Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1886-09-05
CANES AND UMBRELLA HEADS.
Novelties In Buckhorn and silver Han
dles-Fashion's Changes.

dIes-Fashion's Changes.
Within a stones throw Of the city hall,
IN basement, is situated q firm which
manufactures large number Of the canes
and umbrella handles sold In this city and
New York. The industry Ii almost mo-
iopollzed by Germans, many of whom
earned the trade in their native land. A
reporter talked with the senior member
# the firm recently, who is broad shout
Tered, good natured and intelligent Ger
nan Of 80 years He SAID:
II have been engaged in the manufact-
are of walking sticks and umbrella heads
,ince was Is years Of age. l was taught
my trade in Germany. The larger part
II the wood used in the walking sticks
made in this country comes from England.
The fayorite woods used are English
hazel, olive, webthorn and snakewood.
The last named wood comes from South
America and is very valuable. The wood
s received in the rough and is polished
mere. The polishing is q separate branch
If the trade. Up to few months ago this
was the popular walking stick with fash
enable young men and dudes"
AT this point the cane man exhibited an
enormous buckhorn handled cane, the
stick of whica was two inches in diam
,ter. The head of the cane was OF buck
norm and not quite foot in length. To
make the cane more attractive and sale
able nickel band was placed at the base
Of the handle.
aThese large sticks or miniature trees,
Is they are sometimes called" continued
he cane manufacturer, "are slowly going
,ut of fashion. They will be succeeded by
natural handled sticks, Of which there are
many qualities. OF the woods from which
natural handled sticks are made can be
mentioned Florida oak, dogwood, thorn,
English hazel, lockwood, apple, mulberry,
diamond willow, orange, yahya, red gum,
:edar, chestnut, hickory, pear and ligum-
Vita. There are many woods from which
sanes can be manufactured, but those
mentioned above are the principal in use.
Cushions change in canes as often as In
mats. Some months ago the popular cane
had a silver topped handle, but this kind
If cane Is not now fashionable. When the
silver topped cane was all the rage great
fraud was perpetrated by INSCRIPTIONS
iealers, who sold filed canes as solid ones.
The same fraud was practiced in the gold
headed canes. This class OF canes In
many instances were heavily plated and
will wear less than year. But few Of the
common canes which sell for ten or fifteen
cents are now manufactured. The popu-
ar taste is for expensive walking sticks.
Formerly it made very little difference TO
a man what quality of cane he carried, but
low handsome walking sticks are consid-
cred an important part OF gentlemans
wardrobe"
"Of what kind of wood are the better
lass Of canes NADER"
Ebony and rosewood are the stock
woods. Aged and wealthy men prefer the
woods named because Of their strength
and durability. Nothing il more hand
some than highly polished ebony stick
with gold head. Many men have every.
lay and Sunday sticks. The latter are. OF
coarse, OF dressy woods. Canes are also
made of hard rubber and the backbone of
sharks. Umbrella heads are made from
natural woods, silver or gold and carved
wood "-Brooklyn Eagle.