WALKING-STICK GOSSIP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6492, 17 December 1881, Page 3

WALKING-STICK GOSSIP.

(SagUeh Magazine.)

To break off a branch for defensive purposes, as Crusoe did on finding himself on un unknown island, would be one of the first acts of primitive man. A rude support of this kina would soon be followed by the pilgrim’s stuff, familiar to ns in pictures of the Patriarchs; and from these early staves down to tho gold-headed cane of our modern dandy, what a variety of walking-sticks have been produced, according to the fancy and fashion of the time. When, in 1701, footmen attending gentlemen were forbidden to carry swords, those quarrelsome weapons were usually replaced by a porter’s staff, “ with a largo silver handle," as it was then described. Thirty years later, gentlemen of fashion began to discard their swords, and to carry large oak sticks with great beads, and ugly faces carved thereon. Before very long, a competition arose between long and short walking-sticks, some gentlemen liking them as long as leaping poles, as a satirist of the day tells us; while others preferred a yard of varnished cane “ scraped taper, bound at one end with wax thread, and tipfc at the other with a neat turned ivory head as big as a silver penny." Sword-canes and walking-stick guns neatly constructed to look like ordinary sticks, are familiar contrivances; but that sticks and staves in tbo Tudor times were sometimes provided With the clumsy firearms of those days, is more surprising. For instance, we are told that a walking-staff of Henry Till, bad three matchlock pistols in it, with coverings to keep the charges dry. With this staff it is said that the king sometimes walked round the city, to see that the constables did their duty; and one night, as he was walking near the foot-bridge, the constable stopped him, to know what be did with such a weapon at that time of night; upon which tho king struck him; but the constable, colling the watch to bis assistance, His Majesty was apprehended, and confined till morning without fire or candle. When the keeper was informed of the rank of his prisoner, he sent for the constable, who came trembling, expecting nothing but death; instead of which, the king applauded him for honestly doing his duty, and made him a handsome present. More peaceably inclined folks had snuff boxes, and sometimes watches, in the heads of their sticks. In a will drawn up in Latin, Archbishop Parker said: "I give to my Beverend brother Richard, Bishop of Ely, my stick of Indian cane, which hath a watch in the* top of it.” Some of these walking-stick watches may still be seen in collections of curiosities.

As all ’prentices were once expected to be skilled in the use of their “clubs,” so to excel in the “nice conduct of a clouded cane ” was one of the requisites of the dandies of past days. Some of the advanced youths of our own time carry wax matches and cigarettes in the hollow handles of their “crutch-sticks;” just as the ladies fiodii convenient to have miniature scent and vinaigrette bottles inserted in the handles of their parasols. Very ingenious fishing-rods are made with hollow pieces to slide, telescopic fashion, one into the other ; so that when all the pieces are in the bottom one, and a cap screwed over the end to act as a ferule, the whole contrivance becomes an ordinary-looking walking-stick. One of the latest inventions in connection with our subject is the patent walking-stick telescope, the only noticeable feature of which when carrying it is the beauty of the wood. Under the handle of the stick is imbedded a small and very correct compass, neatly covered by a folding shield, in the centre of which is a small concave eye-glass. Bach purchaser is supplied with a small ooncave eye-glass weighing only one and a half This object-glass, easily carried in the waistcoat pocket, can be used as a microscope, readingglass, or cigar-lighter in sunny weather, and when fixed on the stick, forms a long-range telescope. It is easily slid upon the smooth portion of the stick, so as to alter the focus to any sight.

Stick* fanciers collect at times many curiosities in the way of metal-mounted, elaborately oaryed. and fantastically twisted walking-canes. Balzac used to exhibit himself dt all public places of amusement in what was desoribed*as a “ rapture of self-satisfied vanity,” inspired by the possession of a cane nearly as big as a drum-major’s staff, and all ablaze with rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires. It was grandly topped by a hug# gold nob, which contained a look of hair presented by an unknown lady-admirer. The outside was studded with all the jewels he had bought, as well as those he had received as presents. Enthusiastic admirers of Garrick declared that oven his stick seemed to act; though whether the gold-headed cane with which his widow used for years after hie death to go about, talking about her “ dear. Davy,” inherited the spirit of the departed, we are unable to say. Many an unpretending looking walking-cane is carefully preserved for the sake of the assooia’ions it awakens in the mind of the owner it has perhaps often accompanied in his pilgrimages. One of the largest proprietors of palatial warehouses in Manchester made his way to that city with a small bundle and a crooked stick. The latter is said to bo carefully preserved in a glass case among the archives of the firm.

When Sir Walter Scott, fording the Ettrick (n company with hit. friend Mr Skene, slipped ?n a stone, and went headlong into a pool, -merging with no worse than a drenching and ho loss of his stick, which floated down the river the finder of that drifting waif would have little idea of the valuable memento of the "Great Unknown" thus accidentally acquired. In short, whether used to hail 'buses, turn aside children’s hoops, or drive away too intrusive dogs, the walking-stick is a blind man’s guide and a universal friend, for wnioh no nuui could show a higher regard than did the justice of Norfolk when he directed in his will to bo buried in a full suit and bag wig, and with bis trusty cane in bis right band.