Letters

Dear ONE:

I wish someone in this country would do as much for us as you are doing for us in America. I have a friend my age (31). We have been together for over 10 years. We have just bought a very nice bungalow and are now saving up to buy carpets and furniture. I have a large collection of long-playing records and have photographed all the covers and made a catalogue of my records in pictures. My other hobby is collecting miniature bottles of spirits, such as whiskey and rum. I have over 500, all full, and all different. Hope you don't mind. my writing to you like this. I feel if I can help. you get more subscriptions from England it will help us as well as you and that I am doing some little thing to help our cause.

Mr. P.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND

Dear ONE:

My mother and father, like the parents of so many homosexuals, have rejected me. I wish that parents could realize that you as a homosexual are not a discredit to them. I grew up in a small family holding my parents in affectionate regard. They taught me how to love people and to trust them. This must be learned early, if it is to be deep enough to flower into wholesome maturity. As I encountered the world I learned how to understand impatience, unkindness, lack of integrity, cruelty, etc.

Learning to love is the most important skill and art, and it might well be described as just that-it is art, and it is habit. We cultivate the capacity to love through sympathetic understanding of life. When we understand this we no longer take misunderstandings personally. If we love others, sincerely love, without thought of self-fulfillment, we cannot help but bring them silently into the same harmonious orbit with ourselves. If we try to force others, we automatically set up obstructions to our aims.

Example is eloquent. Just be yourself. Only in giving to others can you still the fever of self-expression. Don't burn yourselves out emotionally fretting about what others may think of you, I would say. As you learn about yourself a growing sense of self-mastery replaces insecurity, and you will not care a fig about the judgment of others. People won't really bother you any more. Love is sufficient unto itself. With it, you hit the jackpot every time. But, never tilt the machine! If you do you go against the inviolable laws of human nature. Without love, and the ability to love we live only half a life.

Mr. S.

ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA

Gentlemen:

I think you are to be commended in publishing the barbs as well as the bouquets which are thrown at you. It seems to me that some of my brethren are taking a short-range instead of a long-range view of the work you are doing.

Dear Sir:

Mr. P.

MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA

May I congratulate you people on the work you are doing. Truly you are fighting a hard bitter battle to support our cause. Slowly, but surely, you will win that battle. As the old adage goes, "The slow way is the sure way.' Mr. K. BRONX, N. Y.

Dear ONE:

Enjoyed the story "Harry" by Konrad (April, 1958). Your handsome young author tells a touching parable simply and welland his translator is due a vote of thanks.

Does ONE know anyone qualified to speak on the homosexual's status in the income tax question? I'm certain that such a discussion would interest your readers.

Dear Mr. Slater:

Mr. I. DALLAS, TEXAS

Diana Sterling's "Art on Saturday Night" (April, 1958) is a gem, and I've fallen in love with the remarkable drawing on the cover, by Mario de Graaf. I was disappointed in Frank Golovitz's article, "The Single Homosexual." It makes no point. Since my "marriage" (there must be some better word for it) I have accomplished more than I dreamed I could. This may sound terribly corny, but often the corny things are truth, but often my companion not only checks my rash impatience and "dresses me