Post by Scrooge MacDuck on Jan 5, 2020 23:43:17 GMT
Per Don Rosa in Chapter 11 of the L&T, he at any rate first *bought* it to look stylish. In the present day, I don't think he's physically weak enough to need the cane either, but I think he carries it more because he's *used* to it, to walking with that third leg, to snatching door-handles (or grabbing Donald by the collar) with the hook of it, than for any aesthetic concerns.
The cane is neither necessary for mobility nor an excessive accessory. It is a weapon.
I'm joking, of course. Scrooge MacDuck has already given the correct answer, at least according to Rosa. Other authors might have other explanations. Worth noting is that, according to Rosa's The Empire-Builder From Calisota, he didn't even really buy it. We can see the following signs on the stand from which Scrooge is implied to have received the cane: "Sale! Top Hats!" "Free Cane with Every Purchase!" He bought the top hat. The cane was just an added bonus.
Anyways, I think modern-Scrooge does mention having rheumatism in this story. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with him using a cane or not, but I figured it was worth noting.
No matter what I say or do, know that Jesus loves you.
Scrooge was depicted as an old man when he made his debut in 1947. That is to say, he was supposed to be a young man in early 1900s. At that time, every single gentleman walked with a cane. You may recall in Jeremy Brett's TV series Holmes always walks with a cane.
Post by Monkey_Feyerabend on Jan 9, 2020 13:34:33 GMT
Now that I think about it, even Gladstone had a cane in Barks stories.
I assume that for Scrooge it is a mix of the three main possible reasons to carry a walking cane: 1) he looks more glamorous, or in his case more dignified; 2) he really needs it on the long distance, since it is still an old dude so after a certain amount of walking he may feel tired; and last - but definitely not least - 3) it is useful as a weapon against solicitors, beggars and molest nephews.
Now that I think about it, even Gladstone had a cane in Barks stories.
I assume that for Scrooge it is a mix of the three main possible reasons to carry a walking cane: 1) he looks more glamorous, or in his case more dignified; 2) he really needs it on the long distance, since it is still an old dude so after a certain amount of walking he may feel tired; and last - but definitely not least - 3) it is useful as a weapon against solicitors, beggars and molest nephews.
None of you ever heard of a "whisky cane"? It was quite popular from 1890-1950 or so.
I just googled 'whisky cane', but google strongly suggested me to correct it as 'whisky cake'.
A whiskey cane was used by rich men, who liked to drink spirits, to hide their continued drinking habit from their wives. These canes were hollow, and had metal tubes that could be filled with liquid, and special top handles that were easily removed, like the tops of liquor bottles, and had a top of the tube that was slightly funnellike, to facilitate pouring or sipping, to avoid spilling any of the costly liquid. There are fancy models still sold:
There are also cigar-smokers' "smuggling canes" , for men with that filthy habit to hide their continued smoking from their wives:
That gives me ideas for my next Christmas present to my father. Who does not need a cane to walk, but likes to collect them. (And yes, he smokes cigars.)
Alcohol and tobacco... you don't see those as much in the comics!
It's amusing to read older Duck/Mice comics and have them casually mention alcohol and smoking. I remember how in the 90s, they were already starting to drink "milk-strawberry" or "lemonade" in Old West saloons.
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