The European gentleman’s wardrobe went through a change around the 17th and 18th century. A strong strong stick became part of the wardrobe, replacing the sword. The walking staff became a substitution for the sword as a weapon.
Now today the walking stick is a tool used to help the walker balance themselves while they are taking a walk. Today there are so many types and styles and even sizes of walking sticks that even collectors are seeking them out.
Walking sticks are also known to be called trekking poles, hiking poles and pilgrim’s staffs. Hikers use them for many reasons, like to clear spiderwebs or to part thick bushes, a support to go uphill and a brake when going downhill. Also they are used to balance yourself when crossing streams, mud puddles or defense against wild animals.
In North America canes walking sticks have a curved top just like candy canes and they are just a bit longer. They are made using strong wood or metal. Presidents of the U.S. have received them at times as a gift. Our first president George Washington received a beautiful cane from Benjamin Franklin, it features a gold handle and its form is like a Phrygia cap. If you visit the Smithsonian sometime you will be able to see it. Canes or walking sticks like these today are only seen when a person is wearing some formal attire.
Collectors are always seeking new, old or novel canes. They’re even searching for canes that are Retractable or have hidden compartments. Collectible canes with compartments that are concealed were used back in the day to hold a flask of alcohol. These typed of canes were known as Tippling Canes.
Canes walking sticks are virtually used today to offer stabilization of the individual using it. It is generally used in the hand opposite the weakness or injury. This allows anyone to shift as much weight as possible away from the weak side. However some do use the cane on the injured side.
Here is a noteworthy story, politics as usual…
In a violent episode inside the U.S. Congress, Charles Sumner of Massachusetts called Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois a “noisome squat and nameless animal” and brutally insulted Andrew Butler of South Carolina for a congenital deformity. Now Preston Brooks a relative heard this, he thought Sumner’s behavior merited lower than a duel so he took his walking stick and beat him senseless to the floor of the Senate. Although this event is often generally known as “the caning of Senator Charles Sumner”, it was not caning as we know it (esp. British) sense of the formal punishment when a more flexible and thinner rattan was used.
There are different types of canes, listed here are just a few.
* The Blind and the visually impaired use a white cane to get around. The white color and the style signal others of their impairment. The canes the blind use are longer and thinner so they can be used to find their way around.
* Adjustable canes have more than one shaft, they are telescoping in nature so it allows the user to shorten it or extend it out as need be..
* There are also canes that can be folded up for easy carrying, they have several joints and on the inside they have an elastic cord that allows them to fold up the cane when not in use.
* Quad canes as they are called have four legs at the bottom. This type of cane “The Quad” allows for more stability while they are standing.
Canes walking sticks are needed today amongst the elderly and perhaps younger people with disabilities. We don’t seem to use them any further as a trendy item attached to our arm. But to those that need them they provide an excellent service and permit people to complete things that without the canes they might be at a disadvantage.
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