The cakewalkers are up and starting to step. They do their act first rate and I do not blame them for enjoying the pastime. Even the sedate old deacon - I judge him to be - who would scarcely lower his dignity for anything so common as a cakewalk, is stepping right merrily with one of the fair maidens.

I gave the cakewalkers the suggestions that "part would be ladies and the rest gentlemen," which leaves them in doubt, and so it is that a couple going down the stage may each think he is a man or each believe the opposite, which serves to make it all the more interesting, as there is just enough uncertainty about it to make the participants go through some laugh-provoking movements.

To this act I give about four minutes, and by that time the cakewalkers are ready to be seated. They have done well and the applause that they get is sufficient to encourage them if at any time their interest waned.

"As you pass around this time you will escort your partners to their seats and then be seated yourselves," I say, as they circle in rather systematic order.

As they come around the stage this last time they circle over toward the chairs and are soon seated. No sooner are they in their chairs than they are off to sleep. I will awake some of them and the remainder -three of the boys will do - I will put through some minor acts for the variation of the programme.

So I awaken nine and the remainder arc left asleep.

"You will come forward as soon as I have counted ten," I say. "And you will be three ladies. Of course, you will be wide awake, but there will be a muddy crossing in front of you and you will raise your skirts and cross, being as careful as possible to keep out of the mud".

I count to ten and when that number is reached, they open their eyes, blink a few times and then arise. As they come toward me they discover the muddy crossing and lift their imaginary skirts. This pleases the audience greatly; partly because the act is so natural and partly because it is so out of the ordinary. To make it more realistic these three "ladies" walk on their heels and swing from side to side, just as members of the fairer sex sometimes do when they want to make their mud-wading exhibition as graceful as possible.

"WIDE AWAKE!".

"That is right," I say. greeting them as they reach me. "You did very well, but I see you all lost your shoes in the mud, and here are several hundred people out before you. What are you going to do?"

They look down at their feet and actually blush as they behold their shoes gone. They look around in a frightened manner and then seat themselves on the stage, trying to hide their stocking feet - as they believe them to be.

This touches the audience in a funny spot and there is much laughter as these unfortunate "women" try to hide the fact that they have lost their shoes.

"No, your shoes are all right. Get up and look into these shop win-dows. Here are some pretty displays".

And they are again on their feet, having forgotten their troubles and enjoying what they think is a display in store windows.

While they are gazing into the windows I go over and wave my hand at two other boys who are deeply interested, and they are soon up following my extended fingers as I back away from them.

"Here, you are not ladies looking into store windows; you are base-ball players. Come, you must all come over here to the ball grounds and get in the game at once".

They are all following me and are eager as I twist a newspaper into a baseball "bat" and another one into a "baseball." I give the bat to one and the ball to another.

"You are to be the pitcher," I say to the one with the ball, "so I will have you come over here. He sure that you do not get out of the box or the umpire will call the game to a close. Everything must be conducted on square lines".

I lead him over to the center of the stage. Then I go to the one with the bat. "You are in for first batter," I saw "and you must be sure and hit that ball as hard as you can and make as many home runs as possible." I then go about the stage and place the other three players. One is to be the catcher and he stands directly back of the batter in a position where he is sure to be hit with the bat at the outset.

I have but one base, and that is about eight feet away from the "home plate." There is a baseman for this and the other boy is out in the "field." where he can catch the balls should there be any "flies" sent out that far "I will be umpire and I want to see a fair game. You are all good players and you are going to do your best. There is a great crowd watching you and you must make some good plays".

To impress the subject with the fact that he is l>eing watched by a great many people, tickles his pride a good deal and he is apt to be so intent that his acts will be much funnier than they would be were he not impressed with the fact. •All ready, play!" The pitcher spits on his hands, raises his right leg and goes through the antics that the ball players in the funny papers execute. He makes a great effort and sends the paper ball over the plate. The batter hits it with all his strength and knocks it out to the fielder. Having hit the ball so well he throws his bat and runs with all his might, touches the paper base and is back again before the ball has reached home plate.

"That is one score for this gentleman. Let me see. your name is King Leopold, I believe!"

Whereat the "king" swells up and takes his bat with great eagerness. He spits on his hands and then gets down and rubs them on the around, to get enough dirt on them to grasp the bat with a surer hold. "All right!"

Again the ball is thrown, but alas! this time the royal batter fails to hit it and the catcher gets it in his hands as lively as possible.

"One striker: The ball is returned to the pitcher and is again thrown. This time the batter hits it very gently and runs nimbly toward the base, but he is cut short, for the catcher gets it and touches the home plate before the man at the bat can return. He is out!