The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-06-18
PHILOPENA.
We believe this pleasant amusement orig.

mated in Germany, where it is called viel
liebchcn, which, as IL is spoken, has the
sound of pail;pkin-which may have been
the origin Of our word, to which wo have
given Latin -pena-because
it infers penalty or forfeiture exacted or
won by the tact Of management of the
winning party. With us the thing is
managed, however, excessively clumsy, and
quite without skill. A person in company
chances to find double meated almond,
and hands half the meat to another, and
says, or rather should say "Will you eat
a philopena with me?" The other may
say, " am afraid" and refuse. or may &C.
cept one Of the nuts, and eat it at the same
time the challenging party eats tho other.
Thus they separate; and when they meet
again, tho ono who can think to say "philo-
pena" first to tho other wins the forfeit, and
has right to name what it shall bc-gen-
orally among children, some triao; or
among young folks, some little present,
suitable to the condition Of the parties.-
Thus young lady, who wins a philopena
of gentleman may Immediately add, 81
wear No. 6 IA kids" If the parties meet
in the street, the lady may say, "Oh, yes !;
l SEQ you notice that my parasol is getting
old. Well, then, I accept" But the gen.
t!c:man must never a!!uae to her want of an
article, but exercise his judgment as to what
would be acceptable. Generally in our hot
haste TO win philopcna, VIC forget proprie.
ty, and become rude, in this land of thrift
and hurry.
The thing is far better and moro pleas.
antly managed in Germany, and calls into
exercise some of the most useful faculties
Of the mind. When couple meets the
next time after having eaten philopena
together, no advantage is taken of the 9TH
er until one Of them pronounces tho word
"philopcna.' This is the warning that
now tho sport is to begin. Let us suppose
that gentleman calls upon lady; she
invites him to walk in, but at the same
time speaks the talismanic word. If he &C
cepts the offer, she is lost, unless he removes
the ban by telling him to 60 away. If she
asks him to take off his hat he must reso.
lutely keep it on; il 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 off her guard-for the first &C.
ceptance 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. Per
haps the gentleman brings little present,
and says: Knowing that 1 should lose
my philopena, bavo brought it along
here it is" Ifshe is caught off her guard
by this smooth speech, she loses, for be
Immediately claims the forfeit. If peithe,
wins at tho first meeting, the sport is con.
tinued to tho second; and it may happen
that half dozen partiee meet at the same
time, all anxious to win Of their philopena
partner-so that the scene often becomes
ludicrously amusing. How preferable is
this German play to our own! And as the
sport derived from philopena is very inno-
cent and pretty, we commend it the "young
folks" of all America.-Iribune.
| Interesting Statistics. - The United
States arc composed of thirty-ono States
sand nine Territories,
They contain population of $4,000, 900,
of whom 23,oOO,oo0 are white.
The extent of sea coast is 1850 miles.
The length of the ten principal rivers, is
10000 miles.
The surface of the five great lakes is 90,
900 square miles:
The number of miles Of railroad in OPP
Grafton is 10000, which cost $7s,OOO,-
900.
The lengths Of canals is 5000 miles.
1t contains the longest railroad on the
globe-the Illinois Central-whicb is 7e4
miles.
The annual value Of its agricultural pro-
ductions is $2Oo,Ooo,O0O.
It's most valuable production is Indian
corn, which yields annually 100000
bushels,
The amount Of registered and enrolled
tonnage is 4,407,01O.
The amount of capital invested in manr
| ufactpre is $8o0,00o,oo0.
The annual amount of its internal trade
| is $500, 100000.
The annual value of it's products of la,
Dor other than agricultural is 1880, 900.
The annual valpe Of the income of the
inhabitants is 81 100000.
The value Of farms and live stock is
| ArN M ooo nm