READERS

RESPOND

"OFTIMES I HAVE BEEN UNKINDLY CRITICAL OF THE LITERARY MERITS OF THE LADDER. I HAVE SNEERED AT ITS PUERILE FANTASIES IN FICTION, ITS INNOCUOUS COMMENTARY GENERALLY, AND PARTICULARLY THAT PERIODIC LETTER WHICH READS:

'DEAR EDITOR,

I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED YOUR LITTLE MAGAZINE. I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL

THAT THERE IS SUCH A MAGAZINE

BEING PUBLISHED JUST FOR US.'

I HAVE SPENT MUCH TIME TRYING TO CONVINCE FRIENDS THAT THESE LETTERS ARE GENUINE AS IT IS MY BELIEF THAT WERE THEY CREATED BY YOUR EDITORS PURELY TO FILL SPACE, CONSIDERABLY MORE INGENUITY AND VARIATION WOULD BE SHOWN. HAVING THUS COMMITTED MYSELF TO THE DEFENSE OF THE LADDER, IT WAS BUT A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I FOUND MYSELF SEARCHING THE PUBLICATIONS OF OUR SISTERS OVERSEAS. AS DR. ELLIS HAS OBSERVED, 'WE' ARE VERY UNCREATIVE; BUT I COMPENSATE WITH A RARE TALENT FOR PLAGIARISM. HOWEVER, I MUST REGRETFULLY REPORT I FOUND NOTHING IN THOSE FOREIGN PAGES WHICH REQUIRED 'TRANSLATION'. IN FACT THERE WAS ONE LETTER WITH A QUITE FAMILIAR RING. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL GERMAN | IT READ:

IDEAR EDITOR,

I HAVE JUST DISCROWRED YOUR LITTLE MAGAZINE. I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL

THAT THERE IS SUCH A MAGAZINE

BEING PUBLISHED JUST FOR US.'"'

M.E. NEW YORK, N. Y.

"DURING A CONVERSATION MY ROOMMATE HAD WITH A NEGRO WOMAN FRIEND THE OTHER DAY, AN IDEA WAS PUT FORTH WHICH MIGHT BE APPLICABLE TO THE LESBIAN'S PROBLEM OF SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE. THIS WOMAN WAS AND IS VERY ANGRY OVER THE USE OF THE TERMS INTEGRATION AND SEGREGATION. SHE FEELS THAT NEGROES FOR THE MOST PART REALLY WANT ABSOLUTELY EQUAL

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