Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-05-04
RIGHT HAND ED FOLKS
/ My ARE THEY soNeRY LARGELY IN
THE MAJORITY

WI StttG- TIE OWNER Z ~ ~
TIE MAJORITY
There Are Two Factors In the Prob
lem, an s.s..s=.se.s Te:... ....s.ss ANA
Constant Prat.tice--The origin of
the Inmate Proclivity.
That the great majority of persons
use the right hand with greater skill
han the left is doubtless due TO two
Influences - an innate proclivity and
constant practice. The preference
shown by most infants at the age of
pne year for the use Of the right hand
proves that there is an inherited tend
mcy: Further evidence of 1t is found
b the greater ease with which any en-
tireIy new act is performed by the right
than by the left hand. Training, how
ever, Is an important factor. a mature
person, having lost the right hand by
accident, can achieve wonders with
the other if he only exercises patience,
perseverance and a strong will.
The more mysterious 81 the two fac
tors in this problem is the iaborn tend
ency How did 1t arise? There are
exceptions to the rule. Perhaps two
handled. But When yeu stop to think OF
it the natural inclination of the other
ainety-eight is remarkable. A great
many Psychologists have specialized in
regard to It's cause without reaching
any conclusion upon which all could
agree.
Dir. George NJ. Gould says in the
Popular Science Monthly that right
handedness is so thoroughly ingraliat-
ed in human nature that it must have
been partially developed in the savage
ancestors of the race. Primitive man,
In ais opinion, must have felt a definite
need for the exercise OF his right hand
In preference to his left, and that ne
cessity must have been recognized and
obeyed for a long period continuously.
The impulse could not well have die
tated his habits In eating, for knives
= and forks are of recent origin, the
modern gun had not been invented,
md writing was practically unknown.
Moreover in such operations as chip
ping arrowheads, weaving baskets and
welding clubs, bows and arrows it
hand was employed.
When warfare had been carried to
such a stage of advancement as TO in
volve the use OF a shield, however, that
object was probably held on the left
side in order to protect the heart. Then
as a matter of convenience the right
arm was left free for the more active
junction of fighting with spear and
sword, and with habitual exercise
came special skill. An attendant phe-
nomenon was a finer organization OF
that partieulaI center In the brain
which controlled these movements and
which was situated in the left half OF
the organ. The brain Is the real seat Of
all dexterity and something takes
ternal efficiency. With an increased
use of the right hand, DR. Gould thinks,
there must have been greater demands
+ upon the righteye, because vision must
precede the order to strike or to give
peaceful signals. III this way there
I may have been developed a keener
power of vision in the right eye than in
I the left III Gould assumes that there
was and declares that fright handed
people are right eyed and that in their
brains the center of vision is on the
left side, IN close proximity to that gov
erning the right arm
While civilization was yet at low
level communication was carried on,
especially with strangers, largely in
the sign language. Barter laid the
foundat Ions OF arithmetic and called in
4 to play the digits. The preference al,
ready given to the right hand In battle
may have guided men in the choice for
this service and also In official and so
cial ceremonies. Computation. DR.
Gould points out. was an intellectual
Il process which was conducted in the
5 speech center Of the brain. Nature was
compelled to take sides in locating the
latter and she placed 1t to the left OF
the middle DR.. Gould thinks that the
choice was governed by the employ.
ment of the right. hand for giving sic.
{ nails, So intimately related are the
functions of speech and vision and
the control of the muscular efforts will
the right arm that action would BIZ
quicker ifsthe cerebral centers control
ling them were closely associated.
Before discussing the cause Of left
hnndedness Dr. ecu ld calls attention II
the fact that with right handed people
the left hand Is occasionally called up
~ nl. TO nnl.f1a,i II l Of
tance than its lnate, In eating til.
fork u used more than the knife Ii
e playing q violin or violoneello the fiji
B gering Is done with the left hand ant
the bowing with the right. 1T is sug
gested that some of these operation.
may result from the superiority Of til,
right eye. Perhaps the latter can watcl
Ss and guide them better when they ar,
" PERFORMED with the LEFT than with til,
right hand.
Left hand eaness IS considered by Dr.
81 Gould All inheritance from ancestors
Il savage or eli ilized who We're oblige;
In by some misfortune to abandon the. III