New-York tribune., 1879-12-21
GRANT IN PHILADELPHIA.
MORE FESTIVE SCENES.

A PUBLIC SCHOOL RECEPTIoN.-GENERAL GRANT AS
A TRAVELLED MAN-THiRD TERM PROSPECTS,
THE MUNICIPAL BANQUET.
tFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBuNE.l
PHILADELPHIA, Dec 2O.-The programme Of the
Grant reception was too long. Even with favorable
weather it would have been difficult for the commit
tee TO have carried the public along with them so
many days when the holidays close at hand. For
two DAYS the sky has been clouded and the interest
In the proceedings has dragged. Tomorrow there is
TO be nothing like a town show and on Monday the
only entries in the programme are visit to Girard
College and q reception at General Robert Patter-
sons house. The banquet at tie Union League on the
following evening will bring a ~ery dull gala week
to a close. General Grant will then have breathing
space during which he can brace himself for hs
Journey to Mexico and Cuba and his reception in
New-York next May. Whether Nicaragua is TO be
one of his hating places rs still undetermined. Inc
lnteroceanc Canal has dropped out OF sight to-day.
TIE THIRD TERM TALK.
The frequency with which General Grant refers
&c his civil administration when he is conversiDg
with his intimate associates indicates that the Pres
dency il constantly IN his thoughts He has
acknowledged frankly at various times that be
made many mistakes when he in Office, and that
the leisure which foreign travel has given him has
enabled him 10 review his civil career and to find
out where and how he failed. The inference, OF
course is that were he elected again he would not
fall into error SO easily. Some of his friends assume
that he is anxious TO have third term IN
order to demonstrate that he can be as
successful in civil as he was in military
life. The speech which he made yesterday
at the Commercial Exchange shows the direction
which his thoughts have taken. While apoog1zing
for his lack of preparation in addressing the most
influential body of citizens in Philadelphia, he un-
folded without pausing for word or showing any
signs of hesitation, certain ideas respecting the
commercial policy and consular service OF the
United States. which were evidently the outcome
of observation and reflection. The merchants were
enabled TO Judge for themselves whether he had
kept his eyes open closed while he was abroad.
A man cannot go about the world. mngling
with the leaders of politics and society in
every capital without accumulating informa-
ton which would be OF direct service
70 his own country were he to be called upon TO
conduct the administration of the Government. In
n word the man who had had no education for civil
life save his studies at West Point, and who had
been abruptly called from military headquarters to
undertake the complex responsibilities OF the Pres
idency, has become travelled mana thorough
man of the world-fully abreast with the times and
conyersant with civilization and political govern
ment the world over If the General did not say
this outright il was an easy inference. and Mayor
stokley few minutes afterward pointed the moral
nv distinct reference TO the probability of third
term.
while General Grant has made no sign, and while
MANY of his Jealous advocates choose to assume
that public demonstrations like the reception in
PHILADELPHIA are distastcful to him and that he
manifests extreme reluctance to return to Washing
ton. every one who has watched him and the swarm
~ admirers buzzing about him with honeyed words
is convinced that he wants the third term, and will
take the nat II nc oSd Shh have 70 he tSe
least ambitious il he could resist the temptation 10
40 what no American statesman has ever done be-
fore him--occupy the White House third time.
This morning the Generals rooms were again be-
sieged with callers. At noon lie escorted Mrs.
Grant to carriage, and drove 10 MI. Ohl,Gss mouse
Welsh. General Goshorn, l.. Z. Morton. OF New
York. the Rev. DIR. Morton, and others.
THE cHiLDREN's PARADE.
The school children were to entertain the city's
ouest during the afternoon long line of boys was
formed in Broad-st. the place Of honor being taken
bv the pupils of the Central High School, and the
escort detailed from the boys grammar schools
This procession, after forming in tour divisions,
marched to Mr. Chds's house, where it
was reviewed by General Grant. There were
oyer 3 700 boys in line. marching four abreast.
General Grant was conducted by this juvenile body
cnard TO the Academy of Music, where the school
GIRLS had already assembled. The body OF the hall
and the galleries thronged with little people.
and the stage was occupied by swarm of pretty
GIRLS IN white. The General was heartily greeted
when he appeared In one of the private boxes The
exercises included an address of welcome by the
president of the Board of Education short speech
by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and
vaarious choruses and hymns. The presentation OF
hououets and baskets of flowers was followed by
the singing of Whittiers centennial hymn ana
the Star Spanged Banner"
The music was rendered by chorus OF 300
voices, including 1900 Normal School girls. and
there were in the hail as many as 3,4OO girls. The
hoys did not enter the Academy, bat marched to
Mayor Stokcly's house where they were dismissed;
General Grant made a brief reply to the address of
welco,ne and before he left the stage twenty-four
little girls, with, one Of the Normal School
young ladies as leader, filed before him and dropped
to beontifal spectacle and tho Generals party were
loud in their expressions. of delight. Secretary
Evsrts. Governor HOyt, Mrs. Don Cameron and
R,shop Simpson were in thus group OF visitors.