Dear Sir, - In your June Double No. I notice one of your correspondents, "Lillian" stating that she would like to read some articles on legless people. Then perhaps an article by a one-legged woman would be of interest to her and some of your other readers.
About eight years ago when I was only 17 years of age, I was badly injured in a railway accident and my right leg was amputated above the knee. For a year after the operation I walked around on crutches. Then a friend suggested an artificial limb. I, wishing of course, to alleviate the after effects of my injury as much as possible, purchased an artificial leg. However, after six months painful struggling I found it more of a hindrance to me than anything else and eventually returned to crutches once more. After experimenting thus in vain I was determined to satisfy those cravings for beautiful clothes I had before my accident. Here, I might mention, that I am above medium height being 5 foot 10 inches tall and with a fairly slim figure. All my life I have had a natural desire for clothing my legs in beautiful shoes and stockings and the loss of a limb was not to gainsay me these pleasures. My one remaining leg is very neatly shaped and I try my best to clothe it as attractively as possible. For the last three years I have been wearing a very high-heeled shoe. At first I found some difficulty in getting round on such a high heel but now I manage comparatively easily. Like "Lillian," I am also an office worker and happening to be in a very good position I am able to wear the finest and best in footwear and other clothes. I am very fond of lovely lustrous silk stockings, particularly those of a dark flesh colour and invariably wear them. I do not use suspenders but a plain garter. Here I might mention that stockings do not cost me very much, for I can wear both stockings on the same leg. Shoes however are not interchangeable and in my flat I have a heap of brand-new shoes, all fitting the right foot, which should be worth a good few pounds.
Yours truly,
One-Legged Ursula.
Cape Town