Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-23
CONCERNING CANES
Inc Heightened Way Of Carrying Them, and
the Idiutic WAY.

The Heightened way Of Carrying Them, and
the Ediotic Way.
Some characteristic and sentimental fancies
connected with the cane, in vogue in Paris have
been reproduced for the benefit Of French imi-
tafors in this country. If gentleman carries
his cane inverted in his left hand the interpreter
ton Ia, % I'm widower." If the cane iscarried
in the right hand, ferrule up, the significance is
supposed to be, " I'm bachelor" II the cane
is carried horizontally, aud the gentleman shifts
its position in passing lady, she Is to under
stand that her acquaintance is desired. When
the cane is carried across the back with the arms
clasping it, the significance In this country
usually is that the man Is trying to ''brace
up'-shoulder BRACE as it were; but I'm France
1t Is supposed to mean, - would like to
marry" II the stick is carried in the arms. like
bundle, it implies. "l'lI fiirt, but am not a
marrying man"-which is like a Frenchman's
egotism in regard to the other SEX In Ameri-
ca-and we dare say in France-the ladies have
something better to do than to watch cane sig
mails. And, in this connection, we are reminded
that fashion has, on several occasions sought to
Introduce the custom ofcane- carrying by women.
The effort never went further than a squirt in
this country. 1t was thought to be little '.too
rapid" Not unlikely the ladies saw the un-
becomnsness of such an appendage, for skirts
are incompatible with graceful corresponding.
Never until some modification of unmention-
ables is adapted to female wear is the walking
stick likely to lose its sex distinction But a
natty rattan would look quite too, too awfuily,
etc, supporting shapely ''lower extremity..''
or whipping trim ankle. 1t is per-
haps, what might be called the 'slardy-tlah. or
swell, use Of canes that has brought them into
disrepufe with many sensible men. The force
ful, energetic circumstance compelling and fate
conquering men, who have done the great
things of the world in all directions, have neither
time nor inclination to dwadle much with-walk-
ing sticks. They have wanted both hands free.
ana have only regretted that they had not MANY
pairs to carry out the projects Of their teeming
brains. The young cape-nursers. who have All
the ldleness and aimlessess of the lilies of the
held, without their excuse for being-that of
oeaufy-and who look out upon life from their
club windows, non-participants not only, but in
capable of enthusiasm at other mems accomplish
ments are indeed an exasperating set.
The different modes of carrying the walking
stick have often been remarked as quite as in
dicatiye OF character, or at least Of mental
habit. as the gait itself The methodical man
announces his coming behind you by the sharp.
quick ring of his ferrule on the walk. The
saunterer swings his stick hitting off the clover
or dandeliOn, if he be in the fields. The proud
pedestrian, who makes business Of his ''cen-
stitutiOnal, brings his stout staff ND and down
with regularity and emphasis OF drum
majors baton. The cane-cafTying idiot NAV be
by his habit of shOuldering his
stick. or thrusting the point backward from
under his arm, in reckless disregard of other
peoples eyes and stomachs. This is favorite
trick OF the idiot in crowd. where it advcrtises
ms plGglsh uncOncern for others. The prOper
treatment for this peculiar type of manners is for
some able. bodied man to grasp the idiots cane
nrmiy by the end, snatch it quickly from his
hand and throw it upon the ground. II the
subject INDUCES in any idiotie remarks the re-
naming treatment is to again take the cane
from him and play it about his legs or across his
shoulders in a lively fashion for minute or two.
Inc idlot then subsidies. The only direction for
the writer has been able to find are embodied in
the suggestion that lit should be carried with a
gentle swing, the arm held quite near the body
In careless, natural manner, apparently exer-
clslng no special strength as the cane is raised
or lowered" If these directions be faithfully
observed truly sweet effect should be the re-
suit Particular care should be taken not to
seem 10 exercise Especial strength" in lifting q
cane; one doesn't want to seem too weak, but
JUN weak enough Is the idea, We suppose.
The subject of the manufacture and trade in
canes. says Boston Herald writer is an inter
estlns one. Many Of the sticks are. of course.
imported, and are gathered from the four quar-
tiers OF the world. There is large industry i'm
the manufacture in France and Germany. parti-
cuiarly in the odd carved heads The large
American dealers do a great part of their own
and finishing. At stores like the
one before alluded TO. where sticks are made a
speciality, many hundreds of different STYLES and
varieties are displayed. The prices range FROM
iV cents Tor an ordinary southern or eastern
bamboo, to 81 TO s. for fancy cane, and from
20 10 so for gold and silver mounted ones
curious chinese and Japanese sticks beautifully
mounted command large prices There are
standard goods. like the different varieties of
cane proper, the Irish blackthOrn, English hazel
and black ASA. olive wood, Florida orange. hick-
DRY. ETC., and q long line of rare and fancy
sticks. Among the latter are the ebony, Malacca.
the marks in the wood of the
worms that cut their way up under the pungent
Dark. often line specimens of natural carving
the Whang Wee, q choice japanese stick. the
wltef-hazel. beautiful wood, having a natural
and enduring sweet OdOr; also the sandal wood
noted FOR its fragrance. One curious stick was
OF cork exceedingly firm. even and fine grained,
stalk Of tea wood. the bark of which is made M
OF small. sharp knobs. new fancy STYLE ia the
snake cane" brightly notified in color like a
snake, with reptilish head, having wicked bead
eyes and an open mouth To add to the effect, a
slender steel rod concealed in the center gives to
the cane almost q serpentine limberness. A man
must be very fond Of disagreeably odd things to
carry such cane, but the Odder the better seems
to be the rule with many. Az q general thing,
hoWCNci. Soou tiSStc suggests tnat walking
stick be not conspicuous any more than
any other part Of gentleman's outfit. The
more expensive canes have carved heads. in in
finite variety. both as to material and design.
Ivory is the most common, but bucks horn is
fayOrite. Some very clever wood carvings are
shown, and contest the palm with knots and
roots. The plain crook is trifle old-fashioned-
for there are fashions IN canes as in everything
else. Small silver heads arc still geateel. If
chaste in design and not too conspicuous. Deer
and chamOis feet have been used for cane heads
with very pretty effect. Rare woods. having
historic associations of some sort, are always in
Enough canes have been sold as
made from the timbeTs Of famous war
irisate to sink the bulkiest Liverpool packet. |
Noahs ark has contributed to the rare woods of
the adventurous manufacturer and the graves |
OF Burns, Wordsworth and other fayorite meets
must have produced an annual crop equal to a
section OF the Black forest, to Judge by the
souvenir sticks sold with a certified pedigree
sword canes have been supplanted by the pocket
pistol, as rule, though handsome one are still
sold. An innocent looking stick. with plain
brass head, disclosed q giittering blade six
inches long upon being reversed and given
slight Jerk. the knife going back to its place as
a spring was touched In the side. Loaded canes
have been prohibited in some states BY law. and
are less frequently carried in civilized COM