The New York herald., 1879-12-24
FAREWELL TO GRANT.

THE FETE AT THE PHILADELPHIA UNION
LEAGUE CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC ENTERTAIN
MENTs-THE Ex-pREsIDENr TO START FOB
THE SOUTH ON SATURDAY.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Dec %. 1879.
With the magnificent reception. ball and banquet
which the Union League Club gave tonight the long
weeks ovation to General Grant to end. With
this brilliant finale he ceased to be the guest Of the
city Atan early hour tomorrow he will go privately
to Jersey City to visit his aged mother returning to
Philadelphia at night. Thursday and Friday will
be passed hero. The Christmas dinner will be eaten
with Mr. George W. Chlds. and he will personally
entertain President Hayes. On Saturday. in COM
pany with General Sheridan. he will start his
journey to Cuba going by rail to Cedar Keys, Fla.
and thence by boat to Key West and Havana Such
1t least is the present programme. Tho decorations
along the thoroughfares of this city gradually
coming down, but many will probably remain to
render the holidays more gay.
THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB HOUSE.
The reception tonight has been ono Of the most
certainly outshone any display made by the city in
his honor. and to New Yorker the in the in
terror Of the building recalled the Prince of Wales
and the Grand Duke Alexis balls at the Academy Of
Music. The sidewalk in front of the building
covered by weather awning. rendering it possible
for . large number OF carriages to arrive and de-
posit the guests of the club at the same time.
The approaches to the edifce q mass Of ever
green's and hardy plants on jdvdinieres. The front
porch. tho large corridor the parlors where thu
cepton held, and. indeed all the rooms of the
first and second floors, were handsomely decorated
with plants, cut flowers evergreens and bunting.
The broad stairway roped off down the centre
for ascending and descending lines Of people, and
the billiard rooms the ground floor used for
the coats and hats.
President Hayes and several members o. tn
be present, but did not como The guest of
| the evening, with Mrs. Grant, escorted
| from the Contineneal Hotel by the committee
| and entered the building about thirty-fve
| dent Of the Union League. met the party at the
main entrance and escorted General and Mrs. Grant
to the parlor the right. where the reception
held. For about two hours the informal presenta-
| time the house was crowded in every part. fully
$500 ladies and gentlemen being present. The ban
l quoting hall WAS then thrown open and soon after
! the dancing in the ball room began.
|
| The bah was very brilliant both because of the
costumes and the interior decorations of the hall in
| which it was held. large frame apartment was
built the entire garden at the of the build
| ing, elevated to the level of the main floor. The
walls Of this extemporized hall were tastefully
| draped, and wall Of evergreens. serv-
| ing screen. behind which the ex-
cellent band of music was hidden, was utilized
background for q marble bust Of General Grant
| placed on pedestal. High above this bust. sway
Jets produced, doated large cannon Of flowers,
| pended by invisible wire. Tiny fountains of per-
fumed water filed the air with their fragrance, and
colored lights, bowcrlike garden walks and the pro-
every hand rendered the scene bewilderingy charm
|