n," "Help Wanted," "Human Municipal
Documents," "As to People," "A Town Constitutional," and "On Wearing a
Hat." "On Carrying a Cane" appeared in _The Bookman_. I thank the
editors of the publications named for permission to reprint these
papers here. R. C. H.

New York, 1918.

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE: ON CARRYING A CANE

I THE FISH REPORTER
II ON GOING A JOURNEY
III GOING TO ART EXHIBITIONS
IV A ROUNDABOUT PAPER
V THAT REVIEWER "CUSS"
VI LITERARY LEVITIES IN LONDON
VII HENRY JAMES, HIMSELF
VIII MEMORIES OF A MANUSCRIPT
IX "YOU ARE AN AMERICAN"
X WHY MEN CAN'T READ NOVELS BY WOMEN
XI THE DESSERT OF LIFE
XII A CLERK MAY LOOK AT A CELEBRITY
XIII CAUN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE
XIV HUNTING LODGINGS
XV MY FRIEND, THE POLICEMAN
XVI HELP WANTED--MALE, FEMALE
XVII HUMAN MUNICIPAL DOCUMENTS
XVIII AS TO PEOPLE
XIX HUMOURS OF THE BOOK SHOP
XX THE DECEASED
XXI A TOWN CONSTITUTIONAL
XXII READING AFTER THIRTY

EPILOGUE: ON WEARING A HAT

WALKING-STICK PAPERS

PROLOGUE

ON CARRYING A CANE

Some people, without doubt, are born with a deep instinct for carrying
a cane; some consciously acquire the habit of carrying a cane; and some
find themselves in a position where the matter of carrying a cane is
thrust upon them.

Canes are carried in all parts of the world, and have been carried--or
that which was the forefather of them has been carried--since human
history began. Indeed, a very fair account of mankind might be made by
writing the story, of its canes. And nothing that would readily occur
to mind would more eloquently express a civilisation than its evident
attitude toward canes. Perhaps nothing can more subtly convey the
psychology of a man than his feeling about a cane.

The prehistoric ape, we are justified in assuming, struggled upright
upon a cane. The cane, so to speak, with which primitive man wooed his
bride, defended his life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, and brought
down his food, was (like all canes which are in good taste) admirably
chosen for the occasion. The spear, the stave, the pilgrim's staff,
the sword, the sceptre--always has the cane-carrying animal borne
something in his hand. And, down the long vista of the past, the cane,
in its various manifestations, has ever been the mark of strength, and
so of dignity. Thus as a man originally became a gentleman, or a k