The record-union., 1899-04-30

placed upward or downward according
to the original framework Of the body.
BY a series Of diagrams he shows the
variation of the center of gravity.
First, the center Of gravity above the
transverse axis with the accompanying
right -handedness; second, the center Of
gravity corresponding with the trans
verse axis in the case of the ambi-
dextrous; third, the center of gravity
below the transverse axis, begetting
left -handedness
| The whole phenomena he thus as
cribes to the instructive sense of equili-
| blum; therefore the greater develop
ment of the right hand is not congen-
| ftal, but arises solely from the greater
use made of it. Sir Don Wilson (now
deceasedD, late President of the Uni
versity of Toronto, who, during his life,
gave the matter much careful thought,
himself being left-handed, says that
he had arrived at the conclusion that
the source of right-handedness and so
of exceptional left-handedness, is to be
sought for in the greater development
of one or the other hemispheres of the
| BRAIN That the difference in weight
it seems, has been proven beyond a
That being the case, the left handed
man would have a greater development
Of the right hemisphere, and in the
ambidextrous the hemisphere would be
Of equal weight.
Professor Wilson had but one oppor-
tunity to examine the brain Of a left
handed man. In that case he proved
his theory that the right hemisphere
| ha hnaUiar No
can be proven based on one case. but
1t is confirmatory as far as it goes On
the other hand, one could assert that
the hemisphere is developed with. use
like any other part of the body. eve
know the brain continues to grow until
the fortieth or fftieth Year, Each
movement of the hand requires men
tai effort. May that not have some
thing to do with the difference in size
of the right and left hemisphere?
Professor James Mark Baldwin of the
University of Toronto experimental
with his infant child to discover at
what age a decided preference for
either hand should assert itself. No
preference was found SO long as there
was no violent muscular effort. This
conclusion was based on 2,1S7 simple
right hand in violent effort in reaching
became noticeable in the seventh and
eighth month. By the tenth month the
child showed a decided preference for
the right hand. Then education comes
into play at an early age and lends
confirmation to the natural bias, and
as soon as the child is old enough to
be affected by such influences as fast
ening the clothes, or holding a spoon
and knife. These help to confirm the
habit until the art of penmanship is
mastered, and with this last and crown
ing accomplishment the left hand is
relegated to subordinate place as
supplementary organ, though habit is
constantly mistaken for nature.
But be this as it may, no intelligent
person can doubt for a moment the
value Of becoming ambidextrous Ex-
perience shows that when early and
persistent cultivation of both hands has
been carried out the result is greater
efficiency without any counter balanc-
ing effect. I believe that the left hand
can be trained to as great skill as the
right, and vice versa. I believe it the
duty of parents and teachers to encour-
age the habitual use of both hands,
and in case there is a preference for the
left hand to content themselves with
developing the free use of the right
without suppressing the natural oex-
terity of the left.
AS I have intimated, a young child
uses both hands indiscriminately, and a
strong preference does not manifest it
self until the muscular system acquires
active development Why should they
grow UP with a strong right arm and
the left soft and f1abby. The develop
ment of the legs is very nearly alike
Why should not this be the case with
the arms? Man is the only animal
who has two perfect hands and because
we can get along very we'll with the
| right hand, is it best that we should
make the other secondary? All parts
| of the body need exercise to keep them
in good condition, and in proportion as
! they are used in such ratio do they
! develop Tie either arm to the side
and In time 1t becomes helpless, and yet
we know by faithful training that it can
be brought to equal the strength of its
mate.
This is a progressive age and though
habits, social usage, education in all
forms in the school, in the workshop,
and in all the arts of peace and war,
| have persistently fostered the develop
ment Of the right hand, it is time for a
change. 1t is a duty that we owe our
selves and posterity that we make the
most of what nature has given u.s. and
not develop one side of the body to the
detriment Of the other We are born
symmetrical; why then should we allow
habit and custom to force us out Of
plumb as it were?
Our aim should be to build up our
bodies so that they may wear out alike.
In every profession and calling free
use of both hands would be an advan-
tage. To the successful piano player
it is necessity Paderewski owes his
great success to his perfect execution
with the left hand, the weak point with
most piano players. BY a careful in
quiry in the schools of this city 1 find