January 11, 1964, Saturday, TERRIBLE BUT WONDERFUL DAY

HELL NIGHT!!

Went to Vera Groom’s and worked in her backyard for two and a half hours (for torture.) But, was black tan when I came home.  Then I cleaned our backyard!  Uncle Charlie Lewis came over and helped me.  We did it in an hour.   Hell night was Hell.  We had to wear 50 articles of clothes.  We looked like the Fat Club. It was so funny.  First they cut off our long nails, which was really upsetting.  Then we sat in a big appliance box for an hour and a half in a dark room starving and couldn’t go to the bathroom.  Then one by one we stripped down to a bathing suit, counting each article backwards while standing on one foot.  Then the worst came.  We went outside while they put cold liver down my blouse and made me sit in the dirt while they poured oil, syrup, glue, flour, corn and vinegar in my long hair.  Then I had to eat horrible concoctions, like raw liver.  I laid on a bench while they put a squid, a fish and and a live sand crab on me.  I kept screaming.  I had 5 minutes to wash it out.  Ernie and Dave Kendal came over about 1:00 in the morning.  At last we went in for the last thing.  They chop you out,  (embarrass you, and make you feel bad) by telling you, you didn’t make it.  I started crying because they brought up Mayme (my grandmother who just died.)  And, I was so tired and weak.  We went in at last and got our diplomas.  Was so happy, everyone kissed each other, then ate an orange and white Saffron cake.  Went to bed at 4:00 am and everyone went right to sleep.

At last an official SAFFRON…..

Here are a few examples of what CHOPPING YOU OUT means.  Also we’d say What a Chop…

Sharrie Williams is author of The Maybelline Story, visit her blog at www.maybellinebook.com

Enjoy her interview with Glamourdaze at http://www.maybellinebook.com/2012/10/interview-with-glamourdaze-history-of.html