Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-13
Philopena.

We believe this pleasant amusement for
boys and girls, and sometimes those of more
mature age, originated in Germany, where
it is called pieL t'ischen, which as it is spo-
ken, has the sound of "philikin," which
may have been the origin of our word, to
which we have given the latin termination,
pena-because it infers a penalty for
feiture exacted or won by the tact or man
agement of the winning party. With us,
the thing is managed excessively clumsy,
and quite without skill. A person in COM
pany chances to find double meated al
mond, and hands half the meat to another,
and says, or rather should say-"Will you
eat phi.opena with me?" The other
may say-'I am afraid and refuse, or may
accept one of the nuts, and eat it, at the
same time the challenging party eats the
other.
Thus they separate but when they
meet again, the one that can think to say
puIIopeua- nrsG TO the other, wins the Tor
felt, and has right to name what it shall
be- generally-among children, some tri-
| fe, or among young folks, some little pres
ent, suitable to the condition of the parties.
Thus young lady who wins philopena
of gentleman, may Immediately add, IL
wear No. 81 kids" IF the parties meet
ia the street, the lady may say, "Oh, 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 article, but exercise his Judgment, as to
what would be acceptable. Generally, in
our hot haste to win philopena, we forget
propriety, and become rude, in this land O
thrift and hurry.
The thing is far better and more pleas
antly managed in Germany, and calls into
exercise some of the most useful faculties
of the mind. When a couple meet the
next time after having eaten philopena to
gether, no advantage is taken of the other
till one ofthem pronounces the word phil
1opena.' This is the warning that now tn
sport is to begin. Let us suppose that
gentleman calls upon lady; she invite
him to walk in, but at the same tim
lspeaks the talismanic word If she ask
him to take off his hat, he must resolutel
keep it on; if to be seated, he must stand
or if at the table she should hand him an
article which he accepts, she wins the fol
felt. At the same time, he is watching
catch her off her guard-for the first az
ceptance of an offer from the other, END
the game. Both parties are constantly e.
ercising their wits to prevent being caugh
and the sport often goes on all the evel
ing.
Perhaps the gentleman brings lit
present, and saying, knowing that | shs
lose my philopena, | have brought it alon
here it is" If she is caught off her guar
by his smooth speech, she loses, for he il
mediately claims the forfeit. If Meth
wins at the first meeting, the sport cont
ues to the second; and it may happen th
, half dozen meet at the same time, all an
ious to win of their philopena partners,
!, that the scene often becomes ludricous
+ amusing. How preferable is the Germ
= play to our own. Aud as the sports d
: rived from philopena are innocent and pr
ty, we commend it to the young folks
: America.
4 The above is more clever than CORE
\ The obvious definition of the werd is 'ph
j friendship, and 'pena, punishment; a Ii
4 raj rendering, and very descriptive of
- sport