The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-20
NEGROES BECOME WHITE.
And Their Kilky Hair is Also Straight
eled Out.
An Actual Description Of the Pro-
cesses by Which These Wonders
Are Brought About.

girl, who had been arrested, excited such
attention in court that the judge asked
her what was the matter with her face.
Her reply was that a colored woman
was bleaching her white for S. Even
Frederick Douglass cannot do this for his
race.
The woman who processes to be able to
accomplish such a phenomenon is a re
markably fine looking colored woman of
very fair complexion, which she says has
been bleached to its present state from a
very dark one Another unusual feature
of her appearance is that her hair is
straight and glossy like that of an Indian
This she also attributes to another secret
which she possesses. The condition of
her hair, she says, is the result of treat
ment which she gives to straighten col
ored peoples hair.
When seen att her residence, a hand
sOmely furnished brown stone house in
what is considered the fashionable col
ored quarter, the intelligent and plaus-
ible explanation of her profession, while
1t did not convince, certainly had the re-
suit of mystifying me- u
''Do you really make colored girls fair2''
asked
Without the slightest negro accent she
replied:
Il have bleached my own face to the
color you see it. ] originally was of
very dark complexion. l can bleach my
self perfectly white if continue, but l
do not wish to do so, as colored people
would not have the same confidence in
me-"
But how is such a thing possiblea" 1
asked, doubtfully.
cit is not so incomprehensible as you
suppose. In the first place only the out
side cuticle of negro is black. If this
scarf skin, as call it, is removed, the
surface beneath is quite fair, and when
properly healed is as soft and tender as a
child's skin"
"But how can you remove it," 1 asked
curiously.
BY a preparation which used to loosen
1T. l expect patient here to-day for her
first treatment. If you will wait and
care to see it, l shall be glad to show
you"
AS she finished speaking the bell rang
and bright looking colored girl entered.
After few words of explanation, the girl
willingly assented to my request to see
the operation. Leading the way into the
back parlor, which is her Office, the doc
tor" as she called herself apologized for
the remnants of cold lunch spread out
on table, which I evidently had inter-
rupted. After telling the girl to remove
her hat and waist the doctor hustled
about getting things in readiness.
First she wheeled large chair before
window. Then giving the girl a sack
to put on, such as are provided by BARRIERS
for their women customers, she told her
to be seated. A basin of hot water was
next in order, and with sponge the doc
tor carefully washed the girls face. Then
she Softened the skin by gentle massage,
her hands being moistened with cocoa
butter.
A ~ = l, E..
application. This consisted of smearing
a thick grayish mixture all over the face.
This was to remain on fifteen minutes.
After few min utes the girl showed signs
of uneaSinesS and complained that it
burned The doctor assured the girl
that all burning would pass away in few
minutes.
"And what does that do7" 1 asked.
"The first application is simply
preparation for the treatment which fol-
lows. In ordinary cases it only takes a
week to bleach face This case, pinch
ing the girls cheek may be an obstinate
one, as the cuticle is very thick. When
she leaves to-day will give her some
thing to put on her face tonight But to-
morrow her face will be very irritated.
not painful, but itching. Tomorrow and
every day until the treatment is over, she
will come for another application which
will be just like this, only as the face
grows accustomed to the preparation l
shall increase its strength BY the third
day her face will begin to peel, something
like bad case of sunburn, only much
worse. She must not be tempted to pull
this skin off, as it must remain until it be-
comes thoroughly loosened. If the case
is successful and not obstinate by the fifth
or sixth day, her face will be quite ready
for me to remove the outside cuticle or
scarf skin. This is done by moistening
with oils and rubbing off gently with the
hand. The thickness of this cuticle is
about the same as the skin of a bologna
sausage, nor is it unlike in color
After this is removed the face is fire.
quently red and very sensitive, looking
much like that of a new born baby Two
or three more days of a soothing treat
ment, avoiding all chance of catching cold,
leaves the flesh firm, tender and many
shades fairer than before BY repeating
this operation frequently can bleach any
face as fair as please"
The fifteen minutes were up. The doc
tor carefully wiped off the mixture with
a soft linen cloth. Then she bathed the
face again with oils, which she rubbed
thoroughly into the skin, finishing with a
cooling dash of rice powder.
Where did you ever hear of such a
thing2'' l asked incredulously
81 had friend few years ago with a
hideous birthmaFk. She had the recipe
for this preparation, which she used TO
bleach the scar when it became very con-
spicuous l bought it from her, and tried
it first on my own face. AS there is posi-
lively nothing Injurious about it l did not
hesitate to use it on others
The girl here interrupted the doctor by
telling her that she wanted her hair
Strengthened also. Congratulating N.Y.
self upon my good forttue, prepared my
self to see the remainder of this unusual
performance.
The doctor unbound the girls tightly
braided hair, remarking as she did so
that colOred women suffered much an
noyance from having kinky hair. Having
combed out all the snarls-and they were
plenty-a lather made of white mixture
about the consistency of paste was
rubbed thoroughly through the hair and
in the scalp.
Then the head was covered over with
an oilskin cap and the girl informed that
she must remain with her head in that
condition for half an hour After wash
ing her hands the doctor sat down to
wait.
Il never knew there was any way to
straighten colored peoples hair" re-
marked.
"There are seven" she replied 'The
old fashioned way was to plaster it straight
with pomade. But as the pomade soon
became rancid this was very uncleanly.
Another way is to iron it straight. but
just as soon as the person becomes warm
- IL l. A.