Dear Sir, - I have at last found time to send you a letter again, and am so glad to note that at last we seem to have persuaded the limbless lady readers and their friends to enter the correspondence arena, and air their views and seek advice.
To these last my letter is chiefly directed, and if I can be of any help I shall be more than pleased.
The first advice I wish to deal with is the request from "Rex" some weeks ago, who stated that his wife wished to try wearing a peg-leg mainly to assist her in her household duties.
I realise only too well the nuisance that crutches can be whilst one is cooking, for instance, to name but one of the many duties of the housewife; and provided her doctor raises no objection, she should certainly try one. She will find on inquiry that the cost is reasonable and that it is no trouble to attach just a belt round the waist and a socket, usually of leather, with a soft rubber pad to fasten round the stump.
She will find that after a few hours' use in the house she will be able to dispense with her crutches and have both hands free. Incidentally, and by this I do not wish to offend or displease any other reader, I do not care to see a peg-leg worn out of doors; a pair of crutches look far smarter and give the user more graceful movements.
My second advice is to your correspondent who signs himself "A Mere Man". I should think that the girl who had the misfortune to fall must have been a novice in the use of crutches, or perhaps it was the first time she had tried the elbow variety.
Regarding the safety query, I think that armpit crutches are certainly more support, as the whole body rests on the crutch itself, and an experienced monopede can walk without her hands even touching her crutches by simply gripping them to her sides with the upper arm, and moving them forward with a twist of the body, leaving her hands free. This method is very useful on a staircase, for one hand can be left free to grip the handrail.
The great advantage of elbow crutches to a legless girl is the fact that the clothes are not disarranged. It will be readily appreciated that the armpit type can soon spoil the appearance of a smart frock, and even a big coat rucks up and pulls out very quickly, whereas with the elbow type the whole weight is carried on the forearm. This makes their use for a long walk rather tiring and a strain on the wrists, but there is no doubt that they add to one's appearance and are very light to use. I always use a pair for evening wear and when visiting a theatre and like occasions.
The snapshot of "Lover of Monopedes" is excellent, and I think it is the first one you have ever published of a monopede wearing a peg-leg. She is to be congratulated to be able to cycle. But is you correspondent quite correct when he says that she has never used crutches? Surely she had to for a short time at least before she could wear a wooden leg!
Without wishing to be hypercritical, I am wondering whether the photo published in your issue of September 4, with the letter signed "Another Monopede," is quite a genuine monopede, for it appears to me that the girl in the picture is sitting on her left leg. If I am in error, I offer sincere apologies; but will she send a photo of herself standing with her crutches?
Yours truly,
Single High Heel.