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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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social hall, but that was the way they had it.

I said to myself, “How in the world are they going to manage this? This is terrible. No ramps will do here.”

They had fixed up something or other and anyhow we all got in. I seem to remember being with Frank knox as we went up the steps. Of course, we all marched in as sober as owls. The day was incredibly hot. It was one of these days when you stand perfectly still in the shade and perspiration pours down from your forehead right down. Even though I had on a lightweight straw hat perspiration originated on the scalp under the hat and poured down. I was conscious of the fact that my hair was as wet as though I had been in swimming. Under your stockings you were conscious of the perspiration pouring down into your shoes. It was the wettest kind of a hot day. Not only was the temperature bad, but there was very high humidity that we were facing.

I remember saying to some body, “Is this unusual?”

They said, “No, this is regular weather in this part of Alabama.”

So we filed into the church sober as owls, looking very solemn, with the gentlemen with their hats over their hearts, and ladies with their hands folded discreetly





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