READERS RESPOND

"BECAUSE OF MY RECENT CHANGE OF ADDRESS | FIND THAT THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF THE LADDER HAS MISSED ME. WOULD YOU KINDLY SEND AN ADDITIONAL COPY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AS MISSED IT MUCHLY."

P.P., NEW YORK

"I NOTED A LETTER IN THE LADDER ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES OF MEETING OTHER SIMILARLY INCLINED SOULS. THIS IS A PROBLEM I HAVE FACED CONTINUALLY. THE FUNNY THING IS, THOSE WHO WANT TO MEET PEOPLE FOR PURPOSES OF MISCONDUCT GENERALLY SEEM TO HAVE NO TROUBLE; THOSE WHO JUST WANT COMPANIONSHIP WITH THOSE OF SIMILAR INTERESTS, AND ARE QUITE SCRUPULOUS ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR, NEVER MANAGE TO GET OUT OF THEIR SOLITUDE! MY OWN SUGGESTIONS (INADEQUATE THOUGH THEY MAY BE) ARE SIMPLY, TO SUCH LONELY SOULS,

"1. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN. (AND EARS.)

"2. BOOKSHOPS PROVIDE A FERTILE FIELD FOR STRIKING UP CONVERSATIONS WITH BROADMINDED PEOPLE INTERESTED IN A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS. TALK TO EVERYONE YOU MEET INSTEAD OF STANDING AROUND LIKE A CLAM. SOONER OR LATER, BY THE LAW OF AVERAGES, YOU'LL MEET SOMEONE WHO WILL EITHER OPEN THAT SUBJECT OR GIVE YOU AN OVERTURE TO DO SO, AND IT IS ALWAYS COMME IL FAUT TO OFFER THE TALKER A CUP OF COFFEE IN A NEARBY RESTAURANT TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.

"3. THERE ARE SO MANY NOVELS OF THE GAY WORLD AROUND THAT IT'S EASY TO BRING THE SUBJECT UP NATURALLY IN THE GUISE OF LITERARY DISCUSSION. THE REACTION YOU GET WILL TELL YOU IF YOU ARE TALKING TO A POTENTIAL FRIEND OR A POTENTIAL DANGER.

·

"THOSE OF US WHO EITHER LIVE BEYOND THE GAY-BAR CIRCLE OR WHO ARE TO MAKE A DREADFUL PUN DE-BARRED BY CIRCUMSTANCES OR NA TURAL DISINCLINATIONS TO DRINKING, HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN EXTREMES. THE MAIN THING TO REMEMBER IS: DESPITE NATURAL SHYNESS, THIS COUNTRY STILL ALLOWS FREE SPEECH, AND IT ISN'T TOO DIFFICULT TO TURN A

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