The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-13
MEN AND THEIR CANES.
CANE-BEARERs WHO PROMENADE
ON THE AVENUE.

How Physical Inirmities and Traits OF
Character Are Revealed by Mems
Welking-Stlclzs "Show Me Your
Cane ard III Tell You What You
Are"
From. the Washington Star
well, tell ME what you are thinking
about this time, won't your said the
heporter to the philosopher tue other day
'sCanes. )" was the laconic reply, given
without any change in attitude except the
withdrawal of the right hand from behind
his back and placing it lightly on the
shoulder of the questioner
81 don't see what there is in canes that
can occupy your gigantic intellect so pro
foundly," said the reporter questioningly.
There's great deal in canes" said the
philosopher, taking the cue very accommo-
aatingly; ''much more than appears on the
surface.
ooh. YES. in some canes" said the re-
borter. 'For instance, l have seen canes
with swords in them, and | have heard of
cane. invented to lessen the evil of going
out between acts at the theatre, which con
tanned a place in its head for a couple of
swallows of liquid refreshment Then there
are other canes"
WHAT CANES REFLECT.
Canes broke in the philosopher, ignor-
ing the reporters iippancy, 'often reflect
as much as features or manner a mans
character Show me the cane you carry
and | will tell you what sort of man you
are Of course there are modifying and
pxteruating circumstances, which must be
taken into account. For instance, men
carry canes from whim, habit or necessity
The aforementioned class are lame or deblll-
tated. and take any kind Of a stick that
will support their weight. The second class
acquired the cane habit half unconscionsly
perhaps, and while there is some relation
between the stick they carry and their
temperament and character, it is not so
we'll defined as the first class, who carry
canes from within or because it is the fash
Ion.
"There goes a man now" he continued
after pause, during which his eye wan
dered up and down among the throng, "who
belongs to the last class. He is an old
soldier, dare say, and that big, knotted
yellow stick he carries lightens the load on
that game leg of his, which just rs like as
not contains no inconsiderable quantity of
Confederate lead. Probably some friend
gave him that cane, and he carries it just
rs he would carry one of any other design
or color strong enough to bear his weight
without giving thought to its peculiarities
twice year. Here's another man of the
third class coming up the avenue He is not
lame, but is very feeble-just recovering
from fever, perhaps, or maybe in the last
stages of decline. See, he carries carelessly
strong stick, which every one can see is
for use alone and which he probably
wouldn't be able to describe if he lost it, so
little interest does he take in its style or
quality.
THE HABITUAL CANE-CARRIER.
Here comes a man across the avenue
who is an excellent type of the second-class
Of cane-carriers. While not an absolute
necessity to him, that thin, flexible little
stick in his nervous right hand is of real
use. 1t serves as a sedative to his high
strung temperament and helps to carry off
the surplus Accommodations of nervous cleo
triclty which his active brain is constantly
generating while walking. A little whip,
or almost anything else that he could slash
about, would do nearly as well as a cane,
| though the latter is doubtless the best after
| all, for you see he occasionally digs it into
| the ground sharply. That cane is to him
1 what fan is to nervous woman, and one
1 could almost follow his train of thought and
l the changes i'll his moods as he goes along
1 by closely watching that cane. And, be
l sure, he is a man of moods, and of unpleas-
1 ant ones, too, though doubtless be is
1 pretty good fellow at heart and has a keen,
/ active mind that cuts through things with
swish, as that cane does through the air.
You couldn't get him to carry any other
1 kind of a cane, and If cane-carrying came
into general disrepute he would hang on to
his just the same. That kind of man has
good deal of contempt for mere fashion.
But there Is even better sample of his
class, the philosopher said, as a large, good
natured looking man, rather fasbionably
dressed, came within the range of his Wis
lon - on see he carries handsome cane
Of substantial build, like himself, not as if
he thought it the thing to do, but be-
cause he derives more or less comfort from
IT. 1t is plain he is a leisurelY man, who
lkeS all these little comforts and INDUCES
himself in them without scruple, but also
without any great amount of sel6shness.
lie has probably carried canes all his life,
and has a fine collection of them at home"
But about the first class, the most inter
eStng OF allF' inquired the reporter getting
anxious to pass along to what seemed the
most promising branch Of the subject
Now, don't get inpatient my boy" said
tne philosopher. ''This is a subject worthy
OF your attention. and all branches of it de-
serve careful study.
DUDE CANE-BEARERS.
But here comes good subject for dis
secuon, ne continued, indicating typical
dude who strobe along at the outer edge of
Lue procession, bearing an immense bone
headed affair, whose diameter was doubtless
as great as that of his own shanks, Judging
Il
trousers Mapped about his loose jointed legs
II mat diagnose as beautiful case of the
Hrst class OF cane bearer. That young man
may be said to live, move, and have his be-
ing principally in his cane His whole be-
ing IS set In rhythm with the swing which
ne hnds 1t convenient for his flaccid arm to
V give that cane. His stride is gagged by it,
Ghe now of his conversation Is regulated by
ut.. u lnpels him to choose as his promenade
companions those who carry canes of similar
weight and equal dpIonlb, so to speak In a
mora' ne strives to live up to that cane, and
most OF his consciousness resides in it, | dare
cay when ne is not rejecting on his CATERS
or DIS tie, or exchanging words with
! uS walking mate. / have noticed
.ua1 there is a strange relation be
tween the size of the cane and
1ne physique and intelligence of the person
VINO carries it, Now, tnat fellow who just
a passed was feeble and rickety looking
physically, but he seemed to have wit
Enough to inspire him with a certain kind of
ouIage and self-confidence. Consequently
n ne carried not only the biggest kind of
ane' but it had the most eccentric sort of
oeal Now, this dull, weak-looKing boy
&. T4nnlng up has, you see, an immense cane,
bue mere IS nothing outre in its design. He
e ,4.l1t Ia hi