The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-15
SAINT PAUL, FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1861.

In taking the oath, Mr.. Lincoln placed
his hand on the Bible, and the usual form,
put by the venerable chief justice. was re-
peated by him in firm and decided tone.
At the conclusion he bowed reverently and
kissed the book.
THE INAUGURATION BALL.
The hall was we'll filled by IL o'clock
with dancers impatient for the signal to
commence the mazy," but as Mr.. Lincoln
had not yet arrived, it was not considered
etiquette to begin. A little while longer
and the youngsters impatient for the pas
time, started the band and at it they went.
Soon, however, it was noised about that
the party had arrived. Dancing was for a
moment suspended, the orchestra had struck
up" Hail to the Chief" and all eyes were
turned to the main entrance. He comes
(the chief with the Mayor on his right and
a stout man, who looks like Pennsylvania
iron manufacturer, on his LETT, and with these
conductors " Old Abe" walks down the hall
between the lines of the assemblage, very
much like man in a dream. One lady
observes, "Old Abe, as I live, is tipsy.
Look at that funny smie." But "Old Abe"
was simply fatigued, and perhaps a little
bit distracted with the bewildering events
of the last twenty-four hours.
Mrs. Lincoln, who followed in his wake
on the arm of the self-possessed Senator
Douglas, is still more self possessed, and
has evidently, with more readiness, adapted
herself than her taller half, to the exalted
station to which she has been so strongly
advanced, from the simple social life of the
little inland capital of Illinois. Women
learn such things much faster than men.
Mrs. Lincoln shows us,in her choice of blue
on this occasion, as the color which suits
her fair complexion best, that she is no
stranger to the beautiful science of the toilet.
She dresses tasteiully; but we cannot under.
stand the force of an observation we over>
heard, that she would have made better
match for Judge Douglas than sold Abe"
unless the alluson was to the fact that the
Judge and the lady, as they walked togeth-
er, appeared to be of nearly the same height
and proportions.
Vice President Hamlin, who next in the
royal procession attracts our attention,
takes his new honors like man or experi>
ence in the ways and wonders of political
life and party revolutions He is a very
dark skinned man, with very pleasant
face, and one would think, who acted upon
the maxim, that it is best to take no thought
of the morrow, when sufficient for the day
are the evils thereof.
The President and his party ascended the
platform on the east of the ball room, where
"OId Abe" for a quarter of an hour or
more is subjected to another ordeal OF hand
shaking. and an exchange of conveationali-
ties which he passes through acceptably.
He and bis party are then slipped of into
the supper room, and very soon thereafter
all hands follow his example, and stewed
oysters, chicken salad, ice cream, cham
pagne, Madeira, and we dare say bottle
or so of whiskey, (the favorite drink of
Washington politicians), infuse some degree
of life and hiarity into the company. "O!d
Abe," we believe, is cold water man; but
still we think it apparent that Gerrit
Smiths total abstinence principles have not
as yet been very extensively engralted upon
the Republican party.
Soon alter supper the Presidential party
retire, the company begins to thin off, but
the dancing, withal, with more liveliness, is
resumed and continued to the wee sma'
hours of the morning" The ball-a beau
tiful spectacle of decoration, illuminations,
| fair women, costumes and decorum-has
been, to a close observer, a somewhat mel
ancholy affair, abounding in fears and fore,
bodDgs of coming evil, while financially, We
apprehend the enterprise will prove losing
speculation.
THE FAMILY AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
The family of the White House consists
of the following persons. MIR. and Mrs.
Lincoln and two Sous; Mrs. Edwards and
Miss Edwards of Springfield; Mr.. and Mrs.
G. H. Kellogg, of Cinclnnatti; MIR. and
Mrs. Baker OF Springfield; Mrs. Grimsly,
of Springfield; Mr.. Lockwood Todd, Of
SpriDgfeld; Dl. Long, Springfield; Mr..
Nicolay, Private Secretary; Col. Ward H..
Lamon; Capt. John Cook; Capt. Mygatt,
of Ohio.
Mrs. Lincoln gave her first ladies' recep
tion at the Presidential Mansion on the
9Th. She performed the Office of hostess
with much grace and dignity, being grace.
fully supported by her sisters, Mrs. Edwards
and Mrs. Kellogg. Mr.. Lincoln holds his
first Presidential levee on Friday evening.
DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS.
The following diplomatic Offices to be
filled abroad, are understood to be desired
by the following gentlemen, who are cbieI
competitors; Spanish Mission, William
| - u + T.
Court of St. james, London, Thomas Cor.
win, John P. Hale, with chances in favor
of Corwin; Sardinia or Italy, Carl Schurz
Geo. P. Marsh, Anson Burlingame; Aus
tria, James Watson Webb; Russia, Cassius
M. Clay. The French Mission has beer
offered to John c. Fremont, who will &C
cept Col Schouler, Of Boston, wants tt
be Consul at London. Fred. Hassureck il
spoken of for Consul at Venice. Robert