Lincoln and his cane?

[L Verge]

(07-09-2017 06:48 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Welcome to the forum, Donna!
I think all are correct (no physical need but fashion of the days - see JWB - plus safety), and I seem to recall he was given at least one or two as a gift. His alleged favorite cane Mary later gave to Frederick Douglass.

(07-08-2017 06:59 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I have seen some references to Lincoln having a cane at Ford's, but nothing definitive that I know of. I have also wondered if some of what has been referred to as "canes" were actually "walking sticks," which were fashion statements of the day, but had no real, physical necessity attached to them.

Laurie - I've always thought a walking stick and a cane were the same, whether for need or fashion?

Maybe another reason is he was too tall for an average cane (even for fashion)?

I may be wrong, but I thought that walking sticks had knobs or blunt handles, not bent ones?

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(07-09-2017 11:51 AM)L Verge Wrote:  

(07-09-2017 06:48 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Welcome to the forum, Donna!
I think all are correct (no physical need but fashion of the days - see JWB - plus safety), and I seem to recall he was given at least one or two as a gift. His alleged favorite cane Mary later gave to Frederick Douglass.

(07-08-2017 06:59 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I have seen some references to Lincoln having a cane at Ford's, but nothing definitive that I know of. I have also wondered if some of what has been referred to as "canes" were actually "walking sticks," which were fashion statements of the day, but had no real, physical necessity attached to them.

Laurie - I've always thought a walking stick and a cane were the same, whether for need or fashion?

Maybe another reason is he was too tall for an average cane (even for fashion)?

I may be wrong, but I thought that walking sticks had knobs or blunt handles, not bent ones?

You don''t see walking sticks much anymore, but there are a number of online sites that discuss the history of and difference between them and canes. Here's just one:

http://justwalkers.com/mobility-blog/wal...WJRnYTyvZY

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Here's a video from Lincoln Memorial University's holdings that supposedly shows the walking stick (not cane) that was carried by Lincoln into Ford's Theatre the night of his assassination:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww_kE0Q1xOo