 10 be enye
Of its achievements has gone; impressed as you
minds have Oeen by habits OF life ana thought an
study here, with the important character OF the prC
feseon you have assumed you enter upon your me-
hopeful earnest, with high anticpations an,
Iurst, B.t9 lepoLa6le ambition. Should sections