The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-16


 you go, too; it bolts, bucks, plunges
 You go back to your crutches and vov
 you'll use them for the rest of your life
 Then the testimonials recur to you, ant
 you think what others have done cal
 be done by you. In few hours you arr
 at 1t again, and the day does com
 when you can really walk with it. Yol
 venture out of doors and cultivate tht
 habit of cutting your acquaintance
 and staring at any one who has tho
 least sign of a limp, wondering if sht
 has one, where she got it. how much o 1 her own leg she has, how long before she learned to walk. Sometimes Il runs away with you.
 | I was walking down Madison avenue from Thirty fourth street, where there is slight incline. "It' got going at a Don't go so fast"
 Don't go so fast"
 T can't help myself" I answered She ran ahead and stopped me, or might be going yet.
 I had not mastered the intricacies of the keen joint, nor had I learned to seat myself gracefully when I ventured on the street car. I entered car and seated myself very carefully near the door. Two women opposite immediate ly began very confidential and ami mated conversation, and I knew they were trying to decide as to whether I had "one" Their doubts were set at rest, and mine as to their decision, for as I rose to leave, the car gave sud- den lurch I sat down again very ab- ruptly, and 'it!" Well, you might have thought was Thigh kicker" from the way it tried to reach the roof of the car. I wasted no time upon the order of my going, and as I left I heard a voice behind me murmur in a very au- dlble whisper: "She has"
 Fortunate indeed is the woman who wears an artificial leg If she possess sense of humor and philosophy I have never been so thankful for mine as since I became a remnant" Especially when one has to struggle for existence, humor and philosophy are fine antidotes to discouragement. I would advise any one seeking employment to take along a large reserve stock; she will find she needs all of it. However, the leg itself Is not as black as it Is painted, and you soon learn to appreciate 1t; but, like the bicycle, while it charges you noth- ing for transportation, it is In constant need of repairs. It may be necessary to send it to the leg-maker for day or two, and as it is only the wealthy who can afford two legs, you are dependent on your crutches and give it warm welcome when it returns.
 My leg was away for several days, and when it returned I was little out of practice. I was walking along Park avenue when an old woman with large bundle rolled up against me. T beg your pardon ma am" she said, and promptly lurched against me again. I walked on quickly, and in my hurry. walked rather unsteadily myself. She caught up with me. and, with know ing wink, remarked. 'I see you've been taking little yourself"
 I was going downtown early one The car was filled with husi- ness men. and only one woman besides mlself. l was thinking of my own af- fairs when I became conscious that all the men had dropped their papers and were gazing at the other woman. She was reading, and. in an absent-minded way, running long hat pin through her leg above her knee, I realized at once that she also had "one" and was the pin through the ventilators of her artificial leg But what did they think?
 Last winter I was in crowded Eighth avenue car. There was space of about six inches at one side of me, ,,rhpr nd laughter came In the daughter insisted on mother" sitting down by me, say ng: 'There is plenty of room" She l lad probably been brought up In New | York Mother" looked at me, then at | he six inches, then measured her own | capacity, and sat down-on my artifi- | ,ial leg. She came down pretty hard, | put ''it' was equal to the occasion. I | lever felt it; but "mother" She | bounded up, glared at me, and fled to he other end of the car while I patted ] It. and put to It's credit that once nore it had saved me-llfe and limb.
 The one and only advertisement I yer answered was for the position of fice nurse in doctors house. I sent n my card, on which were the names
  urgeons as reference. The doctor who me (his wife, gorgeously rrayed, came In and inspected me rom all points of vantage and disad- threw out his hands, palms pward, and said: What. this your ard with all these fine references and ou walk lame" Then I realized what n awful crime I was committing by good references with wood- n leg, and he did not know I wore one. These are some of the amusing hings which have happened to me nce ] made the acquaintance of "it," nd this Is the side on which we smile here is another and far different side; ut why discuss that? Most people ave troubles of their own, and there re few who care to hear the troubles ? others. Life is not all beer and skit- es for any one.
 can only say I have found out all le disadvantages of wearing an artifi- al leg and I am still looking for some 1e who has no prejudice against em owing as private secretary or for oth- clerical work woman who wears an 'tlflcial limb. I can assure any such ,rson positively that I do not write lth my toes, nor is my brain worked
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