Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-08-22
CHEESE ROLLING IN STATEN ISLAND
"A muscular and Skilful Italian Can Win
Many Pounds Of Parmesan

"A muscular and Skilful Italian Can win
Many Pounds Of Parmesan.
favorlte sport among the better class of
itallans In New York is cheese rolling.
In the rural districts of this country +
, useu W ne the custom at some fairs and
Iilerfymakings to stick cheese on the
top OF tall pole. The countrymen wonld
All try their hardest to shin un the MOLE
10 capture the cheese, and the successfuI
man walked off with his prize. In the
l 20 l, game the successful man walks
al VIII IN tne cheese. but he does not climb
any pore Tor It, The winner is he who
can roll the cheese farthest and to him
Delong the cheeses of the other contest
just back of South Beach there is an
f Italian motel with picturesque arbor
a aaclns on me road. This arbor, which is
used q as dining room by the guests The
t.alalls VINO come from all over New
/ ofk city to witness Or take mart in the
ce,heese-rolling contest first Of ali dine in
IN the great ylne-clad arbor. They feast to
lneir neaft content on minestra, olives.
11taEneltl, iresh veal stuffed and other
Italian dishes. The stone tables are
heaped with Italian dainties and bottles
or the imported wines so dear to the Ttal
llli. IL IS not to be supposed that ice
cream vendors and "hokey pokey'' men
are among. the diners. They are portly
L:'' "iic AiSIclldHtS ana 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
After the dinner everybody f1ocks 70 tho
roadside, where the cheese-rollng takes
place; This Ia, must be of considerable
length. The cheeses are wound round
with a 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
tnelr hardness and the toughness of the
black rind. The cheeses are worth 80
cents pound. and they weigh from 10 to
40 pounds apiece. Any number of peo.
PIE can play; at least as many as have
cheeses 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
even heavy cheese. twenty pounds or
more. A Brooklyn Italian, who is con,
sidered champion, has sent his cheese
300 feet in single throw. H has
stocked his store with Parmesan cheeses.
and sold good many to his less fortunate
t,
and cheese of ordinary size will easily
be worth S..
Sometimes a 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, 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
ing looks easy, trial will convince the
novice to the contrary. The cheese will
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
anti. The scene furnishes pretty little
picture of Italian life when the swarthy
sons of Italy make up their minds to en-,
joy themselves.-New York Tribune.