by H G Wells

Whether the story of Gottfried Plattner credited or not is pretty question value of evidence one hand, seven witnesses-- perfectly exact, six and half pairs of eyes, and one undeniable fact; and other -- it ? --prejudice, common-sense, the inertia of opinion Never were there seven more honest-seeming witnesses; never was there more undeniable fact inversion of Gottfried Plattner's anatomical structure, and--never was there more preposterous story one ! The most preposterous part story worthy Gottfried's contribution (for I count him as seven) Heaven forbid that led into giving countenance to superstition by passion for impartiality, and so come to share the fate of Eusapia's patrons ! Frankly, I believe something crooked business of Gottfried Plattner; but what that crooked factor is, admit as frankly, know surprised credit accorded story most unexpected and authoritative quarters The fairest way reader, however, it without further comment

Gottfried Plattner is, name, freeborn Englishman His father was an Alsatian who came to England 'sixties, married respectable English girl of unexceptionable antecedents, and died, after wholesome and uneventful life (devoted, I understand, chiefly laying of parquet flooring), in 1887 Gottfried's age is seven-and-twenty , by virtue heritage of three languages, Modern Languages Master in small private school south of England casual observer singularly like Modern Languages Master in small private school His costume is neither very costly nor very fashionable, but, other hand, markedly cheap or shabby; his complexion, like his height bearing, is inconspicuous notice, perhaps, that, like the majority of people, his face was not absolutely symmetrical, his right eye little larger left, jaw trifle heavier right side , as an ordinary careless person, were to bare his chest and feel his heart beating, probably find it quite like the heart of anyone else But here you trained observer would part company found his heart quite ordinary, the trained observer would find it quite otherwise And once the thing was pointed out , you too would perceive the peculiarity easily enough It Gottfried's heart beats right side body

Now, the only singularity of Gottfried's structure, although appeal untrained mind Careful sounding of Gottfried's internal arrangements by well-known surgeon seems to point fact that all the other unsymmetrical parts body are similarly misplaced The right lobe liver is left side, the left right; while his lungs, too, are similarly contraposed still more singular, unless Gottfried is consummate actor, believe that his right hand has recently become his left occurrences about to consider (as impartially as possible), he has found the utmost difficulty in writing, except from right to left across the paper throw right hand, perplexed at meal-times between knife and fork, ideas rule road-- cyclist--are still dangerous confusion And not scrap of evidence to show that before these occurrences Gottfried was at all left-handed

yet another wonderful fact preposterous business Gottfried produces three photographs of himself him age of five or six, thrusting fat legs at you from under plaid frock, and scowling photograph his left eye is little larger than his right, jaw is trifle heavier left side reverse present living condition The photograph of Gottfried at fourteen seems to contradict these facts, but because one cheap "Gem" photographs that were then in vogue, taken direct upon metal, and therefore reversing things just as looking-glass would The third photograph represents him at one-and-twenty, and confirms the record others There seems here evidence strongest confirmatory character that Gottfried has exchanged his left side right Yet how human being so changed, short of fantastic and pointless miracle, exceedingly hard to suggest

In , , these facts explicable supposition that Plattner has undertaken an elaborate mystification, strength heart's displacement Photographs faked, and left-handedness imitated But the character man lend itself to any such theory quiet, practical, unobtrusive, and thoroughly sane, Nordau standpoint He likes beer, and smokes moderately, takes walking exercise daily, and has healthily high estimate value teaching He has good but untrained tenor voice, and takes pleasure in singing airs of popular and cheerful character fond, but not morbidly fond, of reading,--chiefly fiction pervaded with vaguely pious optimism,--sleeps well, and rarely dreams , , the very last person to evolve fantastic fable Indeed, from forcing this story world, he singularly reticent matter He meets enquirers with certain engaging--bashfulness is almost the word, that disarms the most suspicious He seems genuinely ashamed that anything so unusual has occurred to him

It regretted that Plattner's aversion idea of post-mortem dissection may postpone, perhaps for ever, the positive proof that his entire body has had its left and right sides transposed Upon that fact mainly the credibility story hangs no way of taking man and moving him about in space as ordinary people understand space, result changing his sides Whatever , his right is still his right, his left his left with perfectly thin and flat thing, were to cut figure out of paper, any figure with right and left side, change its sides simply by lifting it up and turning it over But with solid different Mathematical theorists tell us only way right and left sides of solid body changed is by taking that body clean out of space as it,--taking it out of ordinary existence, , and turning it somewhere outside space little abstruse, , but anyone with any knowledge of mathematical theory will assure the reader truth the thing in technical language, the curious inversion of Plattner's right and left sides is proof that he has moved out space into called the Fourth Dimension, he has returned again to our world Unless we choose to consider ourselves the victims of an elaborate and motiveless fabrication, almost bound has occurred

tangible facts We come now account phenomena that attended his temporary disappearance world It appears that Sussexville Proprietary School, Plattner discharged the duties of Modern Languages Master, but also taught chemistry, commercial geography, bookkeeping, shorthand, drawing, and additional subject changing fancies boys' parents might direct attention little or nothing various subjects, but in secondary as distinguished from Board or elementary schools, knowledge teacher is, very properly, by no means so necessary as high moral character and gentlemanly tone In chemistry particularly deficient, knowing, , nothing beyond the Three Gases (whatever the three gases ) As, however, his pupils began by knowing nothing, and derived all their information , this caused him (or anyone) but little inconvenience for several terms Then little boy named Whibble joined the school, who educated (it seems) by some mischievous relative into an inquiring habit of mind This little boy followed Plattner's lessons with marked and sustained interest, and to exhibit his zeal , brought, at various times, substances for Plattner to analyse Plattner, flattered evidence power of awakening interest, and trusting boy's ignorance, analysed these, and even, made general statements as composition Indeed, stimulated by his pupil obtain work upon analytical chemistry, and study it during his supervision evening's preparation surprised chemistry quite an interesting subject