New-York tribune., 1879-06-12
WEST POINT FESTIVITIES.
LAST PARADE OF THE FIRST CLASS.

HONOR OF THE DISTINGUISHED GlEeio-i+hSi
PARADE OF THE FIRST CLAss-THE GRAND BALL
IN THE MESS HALL.
JrRou A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT op THE rRrBUsE.l
WEST POINT, June 11.-This is no place Tor
weather prophets The highlands that environ this re-
gion draw moisture to a focus readily as lightning
rods electricity In the atmosphere Late yestef
day afternoon, when wiseacres predicied oeau'iu
weather for days, heavy storm was even brewing
In the hills the northwest and came down shor'y
after nshtfsu with a mixture OF wind and rain Pre-
paratory to 1t the heat lightning played for an nour
over Crows Nest and Breakneck, leaving the Hudson
and the distant city Of Newburg, alternately IN hgh
and darkness Rain mattered little 10 the cadets VINO
were enjoying hop In the dinng-rooin Oh inc "est
Point Hotel. but about eleven a gust or "Ind
came with force enough TO break several upper
windows on the river side OF the hotel
Kind Providence has ruled the storms Today
The morning very sunny and very sui'r1
Al O'Clock a thunder storm came up from the High
lands and deuged West Point for nearly an hour iea'
ing the atmosphere fresh and cool and giving the guests
ut the crowded hotels patience to walt Tor theh
turn at the dinner tables.
Old West Pointers say there has not been such cro"o
here during examination since 1866 year ago pro
eted rain storm the starch Of the day OF the
grand ball Knots of visitors were seen this mornln2
under nearly every shade tree on the academy grOuhoS
IL has been day great activity for the cadets ana the
powes of endurance viii have been well tried Dy tono
row night Guard mounting occurs al 1880 In the morn
ing ana to-day this exercise of more than usual IN
erest ninety cadets thee times the customary num-
ber being detailed for this duty. part OF them paro
the grounds during the night At hall past the eaue
CORDS was ordered ont TO salute the party OF prominent
generals and officials expected from Washington Que
company manned the field battery east Of the parade
ground to ire the salute and the regular troops conss
ing OF a troop Of cavalry ard a company oI
artillery men with muskets were sent to tine
steamboat landing. The cadets waited in front OF the
barracks till II O'Clock before the order came to fa IN
Many them In the meantime had been called 10 eNa
nations and full dress sat III the barracks study
ing for thar examinations. The Government steamer
Henry Smith arrived with the guesta at noon Half an
hour was consumed in disembarking and forming the
procession When the cavalry troop appeared AT the
edge of the plateau the battery began firing the salute
The cadet corps at present arms and between IL ana
the opposite line of ladies and gentlemen tire visitors
passed. ChefJustice WAITE Secretary OF War George W.
McCrary and General John NJ schOheld occupying the
first carriage, General W. r. Sherman with three
young ladies being in the second carriage. General
sherman is as warm friend AS the cadets nave his
eve was not lifted from them he passed the long line
Gcneral Poe of General shermans stat, in third
carriage and the artillery men brought up the rear
General Sherman is the guest OF General bchoield.
The parade ground offered "a prettier sight
than at 5:O D. n when the cadets, dyidcd into eight
companies, marched out for review before Secretary
NcCrary aud General Sherman. The rays OF the de-
clning sun fell on yerdure made bright ana iresh by
The afternoon rain. The crowd that sat, or mostly
stood under the NAPLES bordering the plateau on the
west was the largest ever there II extended from
the sedgwick to the cadet barracks and car
riages filed the adjoining drives The cadets, In their
gray and white uniforms looked fresh and span new
as the carpet OF verdure which they stood Coohe
Neil commanded the corps. The band made another
concession 10 popular taste aud played Pnaore airs
during most OF the review which lasted nearly an hour
al with
that called forth praise from the many veterans present.
and excited the admiration OF the multitude.
Shortly after the review the cadets marched out again
to Day the last honors to First Class. When the line
1reiscu, % tto1'Is tI oi 70 th Uni tbren1on each
Of the xtyseven meubers of the First Glass advanced
mad stepped OF the ranks aad AS many OF the Iaes
as were able had procured swords by DorroWlng ana
cleaning being their privilege 10 appear al bis ausp
In fo witbdrsW Inc First Glass assembled the
is of The parad" rroInd nearest the barracks As
o fSs Se & ss on poposed t % 5r s ee
cheers, which given with all the strength ana
voice that sxty-seyen hearty young men colid COM
nam The three companies responded after they had
broken ranks. The Cadet Corps VIII be reothcered To-
morrow noon by appointments among members ot the
Ar o'clock while the twilight stn fingered about the
crest Crows Nest, fire was kndied ON tue point ol
land across the little bay whore the target was placed
saturday; This hre served as target ior he cadets
who manned the mortar battery ana nfed shels which,
describing graceful curves marked Dy inc burning
and about the fire, tDe mOrtats Dtlns
aimed with great accuracy. This was followed Oy an
exhibition OF military pyrotechnics.
Active preparations followed for the fTeweH mop
given the Mess Hall by the Class OF 80 TO the grad
uating class. During the week the cadets nave been
weaving evergreen gaTands and wreahs TO decorate t1e
walls OF the Mess Hall These adornrneuts were nearly
finished and in place when the cadets took dinner at
O'clock, each one fortify1ng himself with 10
stay the cravings of hunger till ball supper should be
served at 1880 p. IN. The hail presented beautiful
senbled for the dance between and 10 o'clock. The
walls were heavily hung With large flags every nation
inn tic old
words Welcome and Farewell" IN large git let
tes Class notices ana tne @ pr oi ne r
eyed the bright colOrs OF the flags. The ail wac 80
packed before midnight that very few couples could
dance at a time At midnight two hrstelass men ied
-" Among those present in the ball room were
General William 4. sherman. Chief-Justce Waite;
Secretary Of war MeCTsy tr @,m9seS sSore oi
seSoasid Sen SG'u and the ocofs and prSies.ors
neeted with the Mitary academy Mrs. J. b: Gordon,
BaST Cac6ba ' Ohio Mrs Frederic stevens, New
York; Mrs H. :. Noyes, Newtonvile, Mass; Mrs. = H.
fora Mr. and Mrs r. ~ PulsfeT, Boston Wrs l. A.
Brene'nan. Miss Bleneman, Miss stenmer, Lancaster,
General II. W. siocum and yIfe Miss slocum.
Brooklyn the Misses Benson, Detroit Mich;
New-YOrk City; Miss HazeltDe, Of St Louis, |
sd tTe nenSed BRIDE OF eSS
Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, New-York: Mrs ". ID. FORBES,
4s Ms's I Torse' n as E. Raas RS Mr.
Barry Miss Barry, NewYork; Mrs Fred Fraley. the |
Miss Almy Philadelphia Mr-. W. A. Budd, Miss Van
Kieeck General and Mrs. G. W. Cullum. Colonel and
Mrs T. L. Casey, New-YorK; General and Mrs Sias |
Casey MIS- +. A COnglIng Miss Conkling Brooklyn; |
General and Mis- kmgebuiy, the Hon Henry Falling
the Misses Failing Portland, ORR Moses MeCarter, Mrs
Kemble, Miss Carrie Wer, Mrs. I. f. Cuyler, Miss |
Cuyier Mrs. General Chamberlain, Mss Chamber
lam Miss Adele Dixon Miss Edith Stedemair |
Mrs Braudreth the Misses Bnndreth Sing sing Miss
Lizzie j. Jones' Cincinnati Mrs T.. T. Abbot, Miss Abb
bot Miss Everett, Cambridge; General W. n. Greer
Mrs +. W. sibey Miss H. Lane Mrs. \. o. Hart hiss
Drinkwater, R0xbury, Mass; Mrs. Pric-. the Misses
Price Alex Blddle Miss Biddle Miss Rusn Philadeplla;
Charles Braden u =. A.. Mrs. Braden Mrs. Henry W |
Cnatfeld the Misses Cnateld Brooklyn; Mrs. Robert
r. Paulding Miss BarwoOd, w-Hayen; Miss McMur- |
ran Baltimore Miss Beatrice Paulding. Miss Alice
PauIdng, Miss Carew Chase, Sew-iOrk Miss Besia, |
Washington DR.. and Mrs Abrams, New-Y0rk; Mss |
Burton, Miss Ref Philadelphia Mrs. ssnno, Mrs. Fos