The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-09-09
Ambidextrous.
Remarkable Instances of Dual Faculty,


Remarkable Instances of Dual Faculty.
One of the New York papers not long
ago had an article on right and left-handed
people, or ambidexters, In which several
remarkable instances of persons possessing
this faculty were given. Strange to say,
however, no mention was made of Ben
Lusby or George Tiffany. Lusby is fa-
nous the country over, and is known as
the lightning ticket seller. He travelled
for many years with the largest circuses,
and received almost fabulous pay, being as
great curiosity as anything to be seen in
the tents. He used both hands in selling
tickets, taking in money, handing out tick
cts and making change more rapidly with
each than an ordinary ticket seller could
with both 1t was no unusual thing to see
him select six or eight ull-price and child
ren's tickets, receive $40 or $40 bill and
pick out and return the change with one
hand, while he was selling one or two tick
cts at time and making change at the
same time with the other hand.
George Tiffany, who had always had
large acquaintance with theatrical and show
people, and who was friend of Lusby,
possessed the same faculty to considerable
extent, and on several occasions gave exhi-
bitions to his friends of his ability to imi-
tate Lusby, having probably practiced under
his direction. He was scarcely fourth as
rapid as Lusby, but was acknowledged in
''the profession" to be, with the exception
of Lusby, the only two-handed ticket seller
in the world. Between the men, when
both were last here, there was marked
contrast in appearance. Tiffany was very
short, very stout, very jovial, and very
easy-going and slow in speech at nearly all
times, always ready for a joke, and gener-
ally liked by his acquaintance, while Lusby,
when not at his post, appeared rather taci-
turn and gloomy, and even among his most
intimate friends rarely appeared amused at
anything, and seldom laughed or smiled.
Both were particular in dress, but while
Tiffany's appearance was unchanged in the
ticket-office, Lusby in the same place was
metamorphosed. His coat and vest were
thrown of, in warm weather his necktie
and collar generally followed, his eyes
seemed to sink back in his head and bright
hectic spots appeared ON his cheeks, which
looked drawn and sunken. At those times
he was curious study to the medical men
who saw him at his busiest moments, and
more than one expressed the opinion that
he could not long survive the strain to
which he subjected himself. He has not
been here for some time, and may perhaps
be dead.
Instances of people who write and make
figures with both hands are by no means
rare. In the old St. Louis Democrat of
fee, before the partnership was dissolved,
two accountants were employed, who, in
posting the books, generally made figures
with one hand and posted the items with
the right. A book keeper in one and a
cashier in another large wholesale house in
St. Louis now work in the same way, and
reporter on morning paper writes with
either hand, and it is impossible to distin
guish any difference in the formation of the
letters. ft# 1908
A more remarkable instance of dual
faculties than any mentioned is that of a
gentleman well known in ST. Louis, Mr..
Z. G. Lakeland. Mr.. Lakeland was for
sometime treasurer of the Fair Association,
and excited no little attention and EsSsssAazzs
among those who saw him using alternately
either hand in writing letters or messages.
The on-lookers were, however, still more
astonished to see him when in hurry
grasp pen or pencil and write rapidly with
both hands, and would have been yet more
amazed had they known that the messages
he was at work on at the time were ad-
dressed to different people and entirely diff
!, ferent in character. When not busy
enough to employ both hands he generally
uses the left, but the character Of the CHR
ography is the same, and it is doubtful if
he himself knows the difference. He does
not seem to consider himself possessed Of
, an unusual gift or talent, and would, no
doubt have been much amused had he
heard the remark made by an acquaintance,
who, after seeing him write two letters at
once, confdentially informed a friend that
he must have his brains parted in the mid
die or be possessed of two sets. The science
of medicine teaches that unusual mental
strain or activity correspondingly depresses
the system physically, but the rule evidently
does not apply to Mr.. Lakeland. '55