Middletown transcript., 1873-03-08
The Origin Of Philspona.

/ There Was ooce beautiful psiucess VII
had great fondness lor almonds, aud o.
them constantly. but so.hing would indac'
her 10 mnfry. and 10 order to rid hsrsel
Of her suffers. Of whom there we're srsa
number. she invented the folio wing device
To every prince who sessht her han,
she presented half . double almond, Will,
she ate the other half. and said; III youl
lcrdship can succeed 10 getting me to tax,
anything from your hand before can u,
tho words l remember then I am read,
to become your bride. But il. on tho con.
trary. you receive anything from us with.
out thinking to speak these words, theu
you must agrce 70 have your hair shaver
entirely OF your head. and leave the king.
DOM"
This. however, was 90 artful stralA gem
for, according 10 the court custom, NO one
dared to hand anything directly to the
princess, but 6rst to the court.lady, who
then offered II to her But IT, on he 9th
or hand. the princess should desire 10 sive
Or take snything--who could Fsfuse her
So il was useless for her suitors 10 make
the trial, for when they seemed likely 10
be successful. and had diverted the pfis.
coss so that she was about to take anything
from them, the court-lady always stepped
between. and spoiled the beat laid plan.
When the princess wished to dispose Of
one of them she would appear so charm.
ing aud encouraging to him, that he would
be entirely fascinated, aud he sat at her
feet, overcome with joy, then she would
seize upon anything near her, as though
BY Incident, and, handing il 70 him. say !:
" Take this a. = remembrance of me-" and
when he had it in bis hands, before he
could think or speak tho necessary words,
there would spring out at him frog or
hornet. or . bat. aud SO startlc him that
he would forget the words. Then, upon
tho spot. he was shaven. and away with
him. This went on for soms years, aud
in all the palaces Of the other Kingdoms
the princes wore wigs. Thus il came to
be the custom from that timo.
Finally it happened that foreign prince
came upon some peculiar business, and by
accident saw tho almond princess. He
thought her very beautiful. and at once
perceived the stratagem. A friendly little
gray man had given him an apple tha,
once year he was privileged to smell,
aud then there came in his mind a very
wise idea and hs had become much renown
cd on account Of his deep wisdom Now it
was exactly time for him to make use of
his apple. So, with the scent from it
came this warning:
- IL thou 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 ia his belt.
aud went with his marshal to the palace,
aud 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 princess 10 .uir-
ed what this meant. and. NOR cover, why
he constantly carried his hands in his yir
die. Hc replied that a. bis court the eu..
tom was even more strongly enforced than
at hers, and he dared not give or take any
thing with his hands, at the most, only
with his head aud feet. Then the prin.
cess laughed and said:
. 10 that case We will never be able TO
have our little game together"
He sighed and answered:
Not unless You will consent to take
from my boots"
. That can never happen! !" exclaimcd
The whole court,
Why have you come hi.hcr 2" asked
he princess, nngrily. "when you have
such stupid customs 2"
- Because you arc 80 beautiful" !" replied
he prince. " and il | cannot win YOU, l
may at least have the pleasure Of see-
ng you"
On tho other hand, l have no similar
Qualification" said she.
So the prince remained at the palace.
md he pleased her more and more, but
when the humour seized her, she tried 10
very manner to persuade him to take his
,ands from bis girdlc, aud receive some /,
hing from her. She also entertained him
and frequently offered him
lowers. bonbons, and trinkeis, aud finally
bracelet, but not once did he forget and
tretch out his hand to take them. for tho
PRESSURE Of the girdle reminded him in
inc. So he would nod to his marshal,
nd he received them, saying; I'VE re.
member"
Then the princess would become impa-
lent. aud would cxclaim i" My handker-
hcf has fallen Can your loriship pick
up for mc?" Whcreupon the prince
'oula fasten his spur into it, and wave il
arelessly, while the princess would have
> bend and remove It from his foot. saw.
ng angrily: +" i remember"
Thus a year passed away, and the priu-
ess said to herself:--
This cannot remain so. It must be
ettled in one way or the other
She said to the princc:-
:. have one Of the finest gardens in the
'orld. will show your lordship over il
,-day."
The prince smell. Of his apple. and as
,ey entered tho garden. he said -
" Ii is very beautiful here, and in order
'at We may walk near each other in peace,
nd NOT be disturbed bv q desire 10 ,ry our