The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-05-27
g 31Jrasant Gssau,
ANECDOTES OF CANES.

Perhaps the most ancient custom con-
nected with the habits Of man is that of
carrying a staff or walking-stick, as
much to add to the dignity Of his ap-
pearance in the full prime of manhood,
as in old age to sustain his footsteps
In ancient Greece, not only the princes
Of the land, but every individual Of dis
tinctiou, such as judges, governors, and
heads Of families, always carried a staff
shaped like a sceptre. Homer speaks
neither of crowns nor diadems as marks
of sovereignty among the Greeks-these
were evidently as yet unknown. The
word sceptre, indeed, signifies nothing
more than staff to lean upon, and
comes from a Greek word signifyiug rest
or seek support. The staff held by Eu-
cibiades upon the deck of the vessel at
Salanine has become historical; and eve
ry schoolboy remembers the answer of
Themistocles when the instrument was
raised above his head in a menacing at
titude-"Snikc, but hear me"
Popilius held cane of ivory in his
hand when he traced a circle on the
ground around the person of Antioch
us, telling him that he should not step
beyond that circle until he had given a
satisfactory answer to the Senate, con-
cerning the evacuation of Egypt by his
army. Tarquin's pantomimic reply to
the emissaries Of his son has been often
quoted, when they came to consult him
as TO what had best be done at Gabip
The king was walking in his garden and
answered not in speech, but began be.
heading the tallest poppies with his
cane. The hint was understood and act.
ed upon
The Roman Senators carried ivory
slaves at the entrance Of Brennus into
Rome, and it was the blow given witt
this weapon by Marcus Papirius to a sol
der Of the Gauls which became the sig
nal for the massacre of the senator's a,
they sat in the great hall-gates Of theii
palaces. One Of the marks Of the con
sular dignity consisted in the privilege
of bearing a baton of ivory. The PrG
toriau staff was of gold, that Of the Au
gurs was shaped like a crook For ma
ny centuries the sceptre Of kings wa
long and thin, like the walking.stick
now in use. In the Tower of London
side by side with the crown Jewels ol
Queen Victoria, may be seen the mass
i've gold sceptre of Edward the Confess
or, of which the lower end is encased Il
an iron ferrule, like the canes Of ou
day, while the other extremity is a kin
Of knob or pommoI The pastoral stat
is the sign of episcopal dignity Orig
inally it was made Of wood. The stat
of the Grand-Master Of the Order o
Malta, and that Of the Bishops Of tn
Greek Church, still preserve the dimer
sions Of an ordinary walking-cane. Th
latter is always inlaid with ivory in en-
, blematical figures
The title Of staGbearer (bliomief
amongst the order Of French advocate
is derived from an ancient custom, b
virtue Of which the oldest member o
I. the order claimed the privilege Of boai
{ ing the staff Of ST. Nicholas, the patro
4 saint of advocates, in an the great pul
- lie professions of the city Of Paris
The Jai0n of a fcDd-marshal owes Il
origin TO the illness of Philip Augusta
q who, unable 10 appear I'm a pr0mineI
e position at the siege Of Acre, in ll9
! breaking his scoptre in half bestowt
tho broken portion on one Of his liel