The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-25
WALKING FOR THE CAKE
Annual Reception of the
Black Berry Association.
A VERY sCRUMpTIOUs AFFAIR.
MIR. Cook Takes the Cane and the
Lovely Miss Lee the Cake. i'

Lovely Miss Lee the Cakes
The annual reception and cake walk OF
the Michael. Berry Association of the
Fourth district, the swell colored organi-
zation of the city, took place last evening
in Oakland Rink. Every gentleman OF
color in the city who has any claims to
distinction, and all the best known dusky
bellies between the Hudson and Hacken-
sack were early on the scene.
There were no vexatious delay, and
dancing began as soon as couple took
the floor. ''Joe" Berry, the brother Of
the leader of the colored cohorts of the
Fourth, was the floor manager. He kept
the fun going all the time and scarcely
gave the band chance to breathe. He
called for polkas, waltzes and quadrilles
in manner that almost demoralized the
orchestra.
tHoP on dar, Joe, you'll run fru' de
program fore de ting begins" said one
of the reception committee as the inde-
orchestra for another dance.
KANT help it," replied Mr.: BeEynf
Mus keep dis var ting goin'. Five s4E
tro' de program Wen hev to bege,
over again. Two NOAH couples dis e M
Then the dancing was resumed
renewed vigor. Every couple had 4,
own idea of the particular dance. s. M
waltzed and some polkaed, but hfst J.
skipped and cavOrted over the wa1aS3
floor in manner that was most exhilrio
ating.
THE GRAND ENTREE.
This was kept up until about eleven
when the band struck up spirited
march and the grand entree took place.
This was lead by the great Michael him
self who had upon his arm Miss Ella
Winter, one of the prettiest young ladies'
on the floor.
Thompson with Miss Ella Doe, Mr..
Morris Lee, of Rutherford, with Miss Lee
and about forty other couples.
Their manoeuvres we're exceedingly
unique, and everything was moving along
with the precision of well-oiled machinery
the end of the hall. Floor Manager Joe
Berry, who stood there directing the
movement, spied among the promenaders
one tall young gentleman in an overcoat
carrying his hat and cane in his hand
This breach of ballroom etiquette and
box office regulations could not be toler-
ated for an ninstant, and Mr.. Berry grasped
the intruder by the coat collar and yanked
him and the young lady on his arm out of
the procession.
The young man resisted strenousiy and
his dusky companion began to pull him
away.
Between the energetic floor manager
and his muscular partner he stood good
chance Of being dismembered.
The other promenaders left the line OF
march and crowded around the combat
ants. Immediately q small bedlam arose
and every one began to talk at once. The
young man was advised to pay his fifteen
ilrao xvRo mi oh hot
coat, and he wanted to ''slug de man wot
sez Use no gemmen."
During all the turmoil Floor Manager
Berry held on to the young man and
finally succeeded in Juggling him of the
floor. This, together with the presence
ance. 1t was nothing, after all. Only
shower on an April day with clear skies
afterwards.
WHO'LL TAKE THE CAKE?
Then came the event of the evening, the
walk for the cake and cane The cake
was handsome and elaborate work Of
art, bearing the name and the insignia OF
the association on top, and the cane for
the gentleman who did the most graceful
walking. had silver head of ornamental
design.
Four white and one colored gentlemen
were chosen as judges and mounted the
stage.
MR.. LEES CONFIDENCE
Eight couples contended. Mr.. Morris
Lee, from Rutherford, and Miss Berry at
tracted great attention. Mr.. Lee came 20
the ball determined to take dat cake
back to Rufered."
s.I'se walked for great many cakes, },
yer"
Mr.. Lee hadn't been informed that the
cake was lady's prize.
This confidence on the part of Mr.. Lee
caused several of the white visitors to
back him at odds or 100 to so Cents. But
Mr. Lee was no where in the race.
The couples filed across the hall, wind
ing in and out like a serpent, up the CEN
tire, down the sides and diagonaIly across
the floor. Stiff and upright as though in
invisible straight jackets, with arms stuck
out at every conceivable angle. they
walked for about ten minutes and then
drew up fours front before the judges.
PUZZLED JUDGES.
These luminarieS consulted together
for q few minutes and then one of their
number, a rising young statesman Of the
Heights, known for his reckless prodig-
ality with the dictionary, announced that
they could not agree.
Then they withdrew with the cake and
cane to the box Office for consultation.
After long absence they returned and
the same young orator declared that Mr..
Isaac Thompson was the most graceful
walker, but as ne was u MEMBER OF Ine
association he could not take the cane,
but that Mr. Isaac Cook could.
Miss Sara Lee was declared to be the
most graceful and accomplished lady
pedestrian, and was invited to the stage
to take the cake.
MR. LEE gems 1T IN THE NECK"
In response to the invitation an under
sized darkey, with a No. 10 collar, pre-
sented himself with his face one large
chocolate-colored smile, and reached out
for the cake.
'Hold on there" said the young states
man, s'are you Sarah Lee?1
"No, sab: Pm Mistah Lee, sab, Mistah
Morris Lee, Of Rufered, sab, F" replied the
man.
"Well you are not the sylph-like di-
aphonous perambulator who in such an
accomplished. graceful and finished style
of DECENTRALIZATION has captured this
prize" replied the young orator, "and if
yon don't get out of here, You heterogene-
GUS aglomeration of anatomical pheno-
mena, get it in the cervicle .verte-
brss
tleman to reply when the case
sp raid before him in such clear and
~ 4 .aufminous language, and he withdrew
Miss Lee then came forward and bore
away the cake.
The dancing and merrymaking was
kept up until the night patrol was re-
lieved.
49, ~