No. 88 Redeeming Forfeits
The girl who is to assign the penalty by which the forfeit must be redeemed lays her head on the lap of another who sits on a chair, while a third, standing behind, holds the article over her head and asks:
“Here is a forfeit, a very fine forfeit; what shall be done to redeem it?”
“Is it fine or superfine?” (i.e., does it belong to a gentleman or to a lady).
The sentence is then declared.
Another formula, used in the Middle and Southern States, is:
“Heavy, heavy, what hangs over you?”
The German usage is nearly the same, the question being “Lord judge, what is your sentence, what shall he do whose pledge I have in my hand?”
The following are examples of old penalties, which usually involved kissing, with infinite variety of method:
To go to Rome. To kiss every girl in the room.
Flat-irons. The lad and lass lay their hands on the wall and kiss.
Measuring yards of tape, and cutting it off. To kiss with the arms extended.
“I’m in the well.” “How many fathoms deep?” (Any number is answered.)
“Whom will you have to take you out?” (Some one of the company is named.) Each fathom represents a kiss.