The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-12-08


But what was his surprise to see the ser
want return with plate of cheese and half
dozen nut-crackers
FALL. The fall Of the leaf; autumn !;
the time when the leaves drop from the
trees.
Tins beautifully picturesque expression,
which corresponds so well to its opposite
spring, has been SAID to be peculiar to the
United States. Mr.. Pickering notices the
following remark in Rees' Cyclopedia:
Gin North America the season IN which
the fall of the leaf takes place, derives It's
name from that circums ance, and instead
OF autumn is universally called the yE"|t."
ART. Dnrd"o"s Lences. 1t is used, how
ever, in Eng land in the same sense, though
autumn is as generally employed there, as
fall is in the United States.
"What crowds of patients ME town doctor
kills
o, how last fall he ra iscd the weekly bills"
Drwten's JurenGl.
FILLIPEEN or PHILLlPINA. Ger
mar, TmNiebcheo.] There is a custom
common in the Northern States at dinner
or evening parties when almonds or other
nuts are eaten, 70 reserve such as are dou-
h|e or contain two kernels, which are call
ed MHye'nS. II found by a lady. she gives
one of the kernels TO a gentleman, when
10Th eat their respective kernels. When
the parties again meet, each strives to be
the first TO exclaim, FiiIipeen! for by SO
doing, he or she is entitled 10 present
from the other. Ohen-timcs the most in
genious methods are resorted to by both
ladies and gentlemen to surprise each 9TH
er with the sudden exclamation OF this
mysterious word, which is to bring forth
fol ielt.
In recent book on German life and
manners, entitled GA Bout with the Bur
schrns, or Heidelberg in 1914" is an ac-
count Of the existence Of this custom in
Germany, which at the same time furnish
Is us with the etymo!ogv OF the word |:
"Arnongst the queer customs and habits of
: Germany, there is one which struck me
as beng peculiarly original, and which
: should recommend TO the consideration
of turf-men in England who might, per-
haps, find it nearly as good way of get
ting rid Of their spare cash as backing
horses that have been made safe to lose,
and prize fighters who have never in
tended TO fight. 1t is species of betting,
and is accomplished thus: Each of two
: persons eats one OF the kernels OF nut
or almond which is double. The first of
the two who, after so doing, takes any
thing from the hand Of the other, with
out SAVING Irh Jcukc, q Think has to
make the other a present, of value
which is sometimes previously deter
{ mined, and sometimes left TO the gener-
: osity of the loser. The presents are call
ed EeIliebchens, and are usually tritles
{ OF few forms value; pipe, riding
: whip, Or such like
NJ. EDITOR With all due Difference
to our learned authors authority, must
hesitate TO adopt the etynology ofthe word
above given. / would look for it in a more
classic land and language than even Ger
many can boast. Vellicbchen is COM
pounded OF the participle Vei, "much,
manv;" anG the noun Liebchcn, "sweat-
heart, love, darling" See Adler's Lcxi-
con. Hence it is not easy to see why the
presents are called s'Eiellicbchens." But |
it is perfectly plain why the forftits de-
manded are called love-penaltcs, Philo-
pnnas Or Philippians, from the Greek ri,
ri philos, pAiho, love; and III, CT, III,
poine, or poinn, ransom, penalty, forfeit,
recompense. Hence we prefer to retain
the classic etymology and photography,
and 10 write and speak the word Philo-
pGna. HIP.
Franconia, Nov. Goth, 1919.
[IWe have no Greek type, and could not
print the Greek roots gwen by our correspon-
dent. Their pronunciation, however, will show