Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-04-03
That EOld.Headed Cane.

Some three years ago friend, in sud-
den gush Of devotion, presented US with
a gold-headed cane. It had knob ham
die, constructed in various styles of archi-
lecture, the Corinthlan prevailing. The
head rested on an Ionic base, the torus
resting on a plinth. The surface was
f1uted, and the foliated capital had a
pseudO-dipteral frieze with surrounding
tillet in basrelief
We trust that every reader understands
now Just what kind of head that cane
had. We didn't wear the cane very often.
A cane with heavy knob-head isn't a
pleasant companion to have along in q
walk. It's top-heavy. You have to keep
a deaths grip on it all the time to prevent
its slipping out of your hand. Amy mo-
ment when you are a little off your guard
it is liable to fall with heavy thump on
the pavement. Then you snatch it up
quickly, and examine it with the closest
scrutiny to ascertain whether or not it has
been dented. You are constantly liable
to leave it somewhere, and recolecting it
Immediately after, you rush madly back
to get it.
1t sometimes stands for days and days
in a corner Of your room overlooked and
forgotten; but some Saturday afternoon,
street particularly grand and nice, you
trot out your gold-headed cane. You
soon get tired of swinging it by its
weighty head, and tuck it under your arm.
After permitting several people to punch
their eyes out with it, you stop on a cor
ner to speak with a friend. Not needing
the cane, it gradually slides down your
arm by its gravity, and falls thump! head
foremost upon the pavement.
The proper place for gold-headed cane
one of the Corinthian build, with the
heavy Ionic base-is to stand it in the
hallway, where its glitter is likely to
catch the eye Of the visitor at once, and
shed an air of opulenCe about the house
We chung to that gold-headed cane for
two years. 1t never was any support to
| us, but we have steadily held it up, al
| though it has sometimes got the better of
US, and thumped its foliated head against
| the pavement with as much malicious
ness, it seems to US, as Punch displays
when he thumps his head against that of
the amiable Judy. We lost it several
times, but it always turned up again, its
| recovery exciting, we must admit, no eX-
| traordinary throbs of joy in our breast.
! The grasshopper was becoming burden.
If we went out for little walk, madame
would cry after US: Here, don't you
want your gold cane?" at the same
| time swinging that auriferous caput in the
air as she grasped the staff. Then, if we
/ took 1t out Of an evening, and happened
/ to leave it in a restaurant, as we were
/ taking our pigs feet, rather late no mat
ter what hour 1t was when we got home,
our first salutation was: There, you've
| left your gold headed caner'
We only took it travelling once. Then
we left it in the cars, and had to telegraph
to have it sent to us by express; and
| when it came, it was the wrong cane.
Some other unhappy possessor of gold
headed cane had left his in the car, too
purposely, we suspect, to get rid of bur
densome gift from an injudicious friend.
/ 1t cost Us lots Of trouble to get our own