The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-12-27


present time.
What is termed the gay season commenced
about the first of the present month, most OF
the fashionables having commenced giving re-
ception parties last week. These parties or
levees take place each week in some particular
evening, and continue from December until
March. In this way all the visits are received
during one evening in the week, by which ar
rangement the family will have the remainder
of the time exclusively to themselves. The
plan has its advantages, and in many respects
is decidedly convenient. The custom of dane
ing, so generally dispensed with by Queen Vic
toria and the Empress of France, is still kept
up by the queens of this country, and though
takers have use for their brains, yet, upon the
whole, the heels and the toes are the more en-
ployed at these as at all other soiirees.
The bubbles that are bursting around us -
and one coapses almost every day-does not
prevent other bubbles from having good time
whilst the soap lasts, so that in spite Of the
blue times young and old America enjoy them
selves in pretty much the same old way, and
frivolty and vanity are by no means to have
an end with the year 1854
The winter courses of lectures before the
various societies are in full blast and if stump
speeches. deliberately prepared and gracefully
delivered would save Newly ork from financial
r.scs, heterodox opinions or general immorali-
ty, we should be saved at least six times each
week, besides laying in All immense supply on
Sunday.
Notwithstanding all these aids, however, the
morals Of the city are, without doubt, in de-
plorablc condition. In looking over the comp
troler's report, and the requirements of the
City Government in the way of taxes, proper
ty-holders become frightened at the sum rcqui-
site to pay for the protect of "life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness, and the question ari-
ses whether it would not be cheaper and more
noble, to buckle on the armor and the sword,
and protect ones self as in the ancient days of
chivalry. The expenses estimated for 1853
dered in one year as almost makes the head
dizzy to think Of That these enormous taxes
grow out of the heavy populations of contrac-
tors, aided by members of the City Govern
ment no one doubts, but yet there is little if
any efficient effort made to correct or prevent
the frauds. Councilmen who, when elected were
apparently pure, soon become corrupted and
follow very near in the steps of their predeces-
sOrs. The great mass of the community would
think them fools if they were to do otherwise,
so we continue to be plucked like so many
geese, and there appears to be no favorable
prospect of an end.
AT the theatres there seems to be rage for
scenic representations, and therefore at the
Broadway, Shakspeare's Midsummer Nights
Dream is revived again with great effect. There
seems to be new Juror created in favor of the
opera, and last night the new opera house was
filled to repletion, upon the production of Sem
iramide. 1t is to be regretted that several of
the places of amusement have rather descend
ed in their moral tone, which they have here
tofore professed. The difficulty is, no doubt
in the great number of them, and the necessity
therefore incumbent to receive money from all
sorts of persons Wallack's maintains its
former reputation, and good acting will gener-
ally be witnessed there almost every evening of
the week though there is sometimes too much
broadness to be met with.
Up to the last line, we have received moth
ing later from Europe though the Pacific is
expected momentarily, and her news will, no
doubt, prove highly interesting. 1t will, no
doubt, consist Of a desperate struggle beneath
the walls of Sebastopol, and the loss of 5000
or 10000 men on both Sides and perhaps the
retreat of the allies from the Crimea entirely
for there arc few persons here who anticipate
the fall of the town. On the other hand, TAX
ing the cue from the London Times, it would
seem, t. careful observers here, that the allies
had fairly walked into a trap, cunningly pre-
pared by the astute Nicholas, and if they do
not lose their head instead Of tail, they may
think themselves fortunate.
The Sandwich Islands will undoubtedly be
annexed during this administration, notwith-
standing the Eng ish Consul, old Miler's long
talk and slanderous epithets against the peo-
pie of the United States, to which the King
has paid about as much attention as the OK
did to the fly that lit OH his horn. The young
prince has come into the arrangement This
accession to the Union will add to the induce
ments to hasten the connection by rail and
stage between ST. Louis and San Francisco
A company has been organized, and we may