Hide Article Text (OCR)
CAKE WALK IS FRENCH.When It OritfJiiatt'cl. It Al*o Stood For a31 u r i hii;o Cenriuony.The cake walk properly had itsorighi *■ among the Li’i noil negroes of Louisiana mort tlum a century ago. There is little don In; that i' is tot offshoot of some of tiit? oiil Er mck country dancer. It re-• senildcs soioral of them in form. From ; | New Orleans ii spread over dm otnire ■ south and thence north. it was ioniid of convenience to the plantation negroesTm.'V were not w-.-ddt ;1 by liccns**. ;ualit was seldom tluit the .services of apreacher wore called In.At a cake walk a man might legitimately show his preference for a woman and thus publicly claim her for a wife. In effect the cake walk was not different from tin. old Scotch marriage, which r* tpiitvtl only pul lie acknowledg-im. nt from the contracting parties, do this festival be came in some sense a wooing, an acceptance or rejection and a ceremony. This explains its popularity with the hlacks, outmdo of its leim-tk-s( with the ;ua--anpauimcnt of music, which is competent ar all times to .command negro support.Cake walking has improved, as do most things that are constantly practiced. It has Let its oldsi.gniffcaimo in the 5uili. Mi gnas now gel: married, whenih» v moirv a: all. in the withe folks'* *•fashion. If 1ms. however, beemm a pan-tiimime dance, Properly performed, it is a beau tit ! one. The cake is m-t mm. h of a prize, though the uegm has a sweet b ;ch.—New Orhaus Tkuo Democrat.
Newspaper Details
Richmond Enquirer
Richmond, Virginia, US
Tue, Nov 19, 1844
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 23 Apr 2021
Other Publications Near Richmond, Virginia
Richmond Family Visitor
Richmond Evening Truth
Richmond Critic
Richmond Childrens Friend
Richmond Christian Observer
