French entertainer Eugénie Fougère had introduced the cakewalk and other "negro dances" to Paris in late 1899 or early 1900, following a long tour of the United States. Satie was then delving into pop music influences and immediately decided that the novelty would make a good introduction to Contamine de Latour's play. He registered his ragtime-inspired "Petit prélude" with SACEM on April 18, 1900. Perhaps Satie was ahead of his time: In May John Philip Sousa and his band began playing American cakewalks during their appearances at the 1900 Paris Exposition, but the dance and accompanying musical style would not become a national craze in France until two years later. For whatever reason the music and script of "La Mort de Monsieur Mouche" were cast aside, the latter to vanish permanently.