The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-06-05
THE ORIGIN OF PHILOPENA.
There was once a beautiful Primo

ess who had a great fondness for
almonds. and ate them constantly,
but nothing would Induce her to
many. and in order to rid herself of
her suitors, of whom there were a
great number, she invented the
following device: To every Prince
who sought her hand, she presented
the half OF double almond, while
she ate the other halt, and said: IF
your lo,dship can succeed in getting
me to take anything from your hand
before | say the word L remember
then [ am ready to become your
bride. But if, on the contrary, you
receive anything from me, without
thinking to speak those words, then
you must agree TO have hair shaved
entirely off your head and leave the
Kingdom"
This. however, was an artful
stratagem, for. according 10 the court
custom, no one dare to hand anyth-
ing directly to the Princess. but first
to the court lady, who then offered
ii to her. But it. on the other hand
the Princess should desired to give or
take anything -who could refuse
her? 81 it was useless for her
suitors 10 make the trial. for when
they seemed likely TO be successful,
and had diverted the Princess so that
she was about to take something
from them, the court-lady always
stepped between, apd spoiled he
best-laid plan.
When the Princess wished to
dispose of one of them, she would
appear so charming and encouraging
to him, that he would be entirely
fascinated, and when he sat at her
feet, overcome with joy, then she
would seize upon anything near her,
as though b, accident: Take this
as remembrance of me-" and when
he had it in his hands, before he
could think or speak the necessary
words, here would spring out at
him, from it, perhaps frog or a
hornet, or bat, and 50 startled him
that he would forget the words.
Then, upon the spot he was shaven,
and away with him This went OH
for some years, and in all the palaces
of the other Kingdoms the Princes
wore wigs. Thus it came te be the
custom from that time.
Finally it happened that a foreign
Prince came upon some peculiar
business, and by accident saw the
almond Princess. He thought her
very beautiful, and at once perceived
the stratagem, A friendly little gray
man had given him an apple that
once year he was privileged to
smell, and then there came in his
mind a very wise idea, and he had
became much renowned on account
Of his deep wisdom. Now, it was
exactly time for him to make of his
apple. SO, with the scent from it
came this warning:
"Ifthou wouldst win in the game
of giving and taking, under no
circumstances must thou either give
or take anything"
So he had his hands bound in his
belt, and went with his marshal to
the palace, and asked to be allowed
to eat his almond. The Princess
was secretly much pleased with him
and Immediately handed him an
almond, which his marshal took and
placed in his mouth. The Pricess
inquired what this meant, and.
moreover, Why he constantly carried
his hands in his girdle.
He replied that at his court the
custom was even more strongly en-
forced than at hers, and he dare
not give or take anything with his
hands, at the most, only Wi tn
his head and feet. Then the
Princess laughed and said =
sin this case we will never be able
to have our little game together
He sighed and answered:
"Not unless you will be pleased
to take something from my boots
THAT can never happen!" exclaim-
ed the whole court.
"Why have you come hither,"
noEnI 4hn Drinnonn onmrilu tk,nhn,,