Dear Sir, - Your January double number was very interesting.
For you see, though I have never mentioned it before, I myself am legless. About 4 years ago I had the misfortune to lose both my legs midway between ankle and knee, in a marine accident. I recovered very quickly, and up to the middle of last October was getting about quite easily on artificial legs and feet, using only a stick.
To make the artificial limbs as invisible as possible, I wore boots which reached to my thighs. There was another reason for the boots also - the boots were stiffened with irons.
I was fully aware, of course, that my (then) method of locomotion could not last. I held a job which entailed much walking, and after two years I was obliged to use a cripple chair for three months, for it transpired that the bones were diseased and is was only a question of time before what remained of my legs would be shortened.
when I again walked, it was with gadgets fitted to my boots to help my knees to bend as I walked. Even so, as I was continually moving to new districts, few people knew I was legless, thinking me to be merely lame. For business reasons I had to let them think so. Though many a time I was obliged to attend dances and parties while in pain.
If I tried to dodge dances, some bright young thing would be sure to single me out with the remark "You don't want your old stick! I help you about."
And off I had to stagger. If in great pain I told people it was just one of my "bad days."
Anyhow, about the beginning of last October I knew I was finished. I could scarcely move sometimes. My pride would not let me use crutches. The second week in the month I saw my doctor, I begged him to save my half limbs, but it was impossible. They had me in a nursing home, and a week later I was operated on. I stayed there until I could bear the artificial legs I'd had made and then, like the leopard, I changed my spots.
Of course my stumps being so tiny makes a normal artificial legs difficult to keep in position, so I had them fitted with hip boots. The top of each boot is lined and designed to reach to the hip and fasten by lacing around my body.
The chief drawback is that I have no knee joints, therefore having to walk stiff-legged with the aid of crutches. The crutches are absolutely necessary; I am quite helpless without outside support. Of course in my rooms I move about by hanging on to the furniture.
Like the heroine of "The Broken Bride," I find my legs awkward in public vehicles - they get in everybody's way. Incidentally, have to be lifted on to 'buses and trams by kindly conductors; but as I am new to my crippled state, I hope soon to be able to manage steps alone soon. My rooms are on the ground floor, so there a least I can "do" for myself!
I'd like to see some letters from the lady who is completely legless. I was glad to see her cheery letter. I am not unhappy about my own condition either, I have plenty of money, so why, should I hate life?
By the way, I think "Happy Though Crippled" is wrong about crippled girls. I, who have known many one-legged girls, found them as fond of pleasure as any normal girls. They didn't have to be restful!
I knew one who was quite legless, and who turned up at a fancy dress ball as "Ariel," supported by her friends and two white peg-legs. And she danced!
Trusting this latter will make others write. All success to "London Life"
Yours truly,
Sybarite.