into subterfugitive triviality and futility; at worst (and this is often with the best who cannot endure deceit and frustration) to defiance or to despair, to desperate revolt or madness or suicide. Hence our prisons and hospitals carry a load of unique and essential value, key parts for our broken down social machine. And we treat these key parts

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with a fatal contempt or a fanatic's ignorant loathing, worse than that of a savage toward an ore, an essence or an instrument, capable of giving him health and wealth, capable of saving his tribe from collapse and ruin, but which he is too stubbornly, too superstitiously prejudiced and cravenly cruel to attempt to understand.

Now weeps the comedian sun Dismayed by your gypsy smile, And chameleon skies

Turn grey.

Too, sobs the clowning stars Sorrowed by your roving kiss, And sparkling nights

No more.

And tears from the puppet clouds Complain of your wandering eyes, And chill their drops

To snow.

So cries my laughing heart

A sad despondent thing, As all my world Collapses.

D. B. Vest

-Curt Opliger

The officers of the Mattachine Society have conferred upon ONE magazine an honorary membership award for its fine contributions to the aims and purpuses for which the Mattachine Society was formed. "We hold your magazine in high esteem for its fine publication, its courageous articles and frank expression on one of the most controversial subjects today." The award will be presented at the General Convention banquet, 15 November 1953 in Los Angeles.

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