Dear Sir, - It was with interest that I read the story of the monopedes who saved shoes by wearing one pair between them.
Some time ago "A New Monopede" wrote about a club for one-legged girls. It is a pity that there is no such thing in existence.
I now use a pair of elbow crutches for smart wear, and find that they do less to crumple one's clothes. Time is indeed a great healer. During that nerve-wracking period immediately after the amputation of my leg the future looked gloomy and black indeed. Now I have come to see that life minus a leg has its bright side as well.
Two years ago I would not have believed that some day I would be so happy. It required courage to ignore the stares of curious people in a world where, with the advent of artificial limbs, a monopede is a very rare sight indeed. At first I used to feel those countless stares at my single leg, but to-day I go shopping in the crowded street and, were it not for the feel of the crutches in my hands, scarcely noticing the absence of my right leg.
I am managing better every day with my new high-heeled shoes with the 3 inches patent Court as the highest I can use so far.
My friends are all surprised at the way I have come out of my shell during the past six months. "London Life" has in some measure caused this. I have read how happy other one-legged girls were, and began to see that there was no use in moping.
Many one-legged girls are thrilled at the little attentions there single-leggedness attracts. Pleasant as these attentions might seem, I, for my part, do not derive much enjoyment from them. For a man to give me a seat near the door in a 'bus, when there are other vacant seats, is a little attention I do not relish, as it shows only too obviously my handicap through being one-legged. I would far better hop as far as I can to the vacant but more inaccessible seat, and thus still retain my independence.
The other day when a gentleman offered me his seat, I politely refused and made my way, although with some difficulty, right to the other end of the 'bus. Such is the spirit of independence, and being minus a leg is not going to deprive me of it.
I must apologise, Mr. Editor, for having encroached on your valuable space to such an extent, but I have acquired the habit of pouring out all my little troubles as a one-legged girl in the columns of "London Life."
Yours truly,
L. N.