Dear Sir - I was greatly interested in "Disciple's" letter (of whom, or what, by the by, does he claim to be a disciple) in your current number (March 1st). By the "back of Oxford Street" I presume he means the area between Oxford Street itself and Mortimer/Goodge Street, where, to my knowledge also, many monopedes and other physically handicapped girls are employed in gown and millinery workrooms, the offices of the big shops, etc., etc. There, like him, I have made sundry interesting contacts, though, as my visits to London of late years have been few and short, I think it unlikely that I have come across any of the several girls he describes so alluringly.
Some years ago I was standing at the corner of Rathbone Place waiting for a stream of traffic to pass into Oxford Street (it was before the days of "traffic lights") when I became aware of a charming little figure standing beside me - a young lady not much over 5 feet high, with "ginger" hair and the brightest, friendliest little face imaginable, resting on a pair of smart black crutches with red morocco-covered tops, and with a single shapely leg and "oxblood" stained high-heeled shoe visible under an extremely short skirt.
Noticing my obvious interest, she smiled, and asked me if I knew exactly where Torrington Square might be, as she was thither bound with a message. I replied that I was going very near that way myself, so we walked along talking "nineteen to the dozen," as if we had known each other for years! The young lady told me that she had lost her leg in a street accident three years before; was quite reconciled to doing without it, and was thoroughly at home on her crutches - so much so, in fact, that her agility caused her to be thought a marvel by all who knew her. And of that she gave me ocular demonstration when, crossing Tottenham Court Road, with its amount of fast traffic, she "speeded up" to a pace that I, an unusually fast walker, just couldn't quite keep up with, finding her awaiting me on the kerb the other side, several yards ahead! Arrived at her destination, we lingered and chatted for some time before parting, she telling me much about herself and her job; that her name was Dolly H -, and that she was still unattached. Unfortunately I forgot to ask her her address, and as it was the last day of my stay in London, Ihad no opportunity of seeking to renew her acquaintance for some time. Alas! I never saw her again. Though I have often since wandered about the area in question, and seen many an attractive sight and met more than one interesting monopede, yet never have I caught a glimpse of that particular little being of whom I retain so vivid a memory, nor met anyone who knew her, either by sight or name.
Yours truly,
C. D. B.