The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-23
KLoND1KE CLUB CAKE WALK.
Hot Times in the Old Town Not in

1t all happened at the cake walk Of
the Klondike club during the small
hours yesterday morning. Central hall
times in the old town-this one was
sizzler, They were all there-those
members Of the Klondike club in good
standing. They came late but they
stayed later. It was the longest night
IN the year, and they made the most Of
the latter half of it.
The Klondike club, as its name i'm
plies, is not an organization Of long
standing. It's members do not care
about standing anyway. Cake walking
is their strong hold. And certainly
there was some very elaborate walking
incident to this occasion-likewise some
delirious dancing roasted turkey and
hilarious merriment. None but men,
bers Of the Klondike club were adj
mitted, except a select number Of spec
tally invited guests, who, perhaps, be-
none with such huge capacity for en-
joyment.
There was prize buck dance before
the great cake walk. The two COM
petitors were youth Of sixteen whose
dubious complexion has won him the
sobriquet of pink Nealey," and a
stubby little ace Of spades from Mime
The floor was cleared, the judges
seated themselves In front Of the plat
form, and the time-keeDer appeared.
He was none other than Ernest Hogan,
Of the Black Patti Troubadours. Mr..
Hogan enjoys the distinction Of having
composed that immortal African ditty
concerning the fatal resemblance be-
tween all coons, likewise the Pas Ma
La" Mr.. Hogan. be 1t said, can also
sing those songs.
Mr.. Hogan called time and Pink"
Nealey stepped to the center. The
piano commenced and so did pink"
Softly at first his feet beat a triple
tattoo on the waxed floor, but as the
seductive Jig grew louder and faster,
Pinks pedal extremfties became more
active, his legs longer, seemingly, and
his eyes twice their natural size. After
"Pink" had hammered the floor for
three minutes, Shorty Harris had his
innings.
Shorty seemed, at first glimpse, all
body and feet. Long-waisted some
would call him. He didn't look as
though he had mortal show, but when
the music started he let out q few
kinks in those concealed legs Of his
and shook his two feet as though they
were seven. When Shorty" finished it
was evident that he knew a. few steps.
The multitude waited breathlessly
for the decision, while the judges con-
ferred together. A moment later, Mr..
Hogan mounted the chair, and this Is
what he said:
Ladies and gentlemen. Owing to the
great variety of steps on the part Of
Shorty Harris and the extraordinary
rattle of Pink Nealey's feet, the judges
have decided to call this contest a
draw" (Cries Of mol No! No draw!D
The orchestra drowned the protests
by striking up a two-step, and mo-
ment later the Klondike club was in
the mazes Of the dance.
At the ripe hour of a. m, or there
abouts, the temperature warranted the
inauguration Of the cake walk. Here
again the irrepressible Mr.. Hogan offlci-
ated as master of ceremonies. The
couples, over dozen in number, lined
up, the judges seated themselves at one
end Of the hall and the procession
started off. After the first time around
and the walk up the center, all but five
couples were dropped out. Then the
contest became exciting
Three Of the couples easily eXcelled,
for the masculine contingent comprised
three members of the Black Patti COM
pany AS these gentlemen gracefully
escorted their partners down the hall.
chased up the center to the master of
ceremonies, and resumed their walk,
the ecstasies of the Klondike club knew
no bounds.
The walk continued until the contest
was narrowed down to two couples, the
excitement increasing as the couples de-
creased At this stage, Mr.. Hogan an
ncunced that the tie between the two
couples would be decided later in the
evening'-when they would walk it off.
This caused some dissatisfaction at the
time, but later in the evening" the
contest was renewed. The judges
awarded the cake to Fred Fraser and
Annie Besoni.