Minnesota weekly times., 1857-05-02
Phillops,,a

We 6nd the following excellent explanation OF
this playful amusement in the New York Trib-
une. II will interest the young folks:
"We believe this pleasant amusement for boys
and girls, and sometimes those of more mature
age, originated in Germany, where it 10 called
vieI ebchen which, ny it 10 spoken, has the sound
of philipksn-which may have been the origin OF
our word, to which we have given q latin termi-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. it infers penalty or for
feiture exacted or won by the tact or manage
ment of the winning party. With us the thing is
| managed, however. excessively clumsy, and quite
without skill person in company chances to
find a double-meated almond, and hands half the
meat to another, and says, or rather should say
sWill you eat philorena with me?" The other
may say, 81 am afraid" and refuse, or may ac-
cept one of the nuts, and eat 1T at the same time
the challenging party eats she other. Thus they
separate but when they meet again, the one that
can think to say ''philopena'' first to the other
wins the forfeit, and hasa right to name what it
shall be-generally, among children, some tribe;
or among young folks, some little present, suta-
BILE to the condition OF the parties. Thus,
young lady who wins q phil0pena Of a gentleman
may Immediately add. "f wear No. Ola kids"
If the parties meet in the. street, the lady may
says ooh, yes; see you notice that my parasol is
getting old. Well, then, accept" But the gen.
tleman must never allude to her want Of an ar
ticle, but exercise his judgment as to what would
be acceptable. Generally, in our hot haste to
win philOpena, We forget 1prOpriety, anu become
rude, in this land of thrift and hurry. The thing
is far better and more pleasantly managed in
Germany, and exercise some of the most useful
facilities of mind. When couple meet the next
time after eaten philopena together, no advan-
tage is taken of the other until one of them pro-
nounces the word ssphilopena." This is the warn
ing that now the sport is to begin. Let US sup
pose that gentleman calls upon lady; she in
vites him to walk in, but at the same time speaks
the talismanic word. If he accepts the offer to
walk in, he is lost, unless she removes the ban
by telling him to go away. If she asks him to
take off his hat, he must resoutely keep it on if
to be seated, he must stand; or if at table she
should hand him any article which he accepts,
she wins the forfeit. At the same time, he
is watching to catch her of her guard-for the
first acceptance of any offer from the other ends
the game. Both are constantly exercising their
wits to prevent being caught, and the sport often
goes on all the evening. Perhaps the gentleman
brings a little present, and says: "knOwing that
should lose my philopena, l have brought it
along-here it is.'' If she is caught off her
guard by this smooth speech, she loses, for he
Immediately claims forfeit. If neither wins at
first meeting, the sport is continued at the
second; and it may happen that half dozen
parties meet at the same time, all anxious to win
of their philopena parters- that the scene of
ten becomes ludiciously amusing. How prefera-
bic is this German play to our own? And as the
sport derived from philopena is very innocent
and pretty, we commend it to the syOung folks of
all America. tt q ~t