The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-01-17
ORIGIN OF THE PHILOPENA.

This is the story of beautiful Ger
man Princess who was very fond of al
monds, and would not marry. In order
to carry out these intentions she hit upon
the following plan: When Prince pre-
sented himself as a suitor for her hand
(and legions of Princes came) she
would offer him an almond with twin
kernels. The Prince had to eat one of
the kernels and she would eat the other.
"Now," she would say, eff your high
ness can induce me to accept any thing
out of your hands without my saying 4
remember shall marry you; but if |
can induce your highness to accept any
thing from my hands without your say
ing the saving words, then your Prince
ly head shall be clean shaven, and you
shall be dismissed forthwith from my
dominion"
There was trick in this proposal,
for court etiquette forbade any one
under penalty of death-to present any
object directly to the beautiful Princess.
The object had to be handed first to the
maid of honor, who would then hand it
herself to her royal mistress. But, on
the other hand, if the Princess chose to
take herself any object, or hand it to
any one, who could forbid it? Thus
the poor suitors had miserable time
of it. Try as hard as they would to
tempt the Princess to accept any thing
from their hands, the maid of honor
was sure to step in and spoil their very
best laid plans. Should the Princess,
on her side, wish to get rid of a suitor,
she had only to be gracious to him and
bewitch him with her beauty and kind
ness. She would offer him seat by
her side, and picking up something
lying near her, pomegranate or an
egg, she would present it, with sweet
smile, and whisper softly: "Keep this
in memory of me-" AS soon,
however, as the Prince, intoxicated
with delight, would take the object in
his hands, and whilst ready. perhaps,
to say the saving words, all at once
would the object burst open, and out of
it would jump frog, or hornet or bat,
and fly in his face, causing him so much
surprise and CONSERVATION that he
would forget to say the words. His
head would be shaved at once, and off
he would be dismissed ANONYMOUSLY.
This had gone on for several years,
and all the palaces of the land were
filled with young Princes wearing wigs
dates therefrom) when foreign Prince,
travelling incognito, happened to see
this beautiful almond Princess. He
found her beauty equal to her fame, and
being determined to win her for him.
self. he soon discovered the ruse which
she had employed hitherto. Now, this
Prince, more fortunate than the former
suitors, had talisman of his own, in
ba CHI OF 10 A1ya
old wizard, friend of his family Ii
in case of great difficulty he would
smell the apple, bright thought would
rush to his mind, and way be found
out of the difficulty. The talisman
operated once year only. The occur
renee, however, of one idea in every
twelve months had properly ensured
to the Prince a fame for superior
mind amongst all the Kings of his ac
quaintance! The time for using the
tai sman having come round again, he
smelt the apple and this is the idea which
occurred to him: ''If you are to wiz
in this game of giving aad taking, yor
either present any thing to the Princes!
or accept any thing from her. He
therefore, had his hands firmly tied in
Ills DtlG dHu ny LII;
marshal he proceeded to the palace O.
the Princess where he bravely an
nounced himself ready to lose his hail
and his life for the chance of winning
such Il priceless treasure. The Princes
was very much pleased with thu
Princes appearance and with hi
speech, and she ordered at once that /;
double almond be brought in. She at,
IS hn l. al a,,l +,I l.,
other to the Prince. At once tn
marshal stepped up, took the ALMOND
from her hands and placed it in thv
Princes mouth.
The Princess wondered and asket
what this meant; also, why he alway
carried his hands in his belt. Th
Prince. answered, that, alas! at hi
court the etiquette was even more sc
we're than at her own. He was not per
mitted to take or give any thing witt
his hands, but only with his feet an,
head, and that merely in cases of ex
treme urgency. AT this the Princes
laughed and said: In this case we cal
not even engage our forces in the con
ing contest The Prince shrugge'
his shoulders and replied: ''Not unles
you condescend to accept somethin,
from nv boots That must neve
be-" exclaimed the whole court wit
high ind. .gnation. "But why did yo
come here?" added the Princess, an
grily. Il came because you are yer
leautiful,' replied the rincc, gently
land if may not win you, shall stll
have the happiness of feeding my eye
up0n your beauty" Il can have n
% ct on to that re. ..oined the Prir
gag. modified.