The Kanzas news., 1859-04-09
Philopena.

WesbelieYe this pleasant amusement for
boys aud girls. and sometimes those of
more mature ace, originated in Germany,
where it is called yiel lie6chis, which, as it
is spoken, has the sound of phiipkiB, which
may have been the origin of our word, to
which we have given Latin termition,-a
forfeiture, exacted or won by the tact or
Management Of the winning party. With
Us the thing is managed, however, excess
lively clumsily, and quite without skill. A
person incompany chances to find double
meated almound, and hands, half the meat
to another, and says: or, rather should say:
''Will you eat philopena with me?" The
other may say: al am afraid" and refuse
or 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 ''ph ilo-
pena" first to the other wins the forfeit, and
has right to name what it shall be-gene-
rally, among children some trife, among
young folks, some little present, suitable to
the condition of the parties. Thus young
lady who wins philopena of gentleman
may Immediately add wear no No. 81
kid" If the parties meet in the street the
lady may say, ooh, yes; I see You mo-
tice my parasol is getting old. Well, then ]
accept" But the gentleman should never
aHHde her want of an artiele,r but
else his Judgment as to what would be ac--
ceptabie- Generally in our hot haste to win
a philopena, We forget propriety. and be-
come rude in this land of thrift and hurry.
The thing is far better and more pleasant
ly managed in Germany, and calls into ex
ereise some of the most useful faculties of
the mind. When = couple meet after hav-
ing eaten philopena together, no advantage
is taken of the other until ose of them pro-
nounce the word, "philcpena. This is the
warning that now the sport is to begin
Let as suppose that gentleman calls upon
lady; she invites him to walk in, and at
the same time speske the talismanic word.
If ne accepts the offer to walk in he is lost.
aasess she removes the ban by telling him
to 90 sway. e-v ssae . y q =. :.
IF sbs asks him to take of his hat. be
mast resolstely keep it on if to be seated.
he must stand OF if at the table she should
hand him any article which he accents, she
wins the forfeit. At the same time. he is
watching to get her off her guard-fer the
first acceptance of ans stfer from the other
ends ths Sszass9 Hozh afs eossEsnuy exer-
cising their wits to prevent being caught,
aza he spost eaea goes on ali The evening.
Perhaps the gentleman brings alittle pres
ent. and says fsKHoziRg that I shall loss
my philopena, have brought it along
here is" If she is calghs of her guard
By this smooth speech, she loses. for he i'm
mediately claims forfeit. If neither wins
At the first t[nieetihg. the sport is continued
to the second; and it may happen that hall
a dozen parties. meet at the same time, all
anxious to vim OF their philopeaa partners,
80 thsx .ts. seeEe often becomes Iudicroasly
anaasisg. HOY preferable is this Gerunana
play to our own. And as the sports derived
from p1ilopena are vary ihnocent sad pref
ty, We commend it % the young folks ol
America. A. u = - = .