Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-08-21
CHEESE ROLLING IN STATEN ISLAND
a Muscular and Skilful Italian Can Win
Many Pounds CT Parmesan.

a Muscular and Skilful Italian Can Win
Many Pounds Of Parmesan.
Favorlte sport among the better class of
Italians in New York is cheese rolling.
In the rural districts of this country it
used to be the custom at some fairs and
merrymakings to stick a cheese on the
top Of tall pole. The countrymen would
all try their hardest to shin up the pole
TO capture the cheese, and the successful
man walked off with his prize. In the
Italian game the successful man walks
off with the cheese. but he does not climb
any pole for it. The winner is he who
can roll the cheese farthest and to him
belong the cheeses of the other contest
ants.
Just back of South Beach there is an
Italian hotel with a picturesque arbor
facing on the road. This arbor. which is
covered with vines, is extensive and is
used as dining room by the guests The
Italians who come from ali over New
York city to witness or take part in the
cheeSe-rolling contest first of all dine in
the great vine-clad arbor. They feast to
their hearts content on minestra, olives,
spaghetti, fresh veal stuffed and other
Italian dishes. Tie stone tables are
heaped with Italian dainties and bottles
OF the imported wines SO dear to the Ital
IAN. 1t is not to be supposed that ice
cream vendors and "hokey pOkey' men
are, among the diners. They are portly
barbers, Wine merchants and prosperous
business men. Imported wines are too
expensive for the fruit vendors and pea
nut men, who besides cannot afford to
miss their Sunday trade. for it is only on
sundays that the cheese-rolling contests
are held.
After the dinner everybody f1ocks to the
roadside, where the cheese-rolling takes
place. This must be of considerable
length. The cheeses are wound round
with, band OF cotton which is grasped
by the player and enables him to swing
| the cheese with considerable force. Par,
mesan cheeses are used. on account of
their hardness and the tOughness of the
black rind. The cheeses are worth 80
cents pound. and they weigh from 10 to
~ pounds apiece. Any number of PEG.
pie can play, at least as many as have
cheescs and the winner takes the lot
Each player winds the band round his
cheese, and with mighty effort sends the
heavy disc bowling along the road. From
the point where it stops he throws it
again. and the player covering the great.
est distance in four throws wins all the
other cheeses. Some of the good players
can cover an extraordinary distance with
even heavy cheese, twenty pounds or
more. A Brooklyn Italian, who is con,
sidered champion, has sent his cheese
800 feet in a single throw. He has
stocked his store with Parmesan cheeses.
and sold a good many to his less fortunate
COlupolIlOIS. Lie cupeSeS are expensive,
and cheese of ordinary size will easily
be worth So.
Sometimes. cheese will strike a stone
with such force as to smash it all to pieces
despite the toughness Of its rind When
this occurs. which is seldom, a wall goes
up from the crowd and the unfortunate
owner uses more forcible words in five
minutes than he will use in the rest of the
week.
If the cheeses do not break. the rolling
is said TO improve them. Though the roll
novice to the contrary. The cheese win
probably travel about twenty feet and
then ANONYMOUSLY roll into the ditch.
After the contest is decided the players
retire to the dining room and fight their
battles again, verbally, over TASKS of Chi
anti. The scene furnishes a pretty little
picture of italian life when the swarthy
sons of Italy make up their minds to en-
JOY themselves.-NewY York Tribune