Dear Sir, - As an old regular reader of "London Life", I have been delighted to read letters from your monopede (what a horrid word!) readers, as I myself have been one-legged since I was twelve; and I was especially interested in Miss Singleton's letter, and delightful sketches.
Her case is very similar to mine, for I have lost a leg at twelve after having had a crushed foot and leg in a bus crash. I was first on my back, then in a wheelchair, then on crutches, and then back on my back again, before they finally amputated my right leg - roughly four inches above the knee, leaving me with a slightly longer stump than Miss Singleton's.
Realising that I was to be "caged" between crutches for the whole of the rest of my life did not upset me much then as I was, as a cripple, somewhat spoiled by my parents, by my girl friends at school, and most particularly by a doting brother who carried me everywhere about the house in his arms before I had learned to take long, "fearless" strides on my crutches.
Miss Singleton has made the same neat job of her slacks as I have done, and I see she also has a job like myself.
There are some little points of interest which perhaps either Miss Singleton or any other young lady cripple who has a leg missing would like to hear and in some cases answer.
First, I have always found that my stump got so cold, unprotected beneath my open French knickers (only reaching about an inch below the crotch of the legs) that I have always worn a little woolly stump-sock and suspended this on to my belt (when younger) and now on to my corset.
Second. Do you think any of your one-legged lady readers can tell me how to stop light summery frocks and costume jackets from "bunching" and riding up with the use of under-arm crutches? I got myself a special pair of cleverly-designed elbow crutches with rings and no pads, but I find I cannot let go with both my hands both at once as I have no rest. Is there any other cure as I have had to go back to the under-arm ones?
Thirdly, is the wearing of slacks really "showing off my maimed state," as I have heard passers-by say? I have a grand boss, who lets me wear them in the office for greater ease and mobility.
Fourth point - introducing the special "Cripples' Etiquette," only applicable to us "one-legs." Is it distasteful to two-legged people if I "cross" my "legs" - that is to say, lay my stump remains of my leg across my right thigh? People stare at this, which is just one of my habits.
I am looking forward to an explanation/and/or advice from "Miss S.," "Margaret and Doris," "Dorree" or "C. D. B." and all the others.
Please help me.
I enclose three sketches, which I do hope will reproduce. One shows me in the office (I rest myself by wedging my stump in my crutch), one shows the design, roughly of my special "ring" elbow crutches, and the last shows how to go out to meet my boy friend.
He insists on my extremely long (for I am five feet nine inches in height), slim, black, under-arm French-type crutches, and hates my elbow ones nearly as much as he does the unsightly, unbalanced dragging limp of an artificial leg.
I can, of course, move faster on crutches, than on a metal leg, but I find it tiring to shop and carry parcels and get on and off buses, etc., on crutches. Besides which, my French crutches hurt under the arm after a while, and frighten me when they slip a little on wet pavements.
I am terrified of losing my left leg, as well, as I should never have the will-power of "Kay" to live after a second operation (I'm only twenty-three).
But I have perhaps bored you.
Would you like to hear more about me later - when I"m settled in my "evacuation" home - Mr. Editor?
Yours truly,
M. D.