The Crittenden record., 1905-07-07
RIGHT HANDED FOLKS
WHY ARE THEY so VERY LARGELY IN
THE MAJORITY

lem, an Inherited Tendency and
Constant practice-rhe origin OF
the Innate ProciiViy.
That the great majority OF persons
use the right hand with greater skiil
than the left is doubtless due 10 two |
influences - an innate procUVity ana |
constant practice. The preference |
shown by most infants at the age OF |
one year for the use OF the right hand |
, proves that there is an inherited tend |
ency. Further evidence of II is found |
in the greater ease with which any EN- /
tirely new act is performed 10y the right |
than by the left hand. Training, how |
ever. is an important factor. A mature
person, having lost the right hand 10y
. accident. can achieve wonders with
the other II he only exercises patience
perseverance and strong Will.
3 The more mysterious Of the two fac
tors in this problem Is the Unborn tend
ency. How did Il ariset There are
exceptions 10 the rule Perhaps two
out of every hundred babies are LEFT
handed. But when you stop 10 think OF
U Il the natural inclination of the other
ninety.eight is remarkable. \ great
. many Psychologists have spcculated In
regard 20 It's cause without reaching
% any conclusion upon which all could
agree
Dr. George VI. Gould says In the
popular Science Monthly that right
handedncss Is 30 thoroughly lngrnunt'
Ell In human nature that II must have
n been partially developed In the savage
ancestors OF the race. Primitive man,
- IN his opinion. must have felt definite
" need for the exercise OF his right hand
: in preference TO his left. and that ne.
ie ccsslty must have been recognized and
,r obeycd for a long period continuously
lt The impulse could not well have die
5 tated his habits 10 eating Tor knives
aud forks arr OF resent origin. the
- modern gun had not been lnvcnted,
aud writing was practically unknown.
- Moreover. In such operations as chip
ping arrowheads. weaving baskets and
welding clubs. bows aud arrows Il
n could not have mattercd much which
I'd hand was employed.
"a When warfare had been carried 90
such a stage Of advancement ns 20 In.
yolve The usc of a shield. however that
object was probably held on the left
n, ,Idc In order 20 protect the heart Then
rs matter of convenience the rght
lrm was left free Tor the more active
function of hghtng with spear and
lt. sword. and with habitual exercise
came special skill An attendant phc
nomenon was a nncr Organization ~
hat particular cca;rT in the brain
which controlled these movements and
which was situated la the lrft hall ~
q he organ. The brain is the real seat u;
10 drxtcrliy. aud something takes
Place there ln correspondence with cN.
.s, trrun efficiency With an Increased
ct ne u the rlght hand. pr Could thinks.
le there must have been greater demands
n upon the right eye. because vision must
ew prcc,dc the order 10 strike or 10 give
rs peaceful signals In this way there
NIX may have h.,u developed a kcyucr
..- power ~ Spn In the rght eye than IN
~, the lcft nrlGouh assumes that iherr
was and dGhrcs that right handed
a people ar, rllht eyed" nud that In their
md brains ths 4 Ii'r " vision is un the
or- lefi side lu SO proximity To- thar gov
me- crnIug the tbt arm
,tI While c'v l1iIon was yet ~ a low
''' level oomwu .cltInn was carried on
especially u H. strangers largely In
the sign lltwler Blricr laid the
foundations I arithmetic and called IN
10 play The s.is The preference No.
ready given the right hand In battle
lc may have ~ ioi men 100 the rboicc ~
- this service III ai.p in official and so
cial ccrruf Ic' Computation Dr
Gould po.Hi out was 900 intellectual
process whf WIS conducted loo th,
M speech crui't NJ ihr brain nature wa.
compelled n 'Htr s'lrl Zoo locating M,
latter and \ placed ~ IN thr l,ft o'
the middle 'r Gould thinks that IN,
choice vu ''rm,l by th, employ
mrut ~ t.r -'t hand f'r giving slr
mails 50 .1'r'y rrliiri are 10,
FOL functions "a .urr,h and vision aul
lS' The control ihr muscular efforts viii
ihr right % That action would b,
quicker u 4 uHrh-Il rrutcT runtrol
..b Ing them 4 uIp.r.y associated
49,, Before ll . iur ihn cause NJ lcfl
" lrul'tluus r G'ul r1''. lurHrln =.
va. the fart ihj with right handed pclnl,
j..