Training for Left-Handedness

1915

Positive Results Not Seen as Anticipated

Some time ago the development of left-handedness in children was warmly advocated by various persons, not only because in this way reliance could be placed on both upper extremities for mechanical work, which would undoubtedly be of advantage in case of serious disturbance of the functions of the right arm, but also because the hope was entertained that by training the left arm a second speech center might develop in the right hemisphere of the brain in the same way as the well-developed right arm corresponds with the speech center place in the left half of the brain.

The Berlin physician, M. Frankel, was especially active in the advocacy of this idea — in fact, experiments in this direction were undertaken in various localities. The practical results which have been so far reported do not correspond in any degree to the optimistic expectations of the advocates of the method, says the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Doctor Schafer, on the basis of permission granted by the school deputation, collected statistics with reference to the left-handedness among about 18,000 pupils of the Berlin public schools. These statistics show that 4.06 per cent of all the children are left-handed, 5.5 per cent of all the boys and 2.98 per cent of the girls. The percentage of children in whom both hands are equally developed is very small, being only .21 per cent. The overwhelming majority, 95.73 per cent of all the children, are distinctly right-handed. In several school districts, among 448 teachers, there were ten who were left-handed.

L. Katscher's work on "Training the Left Hand" was the theoretical basis for the exercises to train the left hand. They included exercises in writing, arithmetic manual training and gymnastics; especially in the last two systematic efforts were made. In general, the result showed that the possibility of employing the hitherto unused left hand at first excited great joy and marked interest, but the physical awkwardness generally was a great hindrance.

The outcome of the whole experiment shows that in no case could a preference for the left hand be developed. It may be trained to be a welcome assistant to the right hand, but never a substitute for it. In teaching writing the complaint is made of a deterioration in handwriting. The children refused to write with the left hand, became nervous and worried over it, and increased intellectual development was in no case observed. Almost all those who gave an opinion were unanimous that the advantages stood in no relation to the expenditure of time, pains and patience.

What A Mistake — She Had the Wrong Pocket

1903

Awful Mistake of the Pretty Girl In the Automobile Coat

A pretty girl wearing an automobile coat that reached to her heels, stepped aboard an Indiana avenue electric car at Thirty-first street the other day and took the only remaining seat, which was next to a man bundled in a great ulster. The atmosphere in the car was rather frigid, and the young woman felt about for her coat pockets, and finally shoved her hands deep down into the folds of the garment.

An instant later she felt a large gloved hand steal inside the pocket. It closed upon her own hand and gently pressed it. The pretty girl was enraged and turned upon the man at her side. The car was crowded with passengers and she did not wish to create a scene. She bit her lip, straightened up and looked directly ahead. Again the hand closed gently upon her own. She gave her arm a quick jerk and withdrew her hand from the pocket. The man, not the least abashed, also withdrew his hand.

Her fingers soon began tingling with cold and she slipped her hand into the pocket again. While she sat shivering she again felt a large gloved hand steal into the pocket. For a moment she sat quietly, and then the hand once more pressed her own. She would endure such a flirtation no longer. She thrust her hand deeper into the pocket and faced the man.

"Take your hand out of my pocket, sir," she said, in a fierce voice.

"Pardon me, miss," said the man, "but will you be so kind as to take your hand out of my pocket?

The young woman looked surprised, and with a jerk withdrew her hand. When she saw she had confused the folds of the two coats she blushed, signaled the conductor to stop the car, and fled toward the door. When the car stopped she stepped to the street, without, even turning to give the man an apologetic glance. — Chicago Inter-Ocean.