THE HISTORY OF THE "CAKEWALK."

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8156, 16 April 1903, Page 4

THE HISTORY OF THE "CAKEWALK."

(By Howard Paul.) Hie "Cake Walk" took its time to find its way across the Atlantic, as it was m vo'me quite forty years ago m the Southern States of America. It originated in Florida, which is now regarded as the Riviera of the United States, - and during the last few years quite a dozen towns in the State of Florida have become pleasure-resorts in consequence of the erection of a chain of palatial,- sumptuously appointed hotels at Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Orinonff, Palm Beach, Miami, and other desirable points on the east coast of the great, Southern State. " _ . Half a- century ago, Florida was scantily populated by planters, orange-growers, Seminole Indians, and there was a liberal sprinkling of negroes. The latter did most of the agricultural work of the country, and it is said that they borrowed the_idea of their now widely known "Cake Walk" from the war-dances of the Seminoles, a now almost extinct Indian -tribe. It seems that these Indians had occasional feasts, with episodes of what might, at a pinch, be called dancing; but, before they flourished their legs madly about, jumping and gyrating with almost acrobatic celerity, they calmly walked in couples for a short time in a procession, and then, at a signal from a chief, they broke forth into hilarious and furious activity. The negroes, as spectators, frequently assisted at these festivities, and in time adapted the walking portion of the Indian programme in their native "barns." The idea grew with them as time went on, and style in walking among them was discussed as a sort of art, and, instead of dancing-schools, classes to be taught "walking with grace and style" were founded. The white planters and masters favored this idea, as it kept the darkies out of mischief and was an amusing, harmless recreation. The negroes, even in their primitive state, have a natural desire to carry themselves with a certain air of dignity j and they have an innate love of music," as their folk-songs amply attest. The simple art of promenading nicely developed into the ""Cake Walk," and prizes were offered for the most accomplished perin this way. At first, boxes of sweets, <r cornets" of chocolates, and plates of ice-cream were the prizes. As the exercises expanded and numerous recruits rallied to the competition, cakes made their appearance, and huge, white-frosted poundcakes decorated with floral ornaments which would not discredit the atelier of the famous Buszard were conspicuously placed on a raised platform at one end of the apartment for the competitors to gaze at longingly before they started on their walk. After the prize had been awarded by a jury of four (two men, two women), the cake was cut. by the winner and generous slices distributed among the participants. Sometimes, when the finances would run to it, wine, or, more often, cider or root-beer, accompanied the cake, and the party then proceeded to finish up the evening with Virginia reels, barn-dances, valses, and other saltatory diversions. Before the "Walk" became conspicuously associated, with a big cake (it was the latter that invested it with added importance), the negroes assembled -in their ordinary workaday garments, more- picturesque than select, and made no special preparations for their festivity. As time went on, and Florida became a fashionable winter-resort for the "white folks from the North,'' and the wages of the negroes increased by leaps and bounds, they began to dress for their exhibitory walks, as many of the" white visitors not only attended as audience, but also contributed handsomely to the cost of the cake. The darkies formerly turned up in slovenly, sometimes tattered attire when the prizes were valueless, now appeared in long-tailed, gun-metal tinted dress, or frock-coats, high-standing collars, flambuoyant ties the brightness of wliicli made one almost wink, patent-leather pumps, and other sartorial muslin or calico skirts, but had risen to the dignity of showwhite gowns made a' la Princesse, with fluffy frills, and bouquets of violets in their girdles, with frenquently a second posy at the top of the corsage. The darkey damsel, when she starts embellishing, does not half do it. At a soiree I attended at the handsome hotel called the "Ponce de Leon" at St.- Augustine, I heard one girl say to another, "Look at Miss So-and-So" (I didn't catch the name). "She's got on a Parisian wrapper trimmed with electric shocks. See how she vibrates." I glanced at the woman to whom attention was directed, and she "certainly was the most coruscating, flashing female I ever beheld out of a Christmas sepctaofe or an Empire ballet. From Florida the "Walk" advanced to

the North, by way of Georgia, and two Carolinas, and Virginia (the home of the 'possum, the 'coon, and the hoe-cake), until it reached cities, New York, and Boston, where darkies of» bounding vitality organised Clubs with champion belts for the best men-walkers and diamond rings for the damsels.