# What Happend To Canes? (Waking Sticks) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 14, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017 "2009-04-14T01:44:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017/61 "2009-04-16T02:01:24Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#): > > As far as I am given to understand, the walking stick was a sign of prestige, a mark of a true gentleman. Especially a well cared for stick. ETA: I think the custom was in place before the Victorian times though. It seems to me that a historical type site (which I visited some time back) that let you dress the various classes in their proper garments gave the upper class gentleman a stick. I believe it would be Colonial times, but maybe somewhat later. Mr French (“Family Affair”) used to have a walking stick. I could use a vest, fedora and a walking stick 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017/62 "2009-04-16T02:21:09Z")
I gave away a cane to a homeless guy I used to see all the time. I actually bought it for him intentionally. He was very grateful. I decided to get it for him when I saw him walking out in traffic begging, and hopped on one foot back to the curb when the light changed. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017/63 "2009-04-16T02:26:58Z")
**FallenAngel** , that is so COOL! ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017/64 "2009-04-16T19:11:10Z")
[Dave Nelson keeps breaking them.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01UIB2X-WK0) ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017/65 "2009-04-16T19:23:48Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > … > Could somebody please start a thread on Bartitsu? I’ve had questions about it since I first read of the man in GURPS Who’s Who. I’ve tried looking online but only found impenetrable original writings. Wikipedia’s aricle sums it up nicely: > [@](#): > > Bartitsu is an eclectic martial art and self-defense method originally developed in England during the years 1898-1902. In 1901 it was immortalised (as “baritsu”) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories. Although dormant throughout most of the 20th Century, Bartitsu has been experiencing a revival since 2002. I’ve studied his techniques (in an amaturish way) and I find them quite effective. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017/66 "2009-04-17T16:48:29Z")
As mentioned, canes are still in use, though a lot of their function has been taken over by crutches, walkers, ski-pole style hiking sticks, and four-legged canes. As for their fashion use, I would guess that like most upper-class fashion until the last couple decades, it’s based on demonstrating that the owner doesn’t do manual labor. You can’t walk around with a fancy cane if you’re shoveling or carrying or driving a team of horses or stocking shelves or whatever all day. (Just like you can’t walk around with a Field Marshall’s baton if you’re digging trenches or firing machine guns or doing other grunt stuff all day). ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017/67 "2009-04-17T17:11:41Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > I’ve studied his techniques (in an amaturish way) and I find them quite effective. Likewise. I’ve managed to find a couple books to supplement the online stuff. I believe my neighbors find it disturbing when I practice cane techniques by knocking seed pods off my magnolia tree. If I didn’t wear the top hat, it might be easier for them to accept. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017/68 "2009-04-17T19:09:00Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Likewise. I’ve managed to find a couple books to supplement the online stuff. I believe my neighbors find it disturbing when I practice cane techniques by knocking seed pods off my magnolia tree. If I didn’t wear the top hat, it might be easier for them to accept. And the frock coat, don’r forget the frock coat! If you’re ever in Cleveland we can go a couple rounds in my backyard. ---
**Author:** ![Whaumbatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Whaumbatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whaumbatt)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017/69 "2009-04-18T04:08:48Z")
I see that some of the posters also had broke ankles. I broke my ankle, actually my tibia in two places, a few years ago. When I had graduated to a walking cast, I bought a hiking stick instead of a cane. I figured that it would make me look adventurous and hip with an aluminum walking stick as opposed to cane which would imply being old and decrepid. My two cents is that the reason walking sticks have fallen out of fashion is that a) the advancement of medicine has greatly inproved since the early 20th century. Knee and back surgeries, physical therepy, and the polio vaccine have greatly reduced the need for canes. b) footwear has greatly improved too. Better footwear has become more availble in the past twenty years or so, even for familes that are poor. I have a few friends that thier toes are all deformed because thier parents had to make do with shoes that didn’t fit their kids feet properly or wear shoes long after they outgrew them. Having to wear shoes that don’t fit, out of economic neccesity, will cause problems with walking. There are two things in life you should never skimp on; Your shoes and your bed. You spend a 1/3 of your life in a bed and the other 2/3 in shoes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happend-to-canes-waking-sticks/493017.md?page=3)