The Russellville Democrat., 1884-03-06
The Queer Came Craze.


"By gwasious, Gus, I've bwoken my
stick, exclaimed . slim" at West
Broadway and Chambers street yester-
day to his companion as he gazed rue
fully at the shattered cane, and slyly
felt in his pocket to see II he had enough
money to get new one.
an aw yer should handle yer silk
more gwacefully, yer know respond
ed his companion.
YOU'D aw bettah hurwy's get an
other one, yer know, ev the girlies
won't wok with yer, yer know
Together they entered a cane and
umbrella store near by, and a Journal
reporter, who happened to overhear the
conversation, followed them out Of
curiosity. The fashion-plate who had
broken his ssstick" summoned the clerk
with wave of his hand and demanded
to see .'some Of yer working sticks, yer
know
Several were shown him, but he was
not suited. One was too heavy and an
other too thick. Finally a Rajah cane
was brought to light, and feeling the
weight of the stick both ''slims" were
transported with delight. Its weight
was hardly perceptible.
1T won't make me round-shouldered.
yer know" said he, "and then can
put it down my bwack when / feel my
self giving way, too, yer know After
feeling in every pocket Of his clothes, a
look of unspeakable terror swept over
his face, and turning to his companion.
whispered, loud enough for the reporter
to hear--.Lend me a shilling. old boy.
I've only got six pence, yer know. Its
doosid awkward ter be short, yer know.
The amount was transferred under a
very small handkerchief, the cane paid
for and the ..slims" walked out ON their
toes, holding their elbows away from
! their sides.
"They are curious cases." laughed
| the clerk, as he rearranged the disor-
dered canes that had been handled by
| the '.slims."
'Do you have many such customersP"
was asked
"What. like thatp'' he asked, cycling
the reporter with peculiar CLEAN in
his optical orbs. '.Do you mean to in
suit me by asking such question, after
looking over that stock of canesP" he
demanded, laughingly as he moved his
hand toward a bundle OF slight moth
ings that stood in the window with q
twenty-fve-cent sign tackled on the top.
ssHave many Well, / should say so.
Just wait until put this ferrule on and
I'll show you some styles that are indie
mand just now"
The operation being completed. he
took down several canes from a rack
against the wall, and taking very
" al
| studded with silver nails, said: "Can
| you tell me what this is and where it
| comes fromP''
The cane was drab in color and very
slim at the bottom, the handle being
composed of a natural root.
"English ASH" ventured the reporter
ssIhat's II, exactly. and not one in a
| hundred can tell this wood when they
see it, either. It's very peculiar wood,
being sometimes very pliable and then
again very brittle. They are used a
great deal by those who dress for effect
| only. They cost from twenty five cents
to three dollars, according to their
quality.
"What are the fancy woods?"
s.Black and white bamboo have had
the foremost position for some time
past" was the reply, ''but are gradn-
ally going out before the pretty ash. A
| black bamboo with silver mounting
| makes handsome cane without a doubt,
| but then, you see, people don't want
pretty things as much as they do odd
patterns. Ebony is an odd wood. but is
| still used great deal because it's re-
liable"
'.Do Sims often buy heavy canesp"
{. Sims, what are theya' asked the
clerk, in surprise.
"sSlim' is new name for dudes
"Oh, / see. Well, no, but they often
buy the Holly Hook, which is a very
large cane. but not as heavy as a willow
switch. Itgives the impression that it
is very heavy.
This" he said, in conclusion, sis
also nice wood, being very pliable.
Can you guess what it isP Wen, it's
| snake-wood, and when mounted in sill
yer makes splendid stick"
There are several varieties of heads
| and handles to canes, the open Polo,
| Masebt, Zulu, Rustic and Sickle being
among those most sought after.
In umbrellas. the La Petite takes the
lead, it being the finest and lightest UNI
brella made. The self-opening sun
shade, although very novel idea, does
not meet with approval.
'sPeople are taking more interest in
the manufacture of canes" said the
clerk as the reporter was leaving, ''and
a great many new styles are constantly
being put on the market. We now sell
loaded canes to keep and-I mean
sslims' from wandering away and get