The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-05-06
AT The CAKE WALK
The First Separate Company Intro
duces an Innovation.
Mr.. WILSON AND MISS JOHNSON.
They Won the Big and Beautiful Cake In
Spite OF Mr.. Turner Of Washington and
His Diamond-A Large Attendance at
Music Hall.

To the First Separate Company of In
fantry belongs the credit Of bringing of
the first real cake walk that has ever been
seen in Providence. Reports have reached
this city from time 10 time of such things
being carried on in New York. Boston
and other cities, at which the culture OF
the city mingled with the colored popula-
tion to witness the contest OF style and
grace, and in consequences there was q
large attendance at Music Hall last even
The time from 7:sO to was occupied by
Stones Continental Band which gave a
very acceptable concert. At O'Clock the
program consisting of musical selections
pied the time till about 9:45. The pro-
gram comprized an organ recital by Prof.
Eugene Watson, selections by q quartet
composed of Messrs. Morris, Grady,
Purdy and Miles, soprano solos and read
ings by Miss Emma Williams, a mando-
lin solo by Edward s. Brown, solos by
Miss Sadie Bryant, dialogue by the Thes-
plan Dramatic Club, selections by mixed
quartet, a recitation by William Heath
man, Jr., of Brown University and duet
by Misses Bryant and Williams.
After a short intermission the band
struck up the Seventh Regiment march,
and all who desired to enter the contest
first couple to lead of was Lieut.. T.. A.
Rollins with Miss Theresa Turner, and
about fifteen couples followed. This was
a smaller number than was expected, but
the presence of several well-known cake
walkers from abroad rather dempened
the courage of some of the natives. AT
the end of the first march the judges
selected six couples TO participate in the
next, but anyone who chose, still had the
opportunity to enter except q member OF
military company.
The contest finally narrowed down to
Henry Wilson and Miss johnson, Rich
ard Turner and Miss Smith, Charles Rob-
inson and Miss Vance and Luther Robin
son and Mrs. William Winston. The
difference In the style of each was very
noticeable, Mr.. sTurner, who comes from
Washington, ID. c., with beautiful
white shirt front and an enormous dia-
mond, wearing the most confident air
and performing such movements with his
feet that the eye could scarcely follow
him; Mr.. Wilson, very modest, yet get
ting quietly through several difficult evo-
lutions and the others little stiff as II
walking on eggs.
Finally to decide the winner Messrs.
Wilson and Turner with their ladies had
the floor all to themselves and the IL
terest of the audience was very great as
they We'd with each other in difficulty Of
movements and at the last strains OF
music walked up the centre of the hall
four abreast which aroused the enthusi-
asm of the audience to the highest pitch.
Mr.. Henry Wilson of Providence and
Miss Clara johnson of Worcester were
declared the winners of the beautiful cake
amid great applause, and were immedi-
ately surrounded by a large circle OF ad-
miring friends, who congratulated them
heartily. The whole affair passed off
very successfully and the 1,500 people
present were well satisfied with the even
ings entertainment.