The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-07-30
COMING OUT OF MISS JANE
NAlcAE, AGED SIXTEEN.
WOMEN CHOOSE PARTNERS
In Similar Mode to the Leap Year
Dancing Of Their White Sisters.
The Dance a Merry Occasion.
A Love Affair.

Lawton. Okla, July 29.-With the
first ray OF the morning sun SUNDAY
morning the Apache feast and "loy.
ers' dance came to close The oc.
casion of the festivities was the com.
ing out of Miss Jane Naichc. the siN
teen year old daughter Of Naiche. the
hereditary chief of the Chtucahua
tribe of the Apache and first licutcu.
ant under old Geronimo during the
protracted wars in Arizona
At these Apache debut parties the
young maiden who is just entering
womanhood is permitted To choose
her partner rs are all the other wom.
en- OF the tribe Miss James choice
was James Edclaudy, a visiting mem
Der Of the tribe from the Mpscalara
tribe living upon the reservation
bearing the same name located IN
New Mexico Her suitor is one OF
the wealthiest of New Mexico Apache
Indians and should there be no obiec.
tion made by the parties of the fair
and beautiful society belle of this
feast the love will no doubt ripeu into
matrimony.
one of the most mistaken of ideas
relative to the lovers dance was
corrected by Chief Asa Deklugie on
the last evening of the celebration. II
has always been understood by the
public that only the young unmarried
squaws and bucks were permitted to
take part In the dance, which always
opens up at midnight of the secon,
day OF the dancing and closes at sun
rise. Any of the Indian females are
allowed according to the custom ol
the tribe to take part. They are also
permitted to choose who they desire
for partner for this dance which Is
similar to the leap year" dance oi
their white brethren. a married
squaw may select for ner dancing
partner single or married Indian
and the marriageable Young daugii-
ltIS VI ll' ulut may w pa'do'h W
trip the light fantastic toe with some
old battle SCARED warrior. one Of
the young women chose Asa and an.
other one Geronimo.
No explanation can be afered for
this action upon the part OF the In
dians only that it is custom as old
as the Apache tribe itself. often
times jealousy arises between man
and wife, but this soon settled with
out many words as they believe that
what is the practices of the tribe
should not be looked upon with on
evil searching eye
Before the break of dawn follow.
ing the hours of reyelry each OF the
bucks promises to the one who Sc
lected them some token or remer-
brance. In most instances this pres
ent consist of a horse, blanket, saddle,
or nything which to the Indians has
value. This article OF appreciation
for the honors bestowed upon them
is announced in the presence of wit
nesses while the squaw has caught
and held her partner. 1t is then an
Obligation which must be fulfilled.
At no other time in the life of the
Apache maiden is she permit. ID to
spoon with the members Of the on
posite sex, only at these lovers
dances. Upon other occasions when
they meet to pass away the lonely
hours in each others presence they
must talk to each other through the
aid of mediator, who Is usually the
father Of the girl.
Naiche stood all the expense of the
/ party for his daughter which ran up
| into the hundreds OF dollars, Six
boeyes were killed upon which the In
dians banqueted. The scene OF the
camp fire around which the dance
progressed was a secluded spot on
| Medicine Creek short distance
| north of the military post at Fort
| Sill Many thousands Of citizens
| from Lawton attended the festival
both nights, a goodly number remain.
ing until the final ending, Because
of the prominence of the debutantcs
father this coming out party" has
gone down into history as one of the
greatest of latter day happenings in
the tribe.