The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.2, page 112, Mar. 1881, U. of Illinois Press

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The BOOKER T. WAS HINGTON Papers are accustomed to keep both body and head buried beneath heavy shawls on all occasions and in all places, are beginning to leave them off more frequently. A few mornings ago, a girl came in the class with her straw] all drawn up round her head. One or two of the girls began at once to motion and pull at her. She soon dropped it from her head. One of the girls seeing that I had been noticing what was going on, said, ''Indian girls at Mr. H's school wear shawls on their heads, but Hampton girls not do it.'' Suspecting that they had been recently lectured on the subject, I replied, ''I am glad they know better.'' Several times in the same class a girl would unconsciously gather her shawl about her head, but a mere nod or look from the others was enough to make it drop. I think a reform in this matter has begun. One unaccustomed to deal with the Indians would be surprised at the large amount of clothes required for them the first one or two years after taking off the blanket. To say that the boys are hard on clothes is to put it too mildly. The first two years they found many strange uses for their bed clothing. Blankets would be cut up and decorated for fancy pants, sheets would be turned into strings to serve their many purposes and even now if a boy is in need of them he will not hesitate to use his coat linings. Whatever is new must be worn in preference to any thing else. If a boy has a new summer suit, it is hard to make him understand why he should not wear it in February. They think they ought to be permitted to wear a new pair of cotton overalls to the exclusion of the woollen pants, for a few days, till the novelty of them is gone. The following is about the average of the principal garments needed for a boy for the first two years: 8 outside coats, 9 prs. pants, ~ overcoats, lo prs. shoes, ~ ~ outside shirts, ~4 prs. socks, g neckties, 6 prs. suspenders, 8 hats or caps. WISE DOINGS OF THE BOYS The quietness of the girls' sewing school was somewhat disturbed a few days ago by the appearance of little Kawhat at the door. When asked what he wanted, the reply was, ''I want sew.'' As much as the girls laughed, they could not shame him out of his object. The teacher gave a needle and thread and a garment to him. He sat down and worked on it the remainder of the afternoon. When he was done, the girls themselves could but pronounce it well done. ~ ~ 2