The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-28
ART OF THE CAKEWALKER.
POINTS ON PRIZE WHINING GIVEN BEl
A CHAMPION.
Responsibility Resting on the Lndy-rhd
Cake-Critical Moment Of the Contest-
Unworthy Wiles - Church Cakewnlkq
and the Hotel Function Compared

Moment OF the Content1
Unworthy Wlles Church Cakewnlka
and the Hotel Function Compared
ATLANTIC CRY, Aug. 27-It is here that the
cakewnlk Is dcyelcped in its very latest glory{
Everything that Is new and odd and fantastic
in cakewalks Is to be seen in this town Of o
tells. cottages and colored help. There are eevN
raj champion cakewalkers here and the rivalry
Ia great. Tho New Orleans coiored artistic
walker says his methods are the most up I'd
date. Then there IL another champion from
Richmond. who says he has the true Southern
style. Another champion is ffuin GhsIIesto.ll
who says that he has waited at hotels in n dozen
leading resorts In the last fve years. and that
his styles are far and away ahead Of anything
else ON this island. The Philadelphia cham3
pion says that the others don't know anything
about style. and that his styles are so good thao
they are well worth getting a patent for. New
York has n champion who has carried on four
prizes thus far this season. which fact he thinkd
speaks for itself. The only thing against him
is his height. He Is not quite tall enough 70
make n good showing when in q serious mood
but when Il comes to clowning. why. he's all
there. The other evening one Of the chang
pions. Wesley by name. who has Just carried Cd
q big prize in n field OF thirteen artistic con%
~testants. said to THE sUS'correspondent:
II wins Just cause I study the particulaH
bSiilNS tAthl Il huNN IAthNCF Nv EVObhOs LIN
only way to win in n cakewalk is to have a good
side'partner. That is, u good. refined lady that
understands how to act. She must never
weaken. She's got TO be cool and right In for
the fur. never tremble, never lose her nervet
be able 10 laugh without openin' her mouthj
and go long and mind her business, doing like
agentleman partner and not caring who's ook{,
ing at her. or course. she's got to be stylishly
dressed, but not overdressed. Let the white
ladies do that. A medium size lady does best
for cakewalking. She's got to be pretty I'd
please the judges. Round and plump. with q
small mouth and'a roguish eye. She's the GaR
to be n cakewalker's star. The man must be
taller than the lady..and, OF course, be In full
evening dress, high hat and cane. I alwayd
dress in that way for a cakewalk. but neveH
overdress 1t. Never wear a red rose. oh. no.
Never borrow any Rentleman's diamond OF
watchchain. Oh. mol That's very bad formi
Jewelry don't win at a cakewalk. though 1 low
1t may add TO appearances. The boutonnier4
must be a white tea rose or camellia. II tho
party is very fashionable. white gloves is tho
proper thing. II the assembly Is not in full
dress. gloves are not necessary for the gentl01I
man. The lady can do as she pleases. ;
Il never like to walk at q walk where tho
admission is less than so cents. children half
price. At som places the figures are IS cent?
and Is cents. but the proper thing Is a half
dollar. You see 1 am now talking about hotel
cakewalks in fashionable life. I have been
wanting to introduce the. style Of three sepatl
rate lady judges for: cakewalks. to act with the
three gentlemen. the ladies to judge OF tho
merits Of the lady walkers. so far as grace
dress. manners. department. and ladylike bed
havior Is concerned. / will get that going in
my next. 1t is my original idea. and there,
ought to be a special prize apart from the
cake. such as an order for @ pair Of kid glovesi
or some such remembrance. The cake must
be a pound cake, well iced. never q fruit caka
or sponge cake or Jelly cake. plain. Il muse
have very little decoration. and never airy red
flowers on the icing. The cake must occupy.
a place on q small table In sight Of everybodysI
walkers for it. When the promenaders are a
ready outside in the corridor. the master OF
Ssse%Sn ki,S sG qSbo with Z S SsRs or la SstG snS 9r EPsd
F FtRsS1 the S S6ssf hs s9a Is s sGlSra Is RRFES Frey Should sEaR s
e G ifollsG Gse 4a r 4 sSsy are sRs sPq qhtssll nc IL re n %ss ess
t asf AXE ts1 part sh ia T tSss &afk 'S foll SEpR Ri@ E INTO t Ga
Then Is the critical moment. when YOU face
dfsss k RSen m at home peS aYMay wn are nf IN ful fd dress sq r.
Vel: digress. 4 was saying when you nrsSj
your VoSF, head. Y You've got 70 BE- cool: tRsS So1s
always to have the same lady partner when!
you're; walking for q cake, although I've had 81
e eshte to = You IN a as5 hF tsll " about sn ,th Ss Won S9n ae :
They're hard to understand. A loud-talking1
saucy girl In: company VII tame down aIa J.
and originality. But you get to know Who yoGj
Always aRys 81 have 6aysn q reh 6SI al When VI ny I % 60 Tor big
game-that is. when champion walkers from
MY hrst characterization. in the promenade !
B D]a6 t n 9ad S Sod R9iiss to to the Them people ee n ne
them by a gentle bows; a slight nod Of recognize
tion. even II you never saw them before: Peos
portant and, know every one. Why. I know
to make believe they know some one. when
they HUik dSnS, tb w9 1edre the ztPp FS%m thsy Should Ia b sSs
partner must do 50 in her most county nan-
ner. ! low no tricks. though; i detect my
t firtines With them. | kick. iindeed, DONE y.
low any cake 70 be won by myself BY any side
ant tSSH1 and must courtesy royalty ii in our inst
figure. but there It ends; know women who
R FSSS.,s to n The a iHg siE sat ieStshd 4 W. sa l.m suasls Ssfe:
married man; but my vile don't walk; 80
bhy III u hAS aHS - -
dude, 1t Is a familiar one. with elbows'elevated. !
! need not describe the walk Of this dude or the
dog riot Of him.
THE third figure Is the peacock. The strut :
is very, difficult. to do gracefully. You are, hA- 4
BILE to lean back too far and appear ridiculous
instead of interesting and funny. In q burs ]
lesque cakewalk the idea e always TO keep On
cent In your manner. In order to mako people
laugh at you secretly and not openly. Thatts /
the true spirit OF ths 6uTles4uS;
walk. The stride Is imperious and busineeSa I
Just as II a, man was going right into We
You elevate your hands horizontally and glide .
along with celebrity. toes always out. A pieeo4s
toed man Is, OF course. no good-tooo out, AL !
ways, The Boston stoop IL q funny position
but I never use II. more than two minutes az
tie and get your coat collar over your ne3k, IN
nearly all my figures l take holdof my lAdyq
left hand. but. OF course. change 1t TO the rgno /
to give her n rest :
The alteration is a neat figure, ofsouPSeS
IL typihes the first steps at courtship. BY glow
.sta1es n dayeloDs from alteration to a. nnal