The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

while it could be prepared in a much cleaner and more tasteful manner. the cooking Is an improvement over that | of few years ago.
 The Apaches and Cheyennes are in the habit of holding pony smoke; often the Osages indulge in this expensive festi fal. A pony smoke Is a friendly meeting of two tribes and is especially appropri- ate for the occasion. The tribe giving the smoke is supposed to bear all the ex- penses. They provide the best game and vegetables in the market for their guests. and at the end of the first day s meeting they present a good pony to the head of each family visiting them. As tribe consists of from three hundred to five hundred families, the expenses soon amount high. The Osages, being the richest reservation Indians there are to- day, can better afford to hold pony smokes, and, combined with their feast day, they generally invite several hun- dred guests from the Poncas. Tonkawas and surrounding tribes. Those accepting the ponies are supposed to return the on. but few of them are in the position so to do.
 The Poncas hold every Thanksgiving as beef issue day. If the agent does not come forward and present them with a herd of cattle for this occasion they mort gage their property and buy cattle of some neighboring ranchman. A beef is- sue is the most typical of the redskin, and also the most picturesque of Indian Thanksgiving celebrations. For many years the Gocernment has forbidden the issue of beef after the manner of an old- time issue, but on especial occasions they are allowed the amusement of killing their own meat. It is said by the Gov ernment officers who succeeded in having fha affaad ufn ThoN ao( tend to make the Indian wilder and more difficult to civilize 4pa
 A hundred cattle arc 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 the squaws and medicine men ringing in their ears they ride out to kill the cattle. The beasts have no chance for life whatever. The chase is accompanied by an undue amount of wild yelling. while excitement grows intense in the camp. The smell of fresh blood makes the squaws wild, as 1t were. After all the cattle have been shot down, then the killers give a signal which means that all of the tribe are at liberty to rush forth and secure their portion. A half beef is awarded to each squaw. The beef is cooked on fire on the open plain, while the medicine men dance their ap- proval and the warriors sing fin their glee. The feast follows with more danc- ing, and the whole day Is thus spent, end- ing late at night with final gorge.
 But while this ceremony is going on among the Poncas. just north of their reservation. ten miles, are the Chilocco Indian schools, where an entirely differ ent program is carried out. The Chi locco schools form the largest govern ment educational institution in the Southwest. some six hundred young In- dians attending. All tribes are allowed there. Every branch of study, to say nothing of the industrial training depart ment. is taught there. Thanksgiving day is day of much interest to these stu dents. Those who have parents are al-- lowed visit from them on that day. For several days prior to Thanksgiving the trails leading to Chilocco school are lined with wagons loaded with Indians They camp on the Chilocco reservation. The students are allowed to go into camp with their parents, but cannot spend the night with them, for fear of evil effects. On Thanksgiving morning the students are brought Into the chapel, where they recite and play musical in- struments to the pride of their instruc- tors and amazement of their parents, who are guests of honor on that occa- sion. In the afternoon the Chilocco foot ball team contests with a team from some nearby town. while the girls play basketball with their paleface sisters.