West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-11-27
THE INDIANS
THANKSGIVING

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HHE intercss In Thanksgiving day
and lite Observance In Just a. In
N tense theec days among Me res
" ervation Indians a. In college
towns where great football
games are scheduled to occur. says tho
New York Times. Especially IL this
true In tho southwcst, where the In
dams have had an opportunity 20 be-
como thoroushly civilized OF late years.
The white people Ind no moro enjoy.
mcnt In this day OF universal good cheer
than do these same dusky redskins.
II II day OF fcasting. playing ana
gambling. with q big dance at night.
Such sport only comes once a year to
them nova lays. when they have had
to forsake the scaiping knife for tho
plow. Their Wild nature rcbelled nt
the Idea OF work. aud Il has been with
much difficulty that the gov eminent
ngents have made farmers out Of the
young braves A day OF rect and
amusement In considered good for their
better nature. aud the government au.
thorities arc willing TINT Thanksgiving
day shall become a fcstal time for the
reservation wards OF the nation.
The klowas and Comnnchcs, Who
have but recently been placed on al.
iotmcnts. will have forsnkcn many OF
their Wild plans OF Amusement this
Thanksgiving. owing to the fact that
they have been cut on the free list OF
beef issucs They have arranged 10
draw grass money on Thanksgiving,
and goodly portion OF this will bo
spent In purchasing food for grand
feast AZ night they viii take part
In green corn dance. at which pray
ers will be offered to the Great Spirit
for the gooi crops which they have had
the past scuson. The spirit Of thank
fulness pervadcs the Indian celebra.
tions.
husks. their capital city. All members
or the tribe are Invited to take part In
the Festivities. AZ the beginning and
end OF each meal-and there are many
the aged inissionary who HIVES among
them IL Invited Ia deliver = short pray.
er thanking the Great Spirit for the
good things which the agent has sent
to them. The food Is cooked by tho
squaws. and. while II could be pre-
pared In n much cleaner aud more
tasteful manner. the cooking IL an Inn
provcmcnt over that OF a few yenrs
gone.
The Apnchcs md Cheyenpcs are in
the habit ~ holding pony smoke.
Often the OYngrs indulge In this ex-
pensivc festival A pony smoke Il a
friendly meeting OF two tribes and 10
especially appropriate for the occasion.
The tribe giving the smoke Ia sup
posed 10 bear nil OF tho expenses. They
provide the best game and vegetables
In the market for their guests. and nt
the end OF the first days meeting they
present good pony to the head Of
each family visiting them. AS tribe
consists Of from 300 TO 300 families
the expenses soon mount high. The
Osnges being the richest reservation
Indians there are todny, can better al.
ford to hold pony smokes, and. com.
blned With their fenst day. they gen
orally Invite several hundred guests
from the Poncna Tonknwas and sur.
rounding tribes. Those accepting tho
ponies are supposed to return the gift
with equally expensive ones later on,
but few OF them can do so.
The Poncas hold every Thanksgiving
AS beef issue day. II tho agent does
not come forward and present them
with n herd OF cnttle for this occasion.
they mortgage their property and buy
cattle OF some ncigbboring ranchmen.
beef issue is the most typical of the
rcdslsin and also the most picturesque
OF Indian Thanksgiving celebrations
For years the government hns forbid.
den the Issue Of beef after tho manner
OF an old time issue. but on special
occasions they ure allowed the nmuse.
ncnt Of killing their own meat. II Is
said by the government officers who
succeeded in having the practice stop
ped that beef issue tends 10 make the
indian wilder and more difficult to
clyilize
hundred cattle are turned loose In
a large pasture. The young men OF the
tribe are mounted on mustangs and
have shining field guns. With the good
wishes OF ihe squaws aud medicine
men ringing In their enrs they ride out
10 XIII the cattle. The beasts have no
chance for life whatever. The chnso
Is accompanied by an undue amount
Of Wild yelling. while excitement grows
intense iB the camp. The smell OF fresh
blood makes the squaws wild. as it
were. After nll OF the cattle have been
shot down then the killers give n sig
nal which menus TINT oil OF the tribe
are at liberty to rush forth nnc secure
thrir portion A half beef is awarded
10 cach s1uaw. The beef is cleaned
I'D cooked on IRE OF the open plain,
,rliIle ti,r medicine men dance their ap-
proynl and the warriors sing IN their
glcc The fenst follows. with more
dancing. and the whole day is thus
spent. ending late nt night with finsi