RANSVESTIA

Still on the lines of guilt feelings about pampering the body I can think of all the times I have accused women of overdoing it, especially in view of all the poor people in the world who can hardly afford to buy bread. I must admit that still at times I feel badly at spending a lot on myself, but I believe that in the modern world there is no reason we should not pamper our bodies without feeling guilty. We need to look our best, getting enough sleep and exercise, keeping away from too much liquor and in the process managing to stay so healthy that we won't need hospitalization or medication. In that case our cosmetics will be our medicine. It may really be a question of all of us living the life that suits us, free from guilt feelings or criticism.

What else can I say about the history of my feelings about accepting my weakness for the nice things of life, nice feelings, comfort, love for those who show me tenderness. It's just as well the barbarians didn't prevail after all. They had us men on the ropes, afraid to be nice looking, afraid to be comfortable, feeling it a weakness to need to be helped. Something made us feel it all right to pamper some women. A hundred years ago perhaps it was only one percent of the population that could indulge their bodies. Most rich women and a few daring rich men. Now its possible for most women and for a lot of men. It's a question of whether we really want it. If we do we can have it. I am not out of the woods yet. My profession is not highly paid enough and I am not free enough of other people's expec- tations, but the strength of the woman is her ability to acknowledge her weakness. Since God has always been presented as a male figure it's usually men, not women who go into futile competition with God. Women are stronger because they are more realistic and can more easily look for help.

YOUR WIFE IS RIGHT, SIR. THE SKIRT AND BLOUSE IS MUCH MORE PRACTICAL FOR

DAILY OFFICE WEAR.

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