According to Keith Bradford "It's quite simply "sucking on the heads of their canes" i.e. the handles of their walking-sticks. Typical gesture of sophisticated nervousness in the 19th century." Tony V. On 7/15/2023 10:02 AM, ben wrote: > I'm reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, in chapter 5 it read "...for they had stood in the vestibule sucking their cane heads, a circling wall of oiled and simpering admirers...", I don't quite understand what the young men are doing, is "sucking their cane heads " a metaphor? Can someone explain it? > Tks