earlier and disastrously short-lived Chicago attempt) was quite unknown to the group.

Every page and every paragraph had to be won by chopping through a veritable jungle of questions. Such as: should the magazine attempt to be learned and scholarly? or should it be popular and down-to-earth? should it have an arty-avante garde air? or should it be comfortably "corny"? Perhaps it should strive to be all things to all men. It was with such problems that the entirely inexperienced and amateur staff struggled.

There were times when it all looked pretty hopeless. For example: such checks as were received could not be cashed. Why? Because (as was entirely proper) they were made out to ONE, Incorporated. The people at the banks always wanted to see the papers of incorporation giving authorization for handling of funds, yet the attorney seemed exasperatingly deliberate in completing the papers. But of course those who are not paying anything, or very little, for services had best learn to be patient.

It was quite natural that business firms were reluctant to furnish materials and do work without being paid, especially for so questionable an enterprise as a publication devoted to the subject of homosexuality. But with some pretty fast talking and the rapid manouevering of such cash as did come in, at long last the printed pages came from the press. They were sorted and assembled evenings after work-day hours, then stapled by hand. Did you ever try stapling one thousand copies of twenty-four pages, plus cover? A little rough on the wrists and hands. So some of the copies were a bit askew. Then they were trimmed, by muscle-power, and lots needed to man the long-bladed cutting knife. Despite flaws the copies looked wonderful to the staff. Their child might look scrawny or ugly to others but to the fond parents nothing more beautiful had ever been seen.

The sober gray cover of Volume 1, Number 1 bore a simple formal design and some modest lettering in purple ink. There was an index page, followed by one of announcements. Then a "Letter to You," from the editors, stated that ONE was "dedicated to the service of humanity. Its hopes are high. Its plans are big . . ." The leading article was a translation of some lofty platitudes from the German homofile magazine "Die Insel," chosen to establish the fact that ONE Magazine was no isolated American aberration, but instead part of a vast up-welling movement found all over the civilized world.

A poem, "Proud and Unashamed," by Helen Ito, gave evidence that women's interests were a part of ONE's program from the beginning. There was a scholarly article on law, written by an attorney, book reviews, ads, letters, and news-such news as most publications choose either to ignore or to handle in a grossly slanted fashion. So, at long last ONE Magazine was out.

It was out, and its general tone had been set. Now, for the first time, homosexual Americans found they had a voice of their own, a forum for discussion of their problems, and a champion to protect their rights guaranteed as citizens by the Constitution of the United States.

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