The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-05

The greatest ball ever seen at Saratoga
took place at Congress Hall last Friday,
on the occasion of the opening of the new
ballroom at that hotel. The new room is
one hundred and twenty feet by forty-four
in size, and was crowded by a brilliant
throng. JENKINS was on hand, and sends
a number of interesting items about the
ladies and their costumes:
DRESS, JEwELRY, ETC.
Our bellies have each year new style of
dressing. The most approved style for the
hair is couple of puffs in front, the hair
falling in ringlets behind and made fast
with gold, ivory or jeweled comb, or else
gathered in swab, without order or neat
ness, and crammed into net to fall low
ON the neck, the curls looking extremely
tidy and comely, and the swabs looking as
if the maiden had made hasty toilet and
had forgotten to arrange her hair. Dresses
are worn with long trains, and in dancing
it demands great art on the part of the
wearer to keep her own feet off her dress,
and more to keep her partners feet away
A low neck dress, short sleeves, with an
under dress of ruffled cambria, is very pop
ular. Much jewelry is worn. Sharp con-
trasts are seen, such as black dress with
yellow or red trimming. The style when
the dress is not low, is high in the neck,
with buttons, like a colonel's uniform on
the breast, with imitation shoulder straps.
The jockeys are tasty, elaborately trimmed,
and adorned with a tuft of feathers in
front, like fountain plume; or with a
bird of Paradise. Old lace is much worn,
wide, and as yellow as saffron. It must
be real lace, as nothing so dingy and un-
slightly would be allowed if it was not real.
RIDING.
1t ia questionable to wear hats or bon
nets in riding about the village. It is un-
fashionable for drivers of private teams to
assist in any way to add to the comfort of
those who ride. If door opens hard, or
not at all, the driver sits as fixed as tho
foot-board, while the lady goes after some
one to aid her. If the top is to be loos-
ened or raised, the gentleman must do it
himself-the driver won't; it is not gen.
teel. If lady should fall out of the car
riage, l presume the driver would leave
her TO take care of herself, while he
"lOoked after the team.''
BOWLING.
Bowling is getting unfashionable; it is
too much like work. The elegant trees
around the Congress Park have been COM
pletely destroyed by the fire It will take
twenty years to replace them.
GAMBLING.
Gambling is carried on here at fearful
rate. Thousands change hands daily, and
the young men, soldiers home from the
war with their pay in their pockets, young
Californians and old men, are infatuated,
and the betting is high. Near the United
States Hotel is a large double brick house.
All is quiet around it. Men go in as if to
a sacrifice. No sound issues from the
dwelling. It is kept by Morrissey, and is,
out of New York, the largest gambling
house in the country 1t is kept in style.
All the machinery is well adjusted, we'll
oiled, and moves without friction. The
table is elegant, and costly viands and
wines are spread in profusion. 1t bears
the name of "Olub House," and many
public men who hold the repute and life of
men in their hands are said to board there.
But thousands are lost and won within
that quiet retreat.
MoRR1ssEY
can be seen at any time at the United
States, dressed in style, short, athletic.
powerful man, quiet and of few words. He
came to New York in 1862, from Troy.
He was then fighter, poor, drunken and
brutal. He came to whip Bill Poole and
his party, to whom he bore deadly hate.
He was engaged to protect the ballot-boxes
in ward election. He then arranged the
fight with Sullivan and became the cham
pion of the fancy. He has made money
Gs said to be worth $500, ,OOo), is a great
stock operator, and keeps several of the
largest gambling houses in the city of New
York. He is a steady man now, drinks
nothing, and does not gamble himself. He
has lease of the race track for the races,
and brings up at his own expense detect
Ives from New York to keep pickpockets
away and preserve good order.
HOW IT'S DONE.
ALI around this "Club House are gam
bling tables, all open to the eye. A room
is selected, small semi-circular table
bound with green ba;ze, tokens to repre-
sent coin, four men to run the machine,
al %ho 49,. that can hea infncod m o;f