Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-11-26
PHILOPENA.

We believe this pleasant amusement for boys
and girls, and sometimes those of more mature
age, originated in Germany, where it is called
Utet tiebchen, which, as it is spoken, has the
sound of ph,tipkins which may have been the
origin of our word, to which we have given a
Latin termination, pena, because Is infers q
penalty or forfeiture exacted or won by the
tact or management of the winning party
With US the thing is managed, however, exces-
sively clumsy and without skill. A person in
company chances to find d5ubie-ineated al
ulond, and hands the hale meat TO another, and
says, OF rather should say, sWill you eat phi
lapena with me! The other may say, 4 am
afraid,' and relus. or may accept one of the
nuts, aud eat il 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 II
shall be. Generally, among children, some
triGe, or, among young folks, some little pres
eut, suitable to the condition of the PARTIES
Thus, young lady who wins phi'opena of a
gentleman may Immediately add: 4 wear No.
6 kids If the parties meet in the street, the
lady may say: %, yes, see you notice that
my parasol is getting old Well, theu, ac-
I Gtpls I1ub LnS HeUkICludl IlHSt uCNcI AIluAG
to her want of an article, but exercise his
judgment 20 what would be acceptable
| Generally, in our haste to win philopenB, we
forget propriety, and become rude in this land
of thrift and hurry. The thing is far better
aud more pleasantly managed in Germany, and
calls into exercise some of the most useful fac
ulties of the mild When a couple meet the
next time after having eaten philopena togetl-
er, no advantage Is taken of the other until
Que OF them pronounces the word philopena.-
This Is the warming that the sport is to begin.
Let US suppose that gentleman calls upon a
lady; she invites bin to walk 10, but at the
sane time speaks the taiisnanic word. Ii he
accepts tie offer to walk in, he is lost, unless
she removes the ban by telling him to 20 away.
If she asks him 20 take off his hal, be must re-
solutely keep it on; Or if at table she should
baud him ny article which he accepts, she
wins the forfeit. Al the same time, he is
watching to catch her off her guard --tor the
first acceptance of any offer from the other
en1s the game. Both are constantly exercis
ing their wits to prevent being caught, and the
sport often goes on all the evening. Perhaps
the gentleman brings a little present, saying:
'knowng that | should lose my philopena,
lave brought it along-here it is Ii she is
caught off her guard by this smooth speech,
she loses, for he Immediately Claims forfeit. Ii
neither wins at first meeting, the sport is con-
tiuued at the second: and it may happen that
bali a dozen parties meet at the same time, all
anxious to win of their philopcna partners,
so that the scene often becomes ludicrously
amusing.
How preferable is this German play to our
own. And as the sport derived from philope-
ma is very innoeeHt and pretty, we commend il
to the young folks of America. = Welcome Vis-
Ioy