The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-23
lIUMORS OF A CAKE WALK.
THE TEST or GRACE AND STYLE iP-
PLIED TO PEDESTRI INfSM
How the Coiored PeOplc Of Brooklyn Amuse
Themselves for n Charitable Object Good
Music and Grnceiui Dancing.

How the Coiored Poodle OF Brooklyn Amuse
Themselves for Charitable Object Good
Music and Graceful Dancing.
It's fo' benevolent cose," said Mr..
Trower. at cake walk in schweitzer Hall,
BROOKLYN, on Wednesday night last land dar
amt no more bout II. Dls walk dis evenn' is
fer a benevolent cose-fera young man. That's
enough De decacies must be respected"
By miinirht the benches around tho sides Of
tho hail were uncomfortably filled by about 100
.."sroes. young and old and Of both sexes. who
s-.,, '-essed to an astonishing degree, and who
t,,,,haA. shattered, and mado free with each
o,bo. very uieftny. Presently young man, who
had heen a.. ,stlns an old man with an enormous
badge by standing be, 'de him and snatchin. tue
entrance tickets before tthe visitors VINO n"u
purchased them could see !. ''r oo'''' ''''e''u
the hail aud blew a shrill whistle.
"reel for de schottischel' crie~
young man, who afterward called out IT, fU'-
drle movements.
Then began the "good music" which the
bills announced would "bo in attendance" and
which was produced bya piano and violin.
While the schotlische progressed, J. A. Trower
and six other negroes mounted the little bridge
like gallery, and Mr.. Trower read tho printed
programme. Even when the dancing ceased.
the huobub IN Il hall was so great that he
could not make himself heard
Low mo To nufttN NNti ladies ana CetfIn-
men. dat dcre will hc lttefNtary ent crtainment
at Ilon Baptist Church next" lie had shouted
this nt the top OF his voice, and had succeeded
In gaining attention from below. lie left the
last sentence unfinished. ." Dere YOU see. dat
was little trek of mine. lonly give that out
to make you keep quiet. Now. We hab some
VERY. important business. DE ladies arc to
walk for dat cake"
An iced pound cake and roast turkey had
been NJ ,ced In dishes upon table ia the centre
Of thehi "Accordn to de programme. tho
gentleman accompanied by a Lady who EXHIBITS
at a-this-fhia-fnia-f
The programme In his hand read "at this com
petitive trial. hut Mr.. 1rower felt that these
were words worthy Of delberition and caution.
" At this-dere's too much grammar here.
said he, lat this competitive trial, the mos
Crlceful and genteel walk. elegant and pleasing
manners. and dignihed and noble bearing Will
be presented with TURKEY, and In like man
ner. the lady who is conceded To he superior IN
these accomplishments will receive hhnd-ome
cake. NOW. then, md your partners ana GO In
den say, Pshore! | could "a got de cake ei I'd
been a-miud to-.
Before Mr. Tower finished speaking, few
couples began circuit OF the room. and az they
walked the numucr Increased until uemlv AL
present had entered the lists. Each Of the IA,
dies assumed solemn expression " face, 'nd
walked In the stire-t anu htughtiest manner,
resting "A finger OF Two Of one hand on the arm
Of her y ituer, and with the other hand hold
Ing her skirt Cingcriy 10y a nnE,r and thumb.
lhe men rolled their ewes and griuned. some
times even ventutine to Ell the attrnu "a ~
their LADIES' To Whatever amused them, as tuey
paced around the room.
Mr. rrower ordered the walk stopped aft.r II
had continued alb ut ten minutc.. "Accpr In
to dc programmed slid he, from the gallery,
de -,x judges viewed de contest ants rs dey
walked. when dey came to decide, dere was
three IN favor Of one person, aud three IN 'Nnr
OF another. Dat vote didn't amount to nothin',
| and nobody got de cake but derc was de ref
| cree. ana he come In. ana DIT made four against
| three. 1t gives ne Gc creates pleasure TO
| 'nounce DAT de judges decide In favor Of Miss
| Burnett "a de most suneror "b you all-not on
account of her good cloes: she amt got sucn
| very good coes-not Tor jOolry or such things
| about her-but for being the most perlck
| walker. Come ain't none o. YOU gentlemen got
manners nun for u prescott de cake
Miss Burnett took the prize. and walked from
! the table with Il. before any Of the galiants de
cided VINO should do the honofs Of the presen-
After a waltz. several adde's mounted the
! gallery, and order being restored. announced
| tnat they would judge winch gentleman
| tn the contest for the turkey displayed the most
| creditable pcdestrianism. In this walk the
| gentlemen lad aside tncr droirry and became
earnest competitors. Each placed one hand
under his Goa; on his breast, threw back his
head. distended his chest, ana working his
shoulders alternately backw' rd anu forward.
walked ~ the manner In which fast young men
i'm the B,,wety are buresqued on the stage. ire
cuntestants at Schweitzer Hall, however. cxag-
gerated the picture 10y shuniius their feet in
stead Of raising them AS they stepped. he
| ltdir-. ns in their contest for the cake, wore
grave faces aud strode stiniy along. Lnrelievcd
by the mischief the men were continually ere
atng In the cake walk. this contest WAS not IN
ike solemn church or funeral procession
DE idea Is sid a colored spectator, "t to see
who IA de graciest walker. Fancy walking al mt
lowed. You must put on stSle. you know; but
YOU mus joss walk long like you dldnt know
| any Ote seen You, ana llke YOU hhtW now
and didn't care" Norman Gore won the turkey,
and. aftcrwatd, as prizes to the neatest dressed
lady and gentleman. Mrs. SAWYER of Brooklyn
and Mr. storms OF Nllliamsburgh received some
toilet ornaments. The dancing was continued
until daynreak with but one Interruption
by the landlord, who threatened to turn on the
gas unless the person VINO had Incurred n debt
OF thlrtN-ave cents at the bar, and had secreted
| himself iu the ball room, should at once settle
the deut. In terror lest the landlord would oe
true to his word. a dozen ifert NJ persons vol
unteefed to owe hin the thlriy nye cents. Ihe
offender himself WAS found, however, and the
trouble smoothed over.
The benevolent cause for which the walk was
gotten up was ascertaiucd to bc the assiSttnc,
! uf the Rev. John Mathews, a cOlured Bauti,
pre- cner. VINO Is very popular with his people II
| " illitinsDurgh.