The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-05-06
CfNE.>.
How Manufactured aud the Materials Csed
both for stick and Handle.

FROM me fhiT0pD JiDtfS
The horrible habit of Americans of putting
their hands in their pockets has led To the pop-
ularit> Of canes in thus country. Tho Jupahosc
gentleman shows appreciation to he same feel.
ms when his costume il Incomplete without
his shutting ian. which h. hangs ut his belt.
over HI right shoulder, or in the breast folds of
his .ilkon gown. The French or English G"ntln-
man for the same reason never attends IA iuil
dress party without hiI crush hat In his hand.
among thc I'VE Wells and an. Id lids Of NV
York has each season its rules which are OBJ
served with as much cxani9i pnnctiiioas hose
and scoop hat the noAt. Most of these fashions
originate in Europe. year or two ago there
curved handle. ThG Zulu came rom raris Tho;
shepherd Irom London. These styles in canes
coded by the crutch. When our fathers were
lads the whalebon" cane was the proper thing.
the dealer from - to $3.50. Last year the fish
ion was to carry IL silWr-ba cane. Then thcre
each year. One year 1t was 10 walk with n
spring gait. witt bent knees and arms nkinlbo
held between one finger and thumb correctly
balanced 5? ms t. swinE gracefully, Thcn camo
Of the body by tho first and second fingers Of
both hand and was allowed 10 hang limp. while
Shoulders. il possible" more round. Then thcro
was a fashion last year Of holding the leruic
I9Tn Tho TIE }eGr Is To- h"d in the middie
nandraGe does after his return from the East.
That's the proper capcr.
be conceived Of. Many are of imported woods ;
some from the tropics; China, and the East In
China. where they are well known and rclcbrnt-
ed for the regularity OF their joints, which are
ana tn" stems Of a species Of phyllosiachys
gigantic grass, closely allied to the bamboo
h9 apf % rom Ar d h W! Hpsnsd and
perfect specimens command enormous prices;
Tho orange sticn is Known by IL beautiful
inGs AID the lemon by tho symmetry OF its
proportions, and both promjncnce and rosu-
also value. since their Appearance is
50, peculiar that their owner would
ported from Nigeria. Tho rajah stick is an I'M
/ purtation. 1t il the stem of Il palm, and II spo-
s ,bto OF i eaamns Is Gr"wn il Bot P and
VIII not allow any 10 20 out OF the country I'M
les. heavy duty is paid. These canes. known
a palm canes, are distinguished by an angular
md more or loss Nat appearance. Their color Is
oles OF leaf stalks of the C,atc palm. Perhaps
the most celebrated Of the foreign, canes are
sc"ptpnuir, II slender climbing palm. ana not
growing about Malgcca. as the ngme would
sM h. t. nfsa cSss put ut i mg@a T ocr S i"E
ciEu canes arc Of ebony, rosewood partridge.
or uairNood, aud cactus. which when the pith
hollow. ana fulI Of ho'cs. "''''''' '''N'
Tho manufactures OF canes is by no means
woods. pecilng or tho bark whiting down tho
kp99s. sahdpaperinG the, rough surface. and
handle or head and TIPPING the end with a
lerule. In the sand fats of New Jersey whole
families support themselves BY gathering nan
nchcrry sticks. which they gather in tho
swHmps straighien with an old wise. steam
over an old Hottie. and perhaps scrapc down or
white into sizo These arc packed in largo
bundles to New York citya sold to the cane
factories Many imported sticks however.
have to go through a process Of strengthening
by mechanical means. which are q mystery TO
the uni initiated. They are buried in hot sand
until they become plablc In front OF the heap
Of hot sand in which the sticks are plunged is
a stout board from five to six feet long. fixed Mt
two or mare notches cut in the edge. When the
stick has become perfectly pliahle tho workman
places it ON ono of the notch.s. md, bending it
in the opposite direction to which il is natu-
rally benz, strnigh'"ns it. Thu, sticks aprar-
emily crooked bent warped. and worthless are
hy TINS simple process straighicuod; hut the
most curious part Of the work is observed in
tho form ton of the crook or curl for the ham
dies viii / are not naturally supplied with n
hook or knob. Tho workman places one end Of
the cane .irnly in II wise and pour- II continu-
Gus stream OF lire from gas pipe on tn. part
which IL ~ be bent. When sufficient heat hnS
been applied. the cane is pulled Slowly and
gradually round until tho hook is completely
formed md then secured with a string. An
nd! 'lonnl application of heat serves to bake
and pcImancnty fix tho curl; The und y part
Of tho handle is frequently charred by the nc
sandpaper until the requisite degree of smooth
il n