Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/297

 NOTES AND ABSTRACTS 283

by individuals, the attitude of the community follows as a natural consequence, and it is plain that in implanting a right habit and attitude of mind in each colored boy Mr. Washington always sees, beyond the black face, the family and community upon which that face will shine, and which will be directly and indirectly influenced by the habit and attitude. I think he has definitely in mind every instant the purpose to make each Tuskegee student the apostle of civilization to his people, and the personal traits and accomplishments of each apostle are means, not ends.

How does he deal with them when they arrive, often, if not always, from the " broken-down, leaky log-cabin," having the most intimate acquaintance with " pov- erty and filth," and absolutely no acquaintance with cleanliness and thrift ?

Of course, a thousand means arc found ; a few will suggest the general method. Every pupil who applies for admission to the institution is compelled to provide himself with a night-shirt and a tooth-brush. A few people may at first think that this is neither startling nor strange, but it would require no extended investigation in any agricultural or urban community, white or black, to learn that the number of those articles in daily use are by no means equal to the population, and that perhaps no other garments or toilet articles equally represent the steps above "mere exist- ence" toward "living." At any rate, the rigid enforcement of this rule has made the task of further instruction in personal cleanliness and thrift much easier.

The chapel assembly on Sunday mornings is conducted on the usual religious lines sabbath school and sermon by the chaplain. But unless some visitor from a distance gives the Sunday evening address, or other interference occurs, Mr. Wash- ington takes the opportunity of the evening assembly to give practical talks on what may properly be called "personal civilization " rather than etiquette. The reasons why the night-shirt and tooth-brush mean so much more than personal cleanliness ; the reflex effect of the possession of articles of comfort and luxury; the moral and practical effects of neatness, cleanliness, and thrift ; and other questions of similar order, are discussed. By taking up with individuals such subjects, Mr. Washington has an opportunity of actually accomplishing for the thousands of colored families represented in the school what is touched upon in a detached manner in various parts of the world by college settlements and benevolent associations. Rigid inspec- tion of students' rooms and persons assures the adoption of the advice given on Sunday evenmgs.

Every Sunday morning, before church, all the male students are drawn up in line for inspection, under command of the officer in charge of military drill. The writer was asked, in company with two gentlemen from Boston who were also visit- ing, to follow the chief officer in the inspection. This inspection was conducted in a combined military and friendly spirit. The commandant, passing slowly along the lines, looked at each individual minutely from cap to shoes. No grease spot or mud spot, loose button, cut or tear, or soiled linen, escaped his eye. No one may appear in anything but his best at this time. " Have you a better coat than that ?" "Yes, sir." " Go and put it on." " Where is the button that belongs there ? " "Have you no soap and water ?" " How came that spot ? " " How did you tear that ? " " Have you no needle and thread?" "Where is your brush?" etc., etc. These and similar questions and answers were heard repeatedly. Several times in reply to, " Have you no better coat or cap than this ?" there was the answer, "No, sir." Then I heard no sharp order given, but saw instead a friendly pat on the shoulder, or sympathetic look as the officer passed to the next. Poverty was a pity, but dirt a disgrace. Temporary excuse for the one, but perpetual shame for the other.

This style of training, in connection with books and handicrafts, for one, two, three, or four years, is morally certain to fix habits of cleanliness and thrift. That this is the effect already, and is likely to be to a greater extent in the future, is seen in the influence of Tuskegee graduates on the poor and ignorant communities where many of them have gone to live. Each graduate is urged and led by material inducements in the way of prize loans to own his own residence wherever he may locate. The example of a neatly painted and plastered cottage, occupied by a self- respecting, industrious, well-dressed member of his own race, is of more value to the colored people in rural communities than the weekly visit and sermon of the colored pastor, however learned he may be in Hebrew and Greek exegesis.