Middletown transcript., 1868-01-18
Curaers Information.


A number of proverbial phrases and pop
ular sayings are used in daily conversation,
the true meaning and origin of which is
known to few. We are aware that, gen.
orally, they are derived from classic quota
tions, ancient usages or historical events,
but We cannot always trace them back to
their source, and often the books required
are not at hand. I'll the purpose Of this
column to give occasionally explanations Of
such phrases, which are constantly called
in question and often very .erroneously en-
ployed.
To EAT A PHILIPrNE.- have fin
ished your dinner, and wind it up with
some fruit and few raisins and almonds.
Among the latter you meet with q shell con-
tanning two almonds; you keep one and
offer the other to your neighbour, who is,
of course, pretty young lady. The day
after, or whenever you meet her for the
first time after the dinner, she greets YOU
at once with the word, " Philippine. p
You are caught, for you have lost the si-
lent wager which you entered into, when
you offered her the almond, and you are
bound to make her q present, on which
you write the mysterious word, if you
chose. SO as to show that there is an end of
the matter, or you leave il unmarked and
look upon it as the first stone Of delight
full castle-in the air.
The custom is at home in Germany, and
the word is derived from the German word
Vielliebchen, which means Much Beloved,
! and is an allusion to the close intimacy
which it is presumed must exist between
two inmates of the same she'll Hence the
Germans, after having shared twin al
mond with a fayourite friend, greet her with
an afiectionate Guten Morgen, Villiebchen
Good Morning, Much Beloved! When
the custom crossed the Rhine and became
popular among the French, they were un-
able to pronounce the German word, and
changed it with French self-suf6ciency into
the more familiar name Of Philippine.
From them it has travelled to England and
TO us, who now universally use the French
instead Of the German form. rts
To RIDE HIGH HoRsE.-Wheneye
we meet with man who uses peculiarly
strong language either in what he is actu
ally doing or in what he proposes to do
who shows himself naughty or aggressiv,
against others, we are very ap to say tina
he rides high horse. The expression
dates from the age Of chivalry and th,
habits Of knights. The latter kept ordina
rily two kinds of horses, palfreys and char
gers.
The palfrey, so called from the Frencl
g word pale frost par lefreiu, )because Oh grea
. 9 occasions it was always led by the bride
! = was kept for show and parade. Light
3 graceful, and of easy gait, it was decke
, with splendid caparisons, and on it king
and lords entered their cities, or ladie
rode it ON hunting excursions.
;, The charger, on the contrary, was th
a horse for battle and dangerous service,
y was tall and powerful; the knight mounte
! it when setting out for war and tourna
y ments, and seated on the trusty animal b
= defed his adversaries and overcame hi
. enemes. Hence it became proyerbial I
! speak of mounting high horse. when
:. man assumes an air Of superiority an
! ! looked down upon his opponents, ready I
:. meet them in battle. I.
n ToAsTs. There are few expression
4 more common, and yet more generally VI
ID known, than that Of drinking toasts, o.
as it is sometimes incorrectly used with r,
ye gard to some popular young man or w
r man, of his or her being :" a great toast
|. The word comes from the actual piece
al toasted bread which was in olden tim,
h: dropped into the tankard Of ale or the Gu
,s- of spiced wine TO improve its taste. The
ia: tankards went around the table, and
~ who drank last to the health of some ia
q. lady or some great chief. took the toas
70. to show that all had-been drunk and not
aa's ing was left in the cup. fEfb
,ty EASTER Eaes.-In almost all Christi
I'm countries the custom still peavails of eg
NJ. being given as present at Easter tim
Ie- In Germany they are generally hid by I
m older people in the gardens under I
ne; young gooseberry bushes and other ear
sh; plants, where they are looked for by bevi
nd Of little children, and great is the Joy
y, finding one of peculiar richness in OFT
nd ment, for they are all decked in gay COLI
u and covered with gold and silver devic
Ids In France, the eggs, although still
& called, have degenerated into costly bo,
70. of bonbons or even moro expensive p
err sents. which are exchanged by friends
ton cording 70 the French proyerb that g Lit
or. presents keep up friendship" In Rus
gs, alone they have maintained their sacl
N. character. and are given away with 1
Pa words, "0brist is arisenl Everybody,
ns; home or abroad, has supply of Easter e
ter; about him; every passer by is thus aeco
ick ed. and the two nrna aro knncLnd ana;