The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-06-06
A Philosopher on Sticks.

II can generally tell the nature Of q
man by the cane he carries said =
walking stick dealer on Chestnut street.
There is more character in sticks.
hats, and boots than in any other oor.
tlon OF mans attire. Now, Just YOU
stand and watch minute. See. here
comes an eminent lawyer. He's got a
strong, sound malacca cane, with a
bone or ivory handle Notice how he
carries it. DO you see, he grasps it
firmly about three inches below the
handle and holds it before him. giving
1t little downward jerk every now and
then. 1t is !ust rs he employs his hand
when laying down the law. He doesn't
want that cane to walk with: he is up-
right and strong. He just carries it to
emphasize his thoughts with, and he
would feel quite lost without it. Now
observe this dudlsh fellow coming
along, with a useless bit of a cane with
fancy head. Isn't it exactly coun-
terpart of himself? Thin, but without
plth; plenty OF varnish, but no back
bone. Look at its fancy handle. Isn't
that like his head? Now take a look
at this big fellow walking along, with
his head up, poised well on his broad
shoulders. swinging an ugly looking
club that appears to haze seen service.
he looks IS if he'd knocked about a bit.
too. and Ill bet that old stick he car
trouble"
How came you to observe these
things so closely?"
"Oh. don't know. I've been in the
walking-stick business for long while.
and s'pose kind o. notice who buvs
certain sticks. l can tell you one thing,
that can generally pick ont the kind
OF stick customer is going to pur-
chase. A doctor or q lawyer will choose
a strong, straight cane, with a we'll
shaped handle; a clergyman will Prob
ably buy thick and heavy natural
stick, with which to enforce his doc
trines, If be belong to the muscular
Christian order, or q dark-colored,
chsracterless, manufactured stick. if he
is OF the meek and unopinionated sort.
A young student wants thick, straight
stick, with a heavy ferule, and he car
rles 1t rs though he were going to fight
his way through . crowd with it. II
man comes to me and picks up the first
stick he sees and buys it. / put him
down rs q scientidc man. He only
carries stick for something to employ
his hands; if he didn't he'd probably
bite his nails. Some men want strange
ly shaped sticks of natural wood. OF
canes made from old materials: these
as rule are men of weak natures hut
or.gnal thought. Their weakness
shows itself in some eccentric piece OF
costume, rs often as not in the choice
OF cane. l sell more light, fancy canes
than anything else, because swell or
dude, or whatever YOU like to call him.
Is always changing his style, and SC
needs change of stick Now, the man
who buys strong, flexible cane is gen
orally OF cruel nature. As he goes !
along the street you may notice him
feints at everything he meess,
and, wherever he can, striking things. !
He likes to see his cane cling round q |
post, he likes to hear it whanging |
through the air. If he is ont in the J
country he will cut off numberless
or blades of grass, and il
he owns dog or q horse he will be
everlastingly trying the strength of his
cane upon it.