The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-12-10
CUBA CRITICIsMs.-(Continued.)

CUBA CRITICIsMs.-(Conti
Yes, the curtain has indeed fallen,
and the notable drama CUBA" with
it's attractive, though much comment
among our ''past recollections." This
latter feature was, according to an ar
ticle in a previous issue of this paper,
the only occasion upon which the per-
formers failed to do credit to them
selves and to their race from moral,
social and intellectual point of view"
Hoping that it will be of some benefit
to the author of the aforesaid article,
in pointing out to the public certain &C
tions of the performers which failed
to do credit to the race, would like
to make a few suggestions. When
contemplating this late production the
public can, I am sure, recall to mind
as being intermixed with, although
nearly obscured by, the many brilliant
doings "above the footlights," certain
others which savored very strongly of
stupidity. Let the reader here pause
for a moment, and mentally take upon
himself each of two conditions. I'm
agining, my reader, that you had to
assume one or the other before an au-
dience, decide as to which you would
choose, to be seen brightly 60 walking
off the stage when all your co-operators
have taken their final position thereon,
and having to be chucked into your
place by one of the prompters, or on the
other hand to appear as participant
in a brilliant, inspiring, grace-display-
ing cake walk? This latter is an art
to which every one cannot attain. I
agree with the author in his statement
concerning morality, and would like to
further add, that if our people, as a
ve0 I,1J1
ard, the little things of life would take
care of themselves. ~
MARIE L. ARMSTRONG.
Mr.. Editor.
/ wish to say few words about an
article that appeared in the last issue
of your paper, under the title of IA Crit
icism on Cuba" I do this in defense
Of the persons who participated in the
'cake walk" at the recent productions
of "Cuba," many of whom made many
sacrifices and gave their time unhesi-
tatingly, in order that they might do
something to add to the prosperity Of
the American Law Enforcement league
of this state, and of which not one
third of said participants were mem
bers. 1t is a fact to be deplored that
one of the members of the league
should attack in such a manner the
good intention and morals of said par
Elephants.
We are all aware of the fact that the
''cake walk has it's associations, and
the writer of this article never knew
of it's coming into prominence until
MIR. w. K, Vanderbilt gave a "cake
Walk at his home in New York city.
Chicago society people followed that
distinguished gentleman's example and
the result was that a rivalry arose be-
tween Mr.. Vanderbilt and leading
Chicago gentleman, and he challenged
Mr.. Vanderbilt through the public
press to engage him in "cake walk"
The next time the cake walk came into
prominence was in the City of st. Paul,
when Miss Abbie Warner daughter of
the head of we'll known business firm
of St. Paul, gave a cake walk at her
residence on Summit avenue. Other
society people here also did so, and al
low me to say here that these cake
walks were given in the regulation
evening dresses of both sexes, and the
participants did not blacken their
faces. Well, large number of the col
ored people who dance and engage in
many other "frivolities'' as pleasant
pastimes occasionally, and who are
some mighty steady people, not fiat
tering themselves to be possessed Of
better morals, more education, proper
y
who have had centuries of such ac-
complishments and possessions behind
them, concluded they would ''cake
walk" too, and the result is that it is
being INDUCED in by some of the most
refined and cultured people of the
Northwest, and who are a credit to the
race to which they belong. Such, too,
is the estimation the public places up
on them. The cake walk has been
~
dances, and now that it has, if it is
proving to be such Calamity" to the
race with which it will forever be iden-
titled. we would suggest that a few at
tacks be made on Mr.. Vanderbilt for
leading us into temptation. In itself,
the cake walk is a modest and refined
dance, and it is an art not many people
can acquire. 1t is over-indulged in
and may be vulgarized just as any
other form of amusement may be, but
if properly danced no fault may rea-
sonably be found with it. I do not
wish to have it understood that am
in favor of public cake walking any
more than would be in favor of dane
ing in public or playing cards in pub
lie, but it is not any more improper for
us to indulge in these amusements in
public for charities of our own than
it is for the aristocracy Of st. Paul or
any other city to dance at public
charity ball. In conclusion would
add that the production Of Cuba" has
done more to elevate. the colored peo-
pie in the estimation of the whites in
the Northwest than all the combined
efforts of the race loving people of the
Twin Cities, for the participants didn't
meet, elect officers and resolve, and
then dissolve, but they went to work
and by their combined efforts gave q
performance that has excelled by far
any Of its kind ever given by those
who acknowledge themselves our SUI
perior race.
MRS. FREDERICK Z. MGTIEE. 4
Duluth Mimi
Mics Minnie Krsiahead is on tie eick