Striking With The Wrong Hand

The Hartford daily Times tells tho following : A oouple of citizens met at Geer & Pond's store yesterday, and, while waiting for the New York papers to airive, one of them, who had a sear on tho niiddle joint of the fingere on lus left hand, was telling how tho scar happencd there. Some twelve or fifteen years ago, at the time Jack Nelson had a gymnasium and gave lessous in boxiug in Ely's block, on Main street, a friend of the man with tho soarred hand, by the name of Billy M having joined Nelson 's boxiug class, wanted to iind soine one whom he could practico with. He went to his friend J., hiin of the searred hand, and proposed to give hini lessons. Billy argued that he could impart the instructions to hia friend f ree gratis, besides having an opportunity to improve in skill. So as soon as he got his lirat lesson ho hurried away to show J. Ho got J. up in front of him, and gave him soine advice, placed himself in an attitude of deftnse and said to J: " Now strike at ray head with all your might." "But," protested J.' "we have no gloves, and I should be sure to hurt you." "I'llriskit," laughingly replied Billy. ' Nelson has already taught me how to parry. Strike out hard, and 111 show you." J. hesitated. It didn't appear to his unsophisticated niind that he cöuld strike at a man with all his might without hitting hiin and hurting him. Besides, he had a duo regard for his own safety. Billy might, in the enthusiasm of a handsome parry, counter on his (J.'s) prominent proboscis. His fears were dispelled by a protnise from Billy that he would act wholly on the defensive, and by further assurances that it was absolutely impossiblo for an inexjiorienoed person like J. to hit him. " Don't be afraid," exclaiined Billy ; "strike hard! You can't hit me. Strike at iny head." And while ho was speaking J.'s left hand shot out like a kicking mulo, and Billy went backwards and feil Hko a log. J. saw that his left hand was badly cut, but he sprang forward to assist Billy to his feet The latter, however struggled up without aid and rith a thumb and forefinger ransacking his mouth as if searching for something, he emphatically remarked, eniploying his favorite oath, "Lr- all ínsufhciency, youstruok with the wrong hand." Billy had only been drilled in tho right hand parry, and forgot to mention tho fact to J. What Billy was searching for in his mouth he had found on the floor. It was a tooth. Tho scar of J.'s hand was caused by coming in contact with that tooth. J. ought to have kno wn botter than to strike a triend in the inouth with the wrong hand. Billy never took the remaining eleven lessons. Ho had lost his appefito for boxing.