Dear Sir, _ You can perhaps imagine how complemented I felt when I saw my long letter put first in place amongst all the correspondence in the recent treble number.
I hope Miss Alvarez wasn't too offended. Goodness knows, I appreciate her articles enough, so long as she sticks to subjects whereon she is an undoubted authority. And - cheers! - not a single misprint from end to end, despite sundry unfamiliar words! "Chiton" and "chlamys" in particular are old stumbling blocks for printers, and a regular conspiracy exists among typewriter girls never to get either word right!
One of the topics that crops up unregularly in "London Life" is the probable outward aspect of that elusive creation of the imagination, the "typical London Life girl," should she ever materialise to wondering mortal eyes. I recall in particular "Dessurt's" fantastic vision in the February Treble Number, and recent portrayals by the correspondent who styles herself "Alone."
So here are two sketches of my on version of that much discussed and illustrated being. The ideal is not my own, remember - far from it - but that of a synthesis of "London Life" correspondents whose tastes I have tried to embody in the greatest possible variety.
Firstly, to suit my own taste and that of sundry other male readers, I have shown her as a monopede - not a flapper, but a well-developed girl in her late twenties. Her frock I have thought as of black satin with a scarlet belt and trimmings, but it might equally well be carried out in rubber, if so desired; and any two colours would do, if sufficiently contrasted.
The crescent and star ear ornament, earrings and pendant hint that the whole get-up might be made the basis of a fancy costume symbolising "Night," "Moonshine," or some such conception, and, of course, may be imagined as replaced by any similar pieces of jewellery - the larger and more barbaric the better.
The rimless eyeglasses I have added to please miss "Peggy Rimless" and her sisterhood. (The fashion is not one I greatly like, my own taste running to spectacles with appropriately coloured frames.)
I am afraid I entirely disagree with "S. S. M." and "Cowboy Scarf," who maintain that glasses spoil a girl's allure completely. They don't. Nine times out of ten they add to it - if intelligently chosen in the first place!
The waist I have shown as small and the heel as high as my conscious would allow; greater extreme in either direction I think would detract from the aesthetic appeal of the whole.
Then, between the two drawings, three small differences in detail will be noted. In the one where "Miss London Life" is shown as standing still, displaying her magnificent pigtails to an admirer you will notice that I have given her bare arms and barbaric bracelets and intend that her finger nails shall be imagined as long - though not as long, please, as "Helpless Helen's!" pointed and rightly tinted or gilded.
In the other she wears a patent Court shoe and a plain gold chain round her one ankle.
In the one where she is moving rather quickly, she has long black kid gloves - that I, personally think suit her better - and a high laced boot to match, with heel, etc., of the same colour as the belt.
Finally in the first drawing I have given her plain French crutches lacquered the colour of her frock or its accessories. In the second, a well-sprung black and gold pair, as would be the more suitable in view of her build and personality.
(Incidentally, I take it that "London Life Girl's" extravagantly corseted "Scarlet Runner" is to be thought as a vegetable rather than human. Otherwise, as she would obviously be totally unable to walk unaided she might advantageously be equipped with suitably designed crutches, whereon she could swing herself along with a sinuous grace entirely in keeping with the rest of her character!)
All the above, I repeat, represents not my ideal in the least (though I'll own I should be much thrilled to meet it in the flesh!), but my conception of an aggregate of other people's. Some day, perhaps, Mr. Editor, if you're not already sick and tired of the sight of my sprawly writing and amateurish drawings, I'll send you a sketch of my own ideal of the maturer "London Life" monopede.
Yours truly,
C. D. B.