Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-12-24
THE ART OF CAKE WALKING.



lance Of Partner and Clothes.
a good cake walker is born, just
like any other artist A man can
learn to cut up antics, go through
funny movements and win applause
from an audience that wants to be
amused, but unless he il endowed
by nature all these qualities will not
make him an artist.
If Il fellow wants to be a cake
walker, being first equipped by ma
ture, he should get his eagle eye out
for lady. 1t makes all the differ
ence in the world what kind of
partner you have See that she
good looking, has fair skin and hair
not too kinlly. The wavy haired
maiden is the most attractive and
the most precious too. Let her dem
onstrate to you that she can do any
thing ON two feet, from the pasmala
to the minuet, though don't mean
to say that the pasmala is allowed
in the refined cake walk. 1t is not.
1t is too sporty, and we always bar
it. But all these little things lend
grace and experience to the walker,
and the more of them she knows the
better.
Rehearse frequently with your
partner. Show her how to smile
when your jaws begin to crack and
agree on the best way to salute each
other. Watch the audience on this
point. 500 which poson they applaud
most and then play the favorites for
all they're worth.
Tho various twists and turns in
the cake walk arc not parts of any
regular dances. They are ingenious
cuntrivances of our own. When IL
couple come on and do their little
turn, they sc through what we call
n solo. Then we have the chorus
walk, tho individuals speciality, the
hoi polloi chorus, or the one where
all hands mix in general scramble
for exhibition honorS, and the gen
toel syration Of geniuses OF the cho-
rus of all stars. usually lead and
act AS manager Of the entertain
Ment.
think the best dress for Il man
cake walker is the swallowtail or no
Prince Albert. Sometimes the over
coat is worn with good effect, and Il
cane gives Il fellow an opportunity
to find place for his hands and adds
grace and dignity to his bearing. ~
silk tilcis the proper caper, especial
ly on Il we'll formed man. 1t makes
you looi; nIce ana shiny, shows Oh
your style and gives you Il chance to
get in some fine salutations, bows
and courto!ies with your LADY. al
ways Use il. 1t is indispensable to Il
first class walkers outfit. Patent
feathers are tho best for the feet,
and tho more diamonds you have
the greater your chance to make Il
killing. Evening costume is tho
proper thing for ladies
\ cake walker makes from So to
&l5 a performance. get the biggest
diyvy fOr managing the Affairs. II
the business docs not become slack,
it's the best thing i'll sight for q
graceful walker. st. Louis has tho
best colorCh dancers in the world,
tho cream Of the prote' ion.
Contests are decided ON these
points. keeping step, makAIG
straight turns, costume, refined ia
cial expressions, well matched cou
pies ard original movements. March
music is the best, unless for solo
work.
am 90 years old and take to tho
cake walk like duck to water. am
Il shampooer and Turkish bath eX-
pert. | have travelled with minstrel
shows, done theatrical turns and
been in everything on the stage; so
it comes natural to me to win out il
a cake walk battle. I've been chasing
the dough, catable and financial, for
nearly ten years, and I'm going to
keep at the game as long as it pays.
Ian Washington in st. Louis Re.