New-York tribune., 1879-12-18
THE SECOND DAYS FESTIVITIES.
GLNERAL GRANT VISITS CARPENTERS HALL AND
MAKhs BRIEF sPEgCH-A PUBLIC RECEPTION
Al EPENDINCG HALL-A sERENADT.

MAhtr A BRIEF SPIEtH-A PtBL!C
Al INDEPENDINCE HALL-A sERENADr.
IBY TELEGRAPH Tug TRiBUNE.l
PHILADELPHIA. Dec 17.-Passages of dull recta-
tive have followed ihc grand overture of ycster
dav'S reception. This has been n day of hand
shaking and private hospitality. The recital of the
proceedings will peIfoTce be prosaic, and the re-
mamder of the gala week will also be likely TO
drag. The scenic effects were exhausted on the
opening day and all that is TO follow will be Of sub
ordinate interest. Americans are too busy people,
especially in prosrorors times, to find leisure for
eight days of puhio ostrramment. day is all
they have TO sp le Tor town shows and when tic
holiday is over tA.y e. back to their customary
cnpatlons with renewed ZEAL The reception
mittce not only planned a very ambition and COM
plcX public pageant but sought TO proloug tie ics-
tivies eight davs. The prospect is that the public
will be hoprlcssly and rretncvably bored with the
play before the curtain Is TuDg down on the last
act. Tomorrow the canr-fires of the Grand Army
are to be lightei on Friday there will b. hand.
shaking at The Commercial Exchange; on Saturday
the public school children TO sing, and a ban
quct is to bc spread ST. Georges Hall; on Mon
day descent is to be mac upon Girard College,
and on Tuesday there will he a banquet and rccer-
tion at the Union League. Yankees have not the
French faculty for arranging and enjoying 'ttes-a
single holiday exhauss their capacity for Tecrca-
ticn. The Reception Committee may succeed in
carrying thc public with them from first TO last, but
the chances not in their favor. the local press,
with its blanket sheets and minute accounts. is al
ready oveTtaxng the patience OF even so loyal city
as Philadelphia, where political considerations were,
with one consent. put out OF sight all classes unit
ing IN welcoming General Grant. not cx-rTesi-
dent or party leader, but As a representative Amer
can citizen, who should be hono-ed at home as well
as abroad.
The public demonstration would have left
stronger impress upon the politics OF the time if the
temptation TO ovcrdo had been strenuously resisted
Before the arrival of the Council Committee at The
hotel this morning General Grant received calls
from Dr. Tiffany, of New-York, George w. Childs,
Schuyler Colfax, Joseph Patterson and others. The
Mayor found him standing before an open gratc-
fire smoking cigar. When informed that he
expected not only to shake hands with the popu-
lace but also 10 help draw house lor the benefit
of the Queens Navccn he shrugged his shoulders
aud langnngly remarked that the man who had
suggcsted his going To see "Pinaloro ought to BE-
hanged.
WELCOMED AT CARPENTERS HALL.
The General was then conducted to Carpenters
Hall and introduced TO the members OF tbat veneer
able society. On the platform were three of til"
oldest members of tn company, with John Welsh
and his brother Samuel Welsh. The cX-Ministcr
presented to the General a Handsomely framed and
engrossed address Of welcome. The General made
the following brief reply aud shook hands with all
who were present:
Gentlemen Of the Carpenters Company Of the present
day: II is with much pleasure that accept the address
which see before shall preserve II and hand 1t
down TO my children for pre~ervat9n regard II as
very great trophy, and one that viii grow In estimation
me passes. as long as our Republic lasts. which, Il
Is hoped. and think have the assurance now, viii
be as long - time lasts.
The reception Mt Independence Hall followed a
brief interval. The Mayor conducted the General to
the Historic Chamber about halfpa !. There
short consultation between the Mayor and the police
officer during which General Grant seated himself
IN the time-honored chair behind the railing. He
bad good causc TO pause for breath, for two hours
and a half of handshaking is an ordeal which sub
jects physical endurance to excessive strain There
must be hours of wcarncss and exhaustion when
the General experiences The livelicst feelings of
grct that il was not his good fortune to lose both
arms in the service of his country. The manned
ard shattered trunk would render him more he
roic figure In the sight of his countrymen than he is
now, if aught be wanting IN this respect, and he
infections of public life. The Reception Com
mittee had condemned him in cold blood
TO these hours of handshaking, but either kind
Providence dilatory Mayor interyened and
granted him q respite of half an hour, aud subse-
quently in response TO his piteous appeals for
mercy, the ceremony was crt short an hour. Now
il the police efficient in keeping the flies close
order between fortvfve and fifty persons can shake
hands with popular hero in the of sixty
ouds. VITA this average, 2.700 can introduce
themselves in an hour. This calculation allows
every person n single clasp of the hand but expert
ence shows that the majority of those who serve the
ends of patriot SIN and hcro-worsp by standing in
the outer courts and waiting weary hours for the
fu..n ipfo Ia.
content With one movement Of the wrist. 1t thus
happens that the muscles are subjected to double
and triple strain. and in n long file every eighth
man will catch hold of the proffered palm aud give
It half dczen vigorous swings before il can he Te
leased. II the General smiled grimly when he
stepped forward and took his place in front of the
historic table Of the Continental Congress, he was
justified by the circumstances
Tho pslcc stepped aside anu set the files of spec
tators IN motion. troop of women aud girls were
at the head of the line. and with look of supreme
satisfaction the leader. com ly middleaged Lady,
gave the General the first pressure Of the hand,
featherinr / of with a smile The siege had begun
in earnest and the garrison of one settled down to
its work with doggcd determination. No human
face can be more mpassive than his during public
cerch0nies of this nature. The eyes lose their
brightness the facial muscles rrJw rigid and the
loac t'ciS VI cApic-S'"h' h'
gree of demonstrativeness on the part of the public
seems to affect him.
POPULAR REGARD DISPLAYED.
The people to-day were evidently vcry glad TO see
General Grant. They pressed forward with eager
ness aud shook his hands always with heartincSs
and sometimes with vehemence. Gray-haired men
from the rural districts ambIed forward and ex-
pressed their satisfaction In homey phrases such
"Wa'al, now. Pm real glad to you back"
Young women would give him bright glance and
n pleasant word of welcome. Proud mothers would
lead up their children 10 sec the great
man. Most deferential of all, the colored