Date: Sat, 4 Feb 1995 12:14:08 -0800

From: THOMAS CLARK tlc[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]NEVADA.EDU

Subject: Re: 3 Lexicographic Queries



On Sat, 4 Feb 1995, Donald M. Lance wrote:



Cakewalks were common folk events at dances in 19th century America, on

into the middle of the 20th in some communities. At some point in the

evening the males would march (to music) around a table that had pastries

brought by the females and when the band stopped or gave some sort of

signal the males stopped and each had to buy the item of pastry in front

of him. I recall seeing this in the 1940s in Texas.



[snip]





This is a second definition as given in DARE. DARE, incidentally, has a

column and a half (!) on "cakewalk" and "cake-waltz". Don't you hate

when that happens? 8-)

Cheers,

tlc