Dear Sir, - I was very interested in a letter from "One-legged Wife-to-be" in your number of June 15. The correspondence on the subject of girls who have the misfortune to be monopede is naturally of interest to me, as I was condemned to spend the rest of my life on crutches when I had my left leg amputated 4 inches above the knee five years ago, when I was a schoolgirl of 16.
We used to wear short skirts then, and I remember I had special permission to wear a longer one than the rest, in order that my misfortune might be well hidden. Later I had an artificial leg made for me; but owing to the discomfort of wearing it (for I think artificial legs are very ugly, painful and difficult for a woman to wear) I gave it up after about six months.
The leg used to have very ugly and heavy leather straps and steel buckles fastened to a wide leather belt round my waist and to crossed "braces" over my shoulders, which were very uncomfortable besides being unwearable in evening dress, and so noticeable under tight fitting clothes.
When I went back to crutches I had four pairs made. One was brown wood and came up under my arms for general use. One was beautifully polished black enamel with a special small black rubber pad for my armpit for evening wear. One was the "ring" type elbow crutch, and the other the elbow crutch which clips above the elbow. The latter two are more difficult to manage and are not safe.
AS to dress, I still wear high-heeled Court shoes, smart, tight-fitting costumes (dresses, especially short, light, summer frocks, tend to ride up with the crutches and expose one's undies). And of course every one-legged girl need gloves. (We have our own "etiquette," you know!)
I also have a pair of blue trousers which I frequently wear at home and in my own town. The left leg is fastened up like those of men cripples, of course, and although it emphasises the loss of my leg, I find when I am fumbling in my purse in a shop I can let go of my crutches and ledge the remainder of my maimed leg just above the handle, leaving my two hands free.
I may mention that when I lost my leg I also broke my left arm in two places. As I was learning to walk on crutches for the first time, my useless arm was securely strapped to one crutch by four wide straps.
I am, incidentally, unmarried, 21 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches in height, with (I am told) a very shapely leg and a dainty foot; brown hair, blue eyes. I use make-up, go to the cinema and theatre a lot, and, most surprising of all, I go to dances.
With my artificial leg I am quite willing to bear the discomfort entailed in order to "go round a few times" with a young man.
Most of them ask why I am lame, and hardly believe me when I tell them that the left leg they see is only metal. One boy would not believe it, and so I went home and removed my leg and spent the rest of the evening on a quiet stroll on my crutches. He is now called up in the Army, but I think he will be my husband one day.
I'm so sorry to have bored you with all this, but I thought you might be interested. Good luck all of you one-legged girls. Let's hear some more from you!
Yours truly,
Peggy.