The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.2, page 121, Apr. 1881, U. of Illinois Press

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APRIL · 1881 aids in giving them their first lessons in civilization. Having themselves been taken through the same cleansing process two years ago, they knew exactly what to do. The first thing was to bathe and relieve them of a portion of their hair. This was nicely done by three of the Sioux boys, who have made themselves experts in hair cutting. They were shown how to bathe and dress by a Sioux boy, who took great pride in his work. Each boy had to be shown how to sleep in a bed, some having never slept in a bed before in their lives. One of the Sioux boys was detailed to teach them how to take care of their rooms. When told that he was to be their teacher for a while, he went about his work with as much earnestness and delight as any teacher ever went into a class-room. First, he showed them how to air their rooms; then, taking them one by one, he showed them how to make up their beds; then, how to sweep and dust, and put everything in proper order; then, how to black their shoes. In fact, the Sioux boys taught them those lessons so well, that they had many of the newcomers blacking their shoes three times a day. Their Indian teacher went through these exercises with them for four or five mornings, and now they can make their beds look quite neat, and are beginning to take pride in their rooms. One of them, who is trying to keep himself very tidy, even sent his black necktie in to be washed after wearing it one week. To teach them the lesson of the tooth-brush, I formed them into a line, and gave them an object lesson in the art, until they understood what it meant. They were very much amused at my performances. It is pleasant to say that they did their first hour's work here, under the superintendence of a Sioux, who, a few months ago, was in their condition, but has so improved, that he can be trusted with many responsible duties. As far as possible, the new boys are put in rooms with the old boys for a while, that by mingling together, they may the sooner learn decency and order. To-day is Saturday, the day on which they scrub their rooms. George Bushotter, a Sioux boy, volunteered to show the new boys how to do their first scrubbing. When he had showed them how to move all the furniture and give the floor a good cleaning, everything was tastefully replaced and the room presented an appearance that would have made any one proud. Bushotter came to me and said, ''I show new boys how to clean room, they got nice room now, and now ~ take walk with them and show them saw mill and everything. I like to teach them all what I know.'' Taking two of the little