The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1858-02-18
rHILoPENA.

We believe this pleasant amusement
for boys and girls, and sometimes those
OF more mature age, originated in Ger
many, where it is called ril Eebehen
which, as it is spoken, has the sound of
yhIpkia-which may have been the
origin of our word, TO which we have
given Latin termination--peaa, because
it infers penalty of forfeiture exacted
OF 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 fEd a doINle-meat-
Ell aimond aTd- iiTcDd1S half the meat 10
another, and says, or rather should say,
4 Will you eat philopena with me p
The other may say | am afraid and
refuse, or may accept one of the nuts,
and eat it, at the same time the challeng-
ing party eats the 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 has right to name what it
shall be-generally, among children,
some trille; or among young folks, some
little present, suitable to the condition of
the parties. Thus a young lady who
wins philopena of gentleman may
Immediately add 81 wear No. g. kids"
If the parties meet in the street, the lady
may say, "Oh, yes; | see you notice
that my parasol is getting old. Well,
then, accept" But the gentleman
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 philopcna, we for
get propriety, and become rude, in this
land Of thrift and hurry
The thing is far better and more pleas
antly managed in Germany, and calls in
to exercise some Of the most useful facul-
ties of the mind. When couple meet
the next time after having eaten philippe
ma together, no advantage is taken of the
other until enc Of them pronounces the
word "philopena.' This is the warning
that now the sport is to begin. Let us
suppose that gentleman calls upon a
lady; she invites him to walk in, but at
the same time speaks the talisIhanic word
If he accepts the offer to walk in, he is
lost, unless she removes the ban by tell
ing him to 90 away. If she asks him to
take off his hat, he must resolutely keep
it ON; if to be seated, he must stand or
if at the 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-f0r the first
acceptance Of any offer from the other
ends the game. Both are constantly ex-
ercising their wits to prevent being
caught, and the sport often goes on all
the evening.
Perhaps the gentleman brings little
present, and saying: " Knowing that |
should lose my philopena, have brought
it along-here it is" If she is caught
off her guard by his smooth speech, she
loses, for he Immediately claims forfeit.
If neither wins at the first meeting, the
sport is continued to the second; and it
may happen that half a dozen parties
meet at the same time, all anxious to win
of their philopena partners, so that the
scene often becomes ludictously amusing
How preferable is this German play to
our own! And as the sports derived
from philopena are very innocent and !.
pretty. we commend it to the "young |
folks of america.
frSsfn eourtship. three hard soueezes |