larized in the States and in Europe, and a reigning "queen" of the day delivered a tearful eulogy, in which he described his intimacies with the departed Sheik as "divine communication with the Godhead."

At least one of Valentino's directors (Adolph Zukor) is quoted as having been unimpressed with his acting ability. But Rudy's fame as a "sex symbol of a tinsel age" did not rest essentially upon histrionic talent.

In fact, it seems that it wasn't even his intention to relnact the conquests of Don Juan; rather, his real motivation was toward the dashing hero in the romantic, sexless Troubador tradition. "But---" as Rodolpho Alfonzo Raphaelo Pierre Filibert Guglielmi di Valentino d'Antonguolla used to say to friends, we cannot always order our lives as we would like to have them." J. M. U.

Letters

The views expressed here are those of the writers. ONE's readers cover a wide range of geographical, economic, age, and educational status. This department aims to express this diversity.

Dear ONE:

The disconcerting thing to me is the blatant prevalence on the streets of the obvious, young painted bitches. They can do more harm in ten minutes than all of the publications can do good in months. It is so unfortunate, because their image is the one most people have of a homosexual, which is completely unfair. Like one or two apples spoiling an entire barrel.

In New York last summer, I was standing on the corner of 42nd St. and 8th Avenue. A fight was in progress, so I, along with a lot of other people, watched. A cop stood nearby and I asked him why he didn't stop it. His answer? "They are only a couple of fairies. They'll get tired pretty soon." And they did, and walked away arm in arm.

Dear Sirs:

Mr. W.

Iowa

I came across this passage in "The Spiritual Sayings of Kahlil Gibran," and thought you might use it:-

"When people abhor what they cannot understand, they are like those burning with fever, to whom the choicest food is unpalatable."

Mr. C.

Los Angeles, California

Dear ONE:

Frankly, I think you are the best homophile communication in the country, and I have read 'em all. But I think the direction of your efforts is misoriented. I suggest you get to the core of the difficulty. I would waste no time whatever trying to change hetero's opinions of homophiles.

Honestly, I don't give a good hoot what they think. Their thoughts can't hurt me; but their laws can. So, let's not dilute our efforts. Let's concentrate a massive effort against sodomy statutes, so I suggest this plan.

The sodomy statutes will speedily be repealed, if they become more of a nuisance to heteros than they are to homophiles. Why cannot ONE set up a school of instruction for investigators who would be trained in investigative methods? These "shock troops" would disperse, three to a State, to investigate, document and bring to Court irrefutable evidence of sodomy between politically and economically important men and their wives.

With such prosecutions in each State we can wipe out all sodomy statutes before 1969. It will cost a lot, but our wealthy friends can provide the money.

I realize, of course, the problems involved, among them the difficulties of securing evidence of heterosexual sodomy particularly between husband and wife.