Custom as to carrying canes varies widely in different parts of the
world; but it may be taken as a general maxim that the farther west you
go the less you see of canes. The instinct for carrying a cane is more
natural in old civilisations, where the tradition is of ancient growth,
than in newer ones, where frequently a cane is regarded as the sign of
an effete character. As we have been saying, canes, we all feel, have
an affinity with the idea of an aristocracy. If you do not admit that
the idea of an aristocracy is a good one, then doubtless you are down
on canes. It is interesting to observe that canes have flourished at
all especially chivalrous periods and in all especially chivalrous
communities. No illustrator would portray a young planter of the Old
South without his cane; and that fragrant old-school figure, a southern
"Colonel," without his cane is inconceivable. Canes connote more or
less leisure. They convey a subtle insinuation of some degree of
culture.

They always are a familiar article of a gentleman's dress in warm
climates. The cane, quite strictly speaking, in fact has its origin in
warm countries. For properly speaking, the word cane should be
restricted in its application to a peculiar class of palms, known as
ratans, included under the closely allied genera _Calamus_ and
_Daemonorops_, of which there are a large number of species. These
plants, the Encyclopedia tells us, are found widely extended throughout
the islands of the Indian Archipelago, the Malay Peninsula, China,
India and Ceylon; and examples have also been found in Australia and
Africa. The learned Rumphius describes them, under the name of
_Palmijunci_, as inhabitants of dense forests into which the rays of
the sun scarce can penetrate, where they form spiny bushes, obstructing
the passage through the jungle. They rise to the top of the tallest
trees and fall again so as to resemble a great length of cable,