Dear Sir, - It was with much pleasure and thankfulness that I picked up a copy of your particularly interesting paper and read the splendid letter of "Cynthia" upon the subject of her great handicap and my heart went out to her at once, as, being similarly handicapped myself, the subject went home, and I determined to write to you somewhat concerning myself.
Until nearly two years ago I had never known what it was to be afflicted in any way, except perhaps the little aches and pains that usually form part of our common lot; but being then the victim of a terrible accident slipping up in the middle of the road in a very busy thoroughfare, I was run over by two very heavy vehicles running in opposite directions, my left arm being so badly crushed by one vehicle that it had to be amputated at the shoulder, and my right leg by the other so badly that it had to be amputated at the hip joint. For a long time it was feared that my spine was affected by the shock that my system sustained, that my hand is so unsteady as to make my calligraphy almost indecipherable, my nervous system has recovered itself. I do therefore all my writing on a typewriter.
But although I have managed to accommodate myself to circumstance, I cannot say, like Cynthia, that I look upon the tragedy that has left its mark so irrevocably upon me, as anything in the light of blessing, either to disguise or anyhow else; for everything that I had hoped and longed for through all the responsible years of my life have been made hopelessly impossible by the affliction that has befallen me.
But, of course, I have much to be thankful for, because had it not been for the fact that I spun round as I fell, I must inevitably have been cut to pieces. And I often think, had it happened to be both legs or both arms, instead of, as it happened to be, it would have been worse, even as bad as it is. But I must not dwell upon this, for perhaps I am a little older than Cynthia, and see the seriousness of things more clearly than she does on that account.
I greatly admire the optimistic attitude she adopts towards the thing that no amount of worrying about can lessen. She has a gloriously happy, and, I should imagine, lovable disposition, and a brave and optimistic spirit that is absolutely unquenchable. That is the right spirit with which to face difficulties and calamities of all sorts.
But to my story. For a long time after being discharged from the hospital I still had lapses regarding the leg that had been removed, and, going to put my weight on it, fell in my tracks. This I did many times, sometimes being rather badly hurt. This happened either when I got out of bed in the morning, or after I had been seated for a while, and got up forgetting my infirmity. I got over my stupidity in the course of time, and have now got so well able to balance myself on one leg that I frequently go from room to room and out at the back of the house, without troubling to get my crutch; and now I think I really miss my left arm more than I do my right leg. I had never imagined, till I lost it, that my left arm could have been so useful. But that is the way with most of us. We never miss or properly appreciate anything until we have lost it. But I must draw this to a close, though I would like to have said a good deal more.
I will content myself with just saying that I do not sink under my infirmity, but do all I can to make the best of what is still left of me. To that end I do my hair - which is very long, and soft and glossy of which I am exceedingly proud - in as bewitching a manner as possible. I am told that it was nothing but my hair that saved me from having a fractured skull. I also have a well shaped waist and a well shaped bust, of which also I am very proud. I also wear a short skirt, rather narrower than those generally worn, which just reaches to my knee, and a high-legged buttoned boot of a very smart shape, with a high Louis heel, and my skirt just reaches to the top of it. I also wear two pairs of earrings - or rather pendants - and large rimless pince-nez.
Wishing you all the best,
Yours, etc.,
Lill