Dear Sir, - I am 28 years of age, and I have been a reader of "London Life" for ten years, the last eight of which have been as a one-legged girl, during which time I have hopped through life on my left leg with the aid of a single crutch, which means of support I prefer, as it always leaves one hand free.
My friends tell me I am a rather strikingly good-looking girl. I am a South American, having been born in Argentine. My skin is rich dark brown accentuated by my shingled, jet-black, sleek, glossy hair, which is added to by my lips being painted with a bright vermilion lipstick, which further enhanced the rich darkness of my complexion.
I have lived in England since quite a youngster, having lost my parents when I came down from school at the age of 18. I was left quite a nice adequate income, and I sold the house and invested in a car (I still own one), and have spent my time travelling rather extensively.
When I was twenty I became involved in an accident in which my right knee got badly smashed, which made it necessary to amputate my leg. I went into a nursing home for this purpose, and a few days later my leg was amputated well up the thigh, so that I cannot wear either an artificial or a peg leg even if I so desired, which happily I do not.
After the amputation of my leg I must admit I had rather serious misgivings as to my one-legged future; but when I eventually graduated to a single crutch I did not feel so helpless, and life seemed to become more enjoyable. I think any one-legged girl who can properly manipulate a single crutch has a much more graceful hop than those who use the stereotype two-crutch method. This, of course, is just my opinion.
As the months slipped past I got more and more satisfaction out of my one-legged condition, and now for some six year I have been happy to realise that I prefer one-leggedness. I must heartily agree with "One Leg" on this one-legged complex; and, after all, only those who are one-legged can have these ideas towards their greatly altered circumstances, caused by the amputation of a leg. I have simply stated that which I have personally experienced and prefer.
When I hop on my single crutch I derive a thrill of pleasure a the attraction my one-legged appearance always creates. Again some people might think, why should a one-legged girl wish to draw attention to her one-legged condition. My answer to that is: As I did not ask to lose my leg, I do not feel disposed in any way to try and camouflage my deficiency but, on the other hand, to dress in such a style as to make it appear perfectly palpable that I am quite unconcerned by the loss, and that I do not experience the slightest embarrassment.
I stayed on the South Coast of France for several months last year, and I shall never forget the wonderful scenery and the glorious swimming I was able to enjoy, in spite of my one-leggedness. I do not think it possible to experience a better feeling of exhilaration than to stand poised on one leg on the diving board, preparatory to taking a perfectly balanced header into the blue waters. The sun nearly turned my naturally dark skin quite black, and when I returned to this country, my friends hardly recognised me.
On my way back I stayed at Paris for a fortnight, and had a really hectic time. I went almost everywhere and saw all that it was possible to see. I was more than lucky in this respect, because the first night at my hotel I was in the lounge after dinner, enjoying a liqueur and a cigarette with my crutch propped against my chair, when a very handsome man about my own age came hopping into the hotel on a single crutch. As he was passing he, of course, could not help seeing that I was one-legged, and when he noticed my smile he stopped and spoke in perfect English, asking if he might partake of his liqueur at my table. Of course f was only too glad. He looked very smart and well-groomed in a fashionable dinner suit, his left trouser leg being cut to fit his amputated leg, the same as I have pyjama trousers cut.
He offered me his cigarette case, and I joined him in another aperitif. He told me that his leg had been amputated as the result of a wound about eighteen months previously. I learnt during the evening that he came from Spain. We went everywhere together and, needles to say, we created a little attraction by our mutual though opposite one-leggedness.
He saw me off at the boat at Le Havre, and has been over twice to England to see me; and the second visit we go married. After a lovely motoring honeymoon he had to go back again for six months to get matters cleared up, when we intend settling down in the country in England.
A few weeks ago I was shopping at one of the West End stores when, turning a corner in one of the departments, I collided with another one-legged girl. When we covered our equilibrium, our recognition was mutual. She was my chum at school, and was a one-legged girl then. We adjourned to the tea-room and, of course, I had to tell her all about my own one-legged experiences, and my marriage.
She invited me to her place until my husband's return, and I am now staying with her. It was a real piece of luck meeting Kit, because we happen to take the same size shoe; and having lost respectively our right and left legs, the shoe question is now solved.
I feel I cannot finish my letter without asking you to accept from a one-legged girl, who is really and honestly glad to be one-legged, her sincere and earnest wishes for the continued success of "London Life", bringing - as I am sure it does - so much pleasure to all your "Happy on One" readers, of which I am one of the most ardent.
I also offer my kindest regards to all one-legged girl readers, "One Leg," "Glad To Be So" and "One Legged Dorothy".
Yours truly,
Hoppy.