on our being constricted in corsets--something which to this day is very important to me. Of course we resent- ed this, but a few flicks with Madame's switch soon quieted us. Once arrayed, we were trained in social graces--the courtsy, the proper arrangement of hands and feet when seated or standing, arranging our skirts under us, lest we wrinkle them, learning to follow a partner rather than to lead, seating oneself gracefully rising properly etc. By the time the first dancing class came along, we were sufficiently trained for our parts. It was with timidation and misgivings that we minced into the gymnasium to be viewed by our chums.

Strangely, no onus was attached to our roles, there was no teasing or horseplay at any time. We were in much the same position as any boy taking a female role in a school play.

We all went to our seats and sat down tugging at our skirts lest we expose a bit of our lingerie and awaited events. The dancing teacher instructed our chums to select partners, who came forward, bowed grace- fully and invited us to be their partners. The strange- ness of our situation evaporated and soon we were en- tering into the spirit of the occasion, chatting gaily and thoroughly enjoying ourselves. That evening as we changed back into our ordinary school attire Madame ex- pressed herself as highly pleased with our conduct. I must confess that it thrilled me no end.

Unfortunately, that is as far as I was concerned, only First Formers (the youngest boys) took these roles, and I remember how envious I was of them the following year when I was denied the opportunity of wearing those lovely clothes. To this day I, for one, enjoy wearing "Little Girl's" fussy ensembles and sitting down to re- minisce on those days of long ago.

Yet I do not feel that my early environment was the basic cause of my Transvestic tensions. Rather it was as much a part of me as my arms and legs. I have known other boys whose doting mothers kept thim in petticoats as long as they dared, but in adult life have never ex- hibited Transvestic leanings. Transvestism is of the soul, not just the environment in which the child is raised.

by NANCY, N. H

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