The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-24
ZOO" ina CAKE WALK
A Brilliant Contest at the M. e.
Church Last Night.
Fourteen Couples Engage in
the Affair
Much Amusement is Afforded Large
Number ofSpectators.

There was a genuine cake walk last
evening al the First Methodist church
in which II couples of the smart set
took part and a competent committee
of judges criticised the walking Of the
merry young men and women. OF
course this was all on the sly, and ev-
erybody present was sworn to secrecy,
for they OWNED that should the public
hear of it maybe some of the pillars of
of the church might take exceptions to
After the evenings entertainment in
which Yesterday, Today and TOmOr-
row. was shown, and the most of the
crowd left, one of those moments of en-
joynent which always come to young
people when they can have a little
harmless fun on the quiet, presented it
self and was eagerly graSped.
The high school orchestra was play
ing lively march and the young peo-
pie were enjoying themselves famous
", when it occurred to them that it
would be a capital idea to have a cake
walk.
The idea spread rapidly and it was no
time until the judges had been selected
and the couples were in line ready for
the start Mrs i. b. Sweet, Mrs. j. B.
Bartholomew, Will MacFerran and w.
c. Campbell were the judges and they
stationed themselves in a conspicuous
position in the Sunday school room of
the spacious church. The music was
again started and the programme was
on. Walter Noble and Mrs Frank Ed
son were the leaders, while Frank Edison
second.
Around the room the IA couples walk
ed, making fun for the spectators and
themselves. Among those who follow
ed behind Walter Noble and Mrs. Frank
Edison were H. S. Morgan and Miss
Margaret Mulvane. J.V. Abrahams and
Miss Virgiline Mulvane, DR.. w. 3.
Swan and Miss Belle Bennett Jake
nd
Guy Adams and Miss Welcome. The
music was inspiring and some of the
walking there would have discounted
Doe Brown of Kansas City.
Mr.. Abrahams and Miss Virgie Null
vane received the most applause for
their walking and were certainly en-
titled to first prize. They We're the
fancieSt couple on the floor. Jake Bair
dressed in an oriental costume, made
fun for everybody. He made a hit by
mOtiOning to one of the Specta tors and
saying: Walk this way, please" The
crowd looked at his neither limbs and
broke forth in laughter. One of the
couples thought to bride the judge by
carrying palm to them and gracefully
laying it at their feet. Another knelt
before them.
The wild excitement was kept UP for
some time and the old church rang
with joyous laughter. But the Rev. A.
S. Embree was not there; neither were
some of the elders. When the walk
had been stopped and the decision of
the Judges was expected, some one
limited that perhaps the proceedings
might reach the newspapers and a sud
den calm came over the festivities.
The judges did not reach a decision.
1t was thought Mr.. Abrahans and Miss
Mulvane were the best, but Jake BAR
! insisted that he was entitled to it. Then
others demanded recognition and the
decision was deferred. 1t is understood
that at tOnight's entertainment, which
will be a repetition of the entertain
ment, possibly barring the cake walk,
the decision will be given. Jake Bair,
it is said, has been barred from the
prize list because some say that his
neither limbs are so shaped that he is
able to make extraordinary steps in
cake walking which a person with
straight pins" cannot possibly make.
The occurrence has been the subject
of much interesting talk on the streets
today, and it has caused no little
amusement on account of the way the
participants have tried to suppress the
news of it.
Beside this cake walk. the one of the
night before at Metropolitan hall fades
into insigniffcance.