Three Hundred Olympians Pack Columbia Hall to See Who Takes the Cake

The mysteries of the "cakewalk," which has been the source of considerable talk and not a little conjecture during the past two weeks, were solved last evening at Columbia hall to a large and expectant gathering. The entertainment was given under the auspices of the social committee of the Women's Auxiliary of the Young Men's Christian Association, and was not only a success socially, but financially as well.

It has been said that in order to be a successful "cakewalker," a person must be, of the whole party, the Chesterfield in manner, the Beau Brummel in dress and the Berry Wall in style, but it was evident last evening that these requisites were not "in it," as the persons who "took the cake" are the ones who held on to the flag.

Secretary Gregg, at the beginning of the entertainment, instructed the participants in the mysteries of the "cakewalk," which is conducted as follows: "The ladies and gentlemen form in couples and march around the hall. A flag is given to one couple and at a signal, a single clash from the cymbals, the flag is passed to the next couple behind, which is repeated until there is a rapid clashing of the cymbals, when the couple holding the flag is awarded the cake."

The opening march was commenced promptly at 8 o'clock and was participated in by about one hundred couples. The successful contestants in the several marches were as follows:

First — Miss May Bunn and Miss Laura Barbee. Second — L. R. Byrne and Miss Anna Callow. Third — Harold McFadden and Miss Rosa Marr; B. B. Baker and Miss Winifred Hawley. Fourth — P. S. Lesher and Miss Amanda Dammon; Robert F. Whitham and Miss J. R. Chaplin. Fifth — George J. Wolf and Mrs. Bolton; Fred Lammon and Miss Amanda Lammon. Sixth — Arthur Douglass and Miss Laura Barbee; J. A. Munroe and Miss Lulu Brown. Seventh — W. J. Marvis and Miss May Ford; Ray Bigelow and Miss Lillie Meays. Eighth — L. G. Wilson and Mrs. R. S. Weston; G. V. Leach and Miss Hattie Callow. Ninth — Mr. and Mrs. A. O. Going; J. S. Longmire and Mrs. George Ingalls. Tenth — C. E. Schultze and Miss Sallie Joyce; Charles Leighton and Miss May Randolph.

William H. Carter, L. R. Byrne, D. R. McQuarrie and H. H. Benner acted as floor managers, and the door keepers were Rupert Cooper and L. S. Strout.

Secretary Gregg was ably assisted in the distribution of the cakes by Mrs. A. C. Clark, Mrs. G. Ingle, Mrs. A. O. Clark and Mrs. Geo. L. Sickels.

Excellent music was furnished by the Capital City band, and Mr. Gregg took occasion to impress upon the minds of the gathering the necessity of supporting such a combination of musical talent, which was one that Olympia should be proud of. During the intervals between the marches the band rendered some fine concert selections.

An admission fee of ten cents was charged at the door, which entitled the holder to the opening march, and the price for each succeeding march was ten cents. The proceeds of the entertainment were about $70. The number of persons in attendance was about 300.

The idea of the "cakewalk" was instigated by Mrs. Strofbridge, an eastern lady, who has been here for some time, visiting Mrs. Geo. L. Sickels, and to her a great deal of credit is due for the success of the entertainment.