Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-04-04
AmbidcXters.

Instances of people who write and
make figures with both hands are by no
means rare. In the old Democrat Office,
before the partnership was dissolved
and the Globe Democrat started, two ac-
countants were employed who, in post
ing the books, generally made figures
with the left hand and posted the items
with the right. A bookkcepcr in one
and cashier in another large wholesale
house i'm St. Louis now work in the same
writes with either hand, and it is i'm
possible to distinguish any difference in
the formation of the letters.
A more remarkable instance of dual
faculties than any mentioned is that of a
gentleman well known in this city-Mr.
f. G. Lakeland. Mr.. Lakeland was for
some time Treasurer of the Fair Assoca-
ton and excited no little attention and
remark among those who saw him using
alternately either hand in writing letters
or messages. The on-lookcrs were, how
ever, 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 ut the same time were adj
dressed to different people and entirely
different in. character. When not busy
enough to employ both hands he gener-
ally uses the left, but the character of
the chrography is the same, and it is
doubtful ii he himself knows the differ
cncc. He does not seem to consider
himself possessed of an unusual gift of
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 ut once,
coniidentially informed a friend that he
must have his brains parted in the middle
or be possessed of two sets. The science
of medicine teaches that unusual mental
strain or activity correspondingly de-
presses the system physically, but the
rule evidently does not apply to Mr..
Lakeland.
1t has also generally been considered
that shot in the brain was mortal, and
few days ago an exchange came out
with what was stated Us an unparalleled
case. A man had attempted to commit
suicide by shooting himself in the center
of the forehead. The pi,:ol-ball, accord
ing to his statement, went through
his brains and lodged at the in
side of the skull at the back. The wound
was probcd to the depth of three inches
or more, the brains oozed out of the
hole. but the man lived and seemed to
suffer no inconvenience.
This is not an isolated case. Several
years ago man living on Fifth Street,
near Myrtle, in this city, shot
his wife and then shot himself
through the head and brain, after which
he lay down on n lounge and awaited
death. Death did not come, but the po-
lice did, and a guard was left with him
till the next morning. Then he put on
his boots with vigorous thump and
walked TO a carriage, in which he was
conveyed 10 Jail. He lived to stand trial
for assault with intent to kill on his
wife, was sentenced to the pcnitentiary
for several years, and had served out
part of his term when he died. The
wound had never healed and portions of
brain were continually coming from 1t.
While in Jail he told the reporter that he
suffered no inconvenience from the
wound, but on two or three occasions
had felt ''rathcr giddy-hcadcd."
Perhaps one Of the oldest and most