The Washington times., 1914-11-15
CANE CO[LECT|ONA A
FEATURE OF MUSEUM
Waking Sticks on Exhibition at
Smithsonian Institute Repre-
sent rs Countries.

An unusually fine collection of cane
or walking sticks, representing SOM
forty-five foreign countries and twenty
enc States of this country, figures
among the historical exhibits of th'
United States National Museum. Th'
greater portion Of this series comprise!
a collection of 152 pieces bequeathed t.
the United States by the late Homer n
Lockwood, of Washington, traveller
geographer engineer. and statesman.
Forty different kinds of wooden cane:
are on exhibition, as well as canes made
Of ivory. bone, horn. skin, paper, tin
wire, and other substances. Many ol
the specimens are very artistic, some
are of curious shape and design. while
others, designed for special purposes
include an emergency cane, containing
a whiskey flask; a sketching cane, with
drawing materials in the handle; match
safe canes, mountain climbing canes
with sharp spiked ferrules, an officer S
swagger stick" and sword and gun
canes of various types. .t
Mementoes of Presidents.
In addition to the above collection,
here are a number of walking sticks
m individual and family exhibits, whici,
relate to American history. Among
them are canes carried by Presidents
John Quincy Adams Jefferson, Grant,
Cleveland and many American naval
and military officers of note, including
Lafayette, Schley, Dewey, and others,
besides canes made of wood from his
>torical spots or formed from historical
objects.
According to the belief of some an
thropologists and ethno ogists, the cane
was an implement which found its way
INTO the families of nearly every race
before history was recorded, as defen-
sive weapon, or as staff or other use
rul instrument. 1t is claimed by others
that the word cane" is misused in
application to walking sticks. they hold
lng that IL means the stalk of a hol-
low-stemmed plant, but the cane made
OF other woods Is found to have been
employed at an early date in countries
where these plants did not grow. Prob
ably the word comes from the Arabic,
Semitic, or Hebrew languages. although
II is also found in Greek, Latin, Span
ish. French, and English. and in the
latter ii was compounded into such
words as 'speare-caine, and lire
cane." while in other countries it was
used to represent a rod for punishment
and measuring, as well as the imple-
ment employed in a sport or game.
One interesting theory is that the
Roman cane derived its name from the
fact that 1t was used to beat on the
savage dogs of the street: cani, for
dog" a substitution of cause for ef-
feet. There its general use was soon
however, since the populace
came to use 1t in their personal quar-
reis with disastrous results, and be-
cause. too. many dead dogs Uttered the
streets. An imperial edict. issued to
relieve this state Of affairs, forbids all
except those of patrician rank from
carrying canes. thus making 1t a priv
ieGe, which came to be popular among
the nobility. and eventually distinc-
them also: their richly and artistically
decorated canes serving as rod for
the punishment of their slaves,
Badge of Aristocracy. .
The cane appeared in England as the
badge of aristocracy in about the fifth
century. but after serving this purpose
for some time, came into the hands of
he lower classes, and was dropped by
hose of higher social standing.
Ii was re-established In it's true form
by the pilgrims and soldiers returning
rom the Holy Land during the Cru
sades and soon came into popularity
q gain.
with a revival of the cane among the
gentry, came a period of decoration, and
ranes of exquisite design. and Of great
,alue resulted; they were adorned with
rords, tassels, bells, and even flutes.
Henry Ill put an end to this super
by prohibiting his knights
rom going about accompanied by what
testers wands. Edward
vas forced to put a ban on the spiked
,ane. just as had the Emperor Of Rome,
IN account Of the many nights and
luarrels resulting in the deaths OF his
.itizens and soldiers. Later Edward III |
ound it necessary to forbid the use of
he dangerous ''spere-mace, and pyke- |
'aine in the lists.
During the seventeenth century canes |
ost their significance as a badge OF no |
lility, and became common In lower
'lasses, and among students and school |
,oys. When this occurred. the gentle
men took up the small sword as dis
inguishing aristocratic emblem, which |
vas further brought into vogue by the |
of the times.
At the close of the American Revo-
-stion the cane came into It's own
gein in this country and England. |
1hen II was gladly taken up by the
etter classes, all Of whom were tired
I war and its accompanying side
rms, and again its use became gen
al
In Vogue Now.
After passing through more ups and
owns-from officers ad gentlemen, to
iu6ents and dandies, to tradesmen and
.rvants, and back to students again
trough which il still persisted, it ap-
ears today in many walks Of life; as
art of a gentleman's dress, as part
Z an officers civilian dress. as a staff
VI the aged and infirm, and as a serv-
cable companion, in many classes and
especially in Europe, where
o gentleman or student goes on the
Lneet without his cane.
Although the museum collection does
OF show the development OF the walk
le-stick from its earliest days, a num-
er OF types recall the former styles and
ear pertinently on the general history
the cane as well as the history OF
re countries represented. III