Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-02-19
WALK FOR ACAKE.
Colored Folks Contest 1T Ar
mory Hall.
NovEMEHTs DIsPLAYED.
Eight Dasky Dansels s,d Their Esoofts
Pace the Floor to the Straias Of Spirited

6oC0 bo0 sOOH 10 t0o DtKobuD VI Op41seO0
Music and Amid the Enthusiastic Laughs
ara Chsers Of the Immense Audisnes.
1t war sutn,ly q wahm affAih.
In these few words you have the
story of what transpired at Armory
hall last nieh t. a cake walk WIS .
novelty to Rock Island people. The
fact was evidenced by the manner in
which they clamored about the en-
trance seeking admission after the
place was so crowded that half the
space reserved for the walk had to
be surrendered.
But those who got . peep at the
movements of the dusky LADIES and
their gallant escorts as they glided
around the floor admitted that 1t was
a treat. It unfolded to people who
had never witnessed a cake walk be-
fore a new definition of the poetry
of motion. Colored men and wom-
en- WHO sre famed far and wide
as cake walkists eclipsed their past
records for grace and novelty Of step
and pose anu gesture.
The walk, under the direction Of
Abe Warrick. of Davenport, who
wore duck pants, rolled up at the
bottom and q wi%ne-colored collar
with wings about two inches wide,
was begun at $3.50. James Reynolds,
of Davenport, and Miss Sarah Pear
son, led, followed in order by these
couples: Oscar Jones, Clinton, and
Mrs. Emma Merchant, Minneapolis,
formerly of Rock Island; Mr.. Myers,
Chicago, and Mrs. William Moore.
Rock Island; Wallace Ballard, Rock
Island, and Miss Levina Harris, Mus
caiine; Ollie Rivers, Des Moines, and
Miss Gertie Mayes, Clinton; Jimmie
Laurie. Chicago, and Miss Julia Hill.
Davenport; James Robinson, Rock
Island, and Miss Ella Ashby, Des
Moines; Sadie Robinson, Rock Island,
and Sylvester Dolman, Detroit.
All yew comm honey?
Henry Terry, of South Rock ISL
and, and Moses De Bar, of Daven-
port, the latter impersonating q
woman, carried up the rear and fur
nished an abundance of amusement.
Nose wore a stripped gingham waist.
dark skirt, with bonnet to match,
and chewed gum Che refused to di.
vulge the BRANDY, while his escort.
Mr. Terry. wore a low cut gingham
vest, q colored flannel shirt, with
upturned collar and a smile that wal
a dream. Each of the male walkists
carried a ane wrapped in the ma.
tional colors. Wallace Ballard di.
vided honors with James Reynolds
and Oscar Jones, as far as fancy
clothes were concerned. Wallace,
who is porter at the Rock Island
house, had q shirt with blocks in it
about the size of a dollar with the
roundness squared off, while an
occasional diamond - and the
real thing. too-sparkled from his
bosom. The ladies were all neatly
eostumed. Miss Pearson was the
queen of the contestants in this re.
epect. She was dressed in pink and
wore . profuse boquet, and she
looked just lovely.
She was shuly scrumptous.
Jones . Favorite.
Mr.. Jones was q ~favorite with the
audience from the stayt, although
Mr.. Ballard came in for a generou!
part of the plaudits which were lib.
orally bestowed. but he had it an.
nounced by Master of Ceremonie.
Toliver before the contest had pro.
ceeded very far, that in so much q!
he was interested in the Management
of the affair, he would not accept an,
prize that might be awarded him
Mr.. Reynolds and his lady never de.
waited feom the dignifed, slow ane
deliberate movement which they as
sumed at the outset; even when tn,
orchestra was playing My Girl is ,
High Born Lady," when the othe1
walkists seemed to travel in the air
they controlled the African instinct,
which seems to assert itself wheI
this piece is rendered, and kept RICH
on saving wood in their own swee
way. Mr.. Jones was considered tn,
most agile and graceful man on tn,
floor, and his partner, Mrs. Mer
chant, shared the smiles and hand
claps that were showered on him. Tn
doubtedly Mr.. Jones captured tn,
audience by his gallantrv.
He was bout tn whole cawnield
c. P. Skinner, OF Moline; j. j. Lit
yelle. of Rock Island, and Morri
Levi, of Davenport. officiated az
judges. All of the contestants wer,
finally excused except Mr.. Reynoldl
and Miss Pearson. and Oscar Jones ant
Mrs. Merchant. They were giver
the whole floor and proceeded to dis
play their best accomplishments a.
cake walkists. Mr.. Jones and hi,
partner continued to be the favorites
with the audience, but the Judge!
decided on Mr.. Reyn olds as the win
ner of the cake, q large pink coloret
and frost decorated pastry construc
ton. made BY Krell & Math; tn,
other prizes being q fine cane from
the London Clothing company. ant
. hat from Stewart. Miss Pearson
was given the ladies' first prize,
silver bon bon basket, from FREQ
Woltmann. Mr.. Jones was awsrd
Ell the gentleman's second prize
q bottle Of cham payne. from Loui