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Early Media Impressions of TGs

Footprints from the Past

Part V

By Andee W



Subscribers can review parts one, two, three, and four of the Footprints series.

If you've been following the Footprints series you know that these letters were written in the early twentieth century as 'letters to the editor' by readers of English periodical 'comic' magazines, which were really more like newspapers, with names like Photo Bits, Photo Fun, New Fun and Bits of Fun. The papers themselves were like the 'People' magazine of their day, reporting on celebrities goings and doings, with fiction, jokes, and parodies, although surprisingly there were not many pictures. This class of periodical existed alongside the other tabloids that did provide quite a racy photo peep show for the time. Discussions of fashion, corsetry, and 'tight-lacing' were sometimes responded to by crossdressing men, and some of these letters had fascinating transgender themes that I'm sure at least indirectly influenced later fantasy fiction.

Just after the Titanic disaster events in Europe rapidly began to transform the landscape, and soon the UK was being drawn into the Great War, where the efficiencies of the industrial age were applied to weapons of mass murder and suffering. Military tactics that 'worked' in prior campaigns did not work in the era of the machine gun,tank and trench warfare, and many who left England for the war never returned. Did the first letter's correspondent live to see a return to his homeland, or was this a final good-bye. This letter is from the magazine New Fun in November 1914.

"I am just writing this to say good-bye to you. I have always enjoyed your 'Correspondence' page very much indeed. I have been home on four days' leave, and am tomorrow rejoining my regiment and very soon proceeding to France. I have always been very fond of dressing in girls' things, and am indulging my desire for perhaps the last time. My cousin, who is exactly my own age, twenty-two, and who lives with us, is leaning over me as I write. Without her I should not have had half such a good time as I have. She buys all my things for me...I am completely dressed in girls' clothes as I write. We often go out together dressed as we are now when my people are out or away, and have had many adventures together."

Of course, many soldiers did survive to return to their families and former lives, changed profoundly by all they had seen. When I was a child I remember the stories that my great uncle told of that war, and in some ways, for a boy from the farm, France and 'Paree' were the most exciting adventure of his life, with the details of adversity omitted in the regal of triumph. However, none of his stories were quite like this letter. I try to imagine the doughboys on return, and an adventure that forever changed an outlook on life. I only guess the meaning of the term 'kink' used in this context. Is it a euphemism for gay, and expressing a preference for a transgender homosexual partner? Or is it a general fondness for crossdressing activities? One can only speculate what caused the last letter's scene to unfold. This letter is from Bits of Fun in the fall of 1918.

"But what I want to tell you is an experience that happened to me while on leave at a friend's house in town a short while ago. This friend said many times what a fine girl I would make, and said he was determined to see me as a girl, as he possessed the 'kink' and I had no desire to don girl's clothes. But on the first day I was made to dress as a girl, as I will soon show you. He has three sisters, one just my build, and on waking up I found to my horror that all my clothes had gone, and in their place was a full rigout of female attire, and silk stockings, and about six pairs of boots and shoes, and a wardrobe of dresses and costumes, and everything girls wear, and a note on the dressing table telling me to get the 'kink'.

There was a beautiful brown transformation, earrings, etc., but nothing masculine but myself. At first I did not like the idea, but there was nothing else to do but dress myself in the clothes I had, and after a struggle I got into the corsets, etc., and the silk underwear felt lovely after wearing khaki so long. I selected out of the wardrobe a lovely tight-fitting dress and high-laced boots, and looked at myself in the glass, and was amazed at the difference. Well, without wearying you further, I spent my leave as a girl, and wore evening dress at dinner, and had a splendid time, and I now possess the 'kink', and I suppose I will now all my life."

I hope you enjoyed this month's installment, and will continue to follow the series as we trace the path into the flapper-era.


Andee is married with two children and lives outside Washington DC.
You can send her email at AndeeW@aol.com.
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