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