Written by an unnamed author in 1964 for an all-Beatle magazine.

Before you can understand the circumstances surrounding the marriage of Cynthia and John Lennon, you must understand the circumstances surrounding any celebrity marriage. Then you will know why Beatle John says: "I refuse to expose Cynthia to the public eye." And why she prefers to stay in the background with her mother and baby son, John, Jr.

Being a celebrity means fans by the hundreds and thousands are curious about you. They want to know what you read before going to sleep at night and what you think about the results of the last election. Then, when they know all that, they want to know why you're not married if you're not - or, if you are, why you are and just exactly what it's like.

Most people in the public eye understand this and are grateful for it. After all, where would a star be if it weren't for his adoring followers? Most celebrities are quite cooperative with the press, granting interviews and allowing photographers to take pictures of them, of their homes and their families. Of course there are some stars, like Marlon Brando and Shirley MacLaine, who will gladly grant an interview and talk and talk and talk - about anything but their private lives.

Think about it - when was the last time these stars gave an interview and discussed anything personal? Yet you know a great deal about them. Strange? Not at all. The answer is simple - there're usually people close to a celebrity who will be more than happy to talk on at great length about their famous "friend."

Perhaps that isn't true friendship, perhaps it isn't very sporting, but, realistically, talking to "friends" has been a very effective method of getting stories on the private lives of those stars who don't like to talk about themselves to the press.

As a matter of fact, there's hardly a celebrity or any aspect of a celebrity's private life that cannot be uncovered through hunting down a "friend."

Hardly. But there is one - Beatle John Lennon's marriage!

John just won't talk about it. Cynthia won't talk about it either. In fact, no one will talk about it. There hasn't been one break in the ranks of Beatle friends or photographers or publicists or hangers-on or anyone who will talk about it. Certainly the other Beatles are mum from the word go. When asked about their Boss Beatle's marriage, Paul, Ringo and George didn't have much to say on the subject.

George politely said he had an important phone call to make and excused himself from the room - in a great hurry!

Paul said, "It's his marriage, why ask me about it?"

Ringo, the sly comic of the group, replied, deadpan, "Oh, is John married? I didn't know."

This situation has caused much frustration not only for John's fans, but for the countless reporters and magazine writers who would practically give the exclamation point from their favorite typewriter just to be granted a single interview - or to meet just one friend who will be somewhat cooperative.

Despite the fact that he won't really talk about his marriage, John has made no secret of the fact that he considers himself a lucky man to have a girl as understanding as Cynthia for his wife.

And as for John, Jr., he dotes on his cute little boy.

In fact, one of the very few times that Cynthia did speak to a reporter she said, "John brings a little present for our baby every time he comes home from a tour." And about John, Jr. she said, with a mother's pride, "He's just wonderful, and he'll soon be walking you know."

And when she was asked what it was like being married to a Beatle, she said, "Just great, I've no regrets about it. I know what people have been saying about me, but it's all untrue. I've no wish to become part of the group in any way. I'm perfectly happy with both my Johns just exactly the way they are. I don't want to change a thing."

The rumors that have painted a picture of a dejected Cynthia, who's kept well out of the spotlight, are cruel and unfair. Especially since, from what little John and Cynthia have said, it appears that they have a fine marriage - and an understanding mature beyond their years. They have a right to live their lives the way they wish. After all, it's their marriage, isn't it!