Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-08-21
CaEe6E ROLLING ON STATEN ISLAND.
Muscular and SlxillfuI italian Can Win
fIanY Pounds of Parmesan.

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A ffsvorite 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 cheese
on the top Of a tall pole. The country
men would 81 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 success
ful man walks of 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 contestants.
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 all 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 min
estra, olives, spaghetti, fresh veal stuff
ed and other italian dishes. The stone
tables are heaped with Italian dainties
and bottles of the imported wines so
dear to the average Italian. 1t is not to
be supposed that ice cream venders and
"hokey pokey'' men are among the
diners. They are portly BARRIERS, wine
merchants and prosperous business men.
Imported wines are too expensive for
the fruit venders and peanut men, who
besides cannot afford to miss their Sun
day trade, for it is only on Sundays that
the cheese rolling contests are held.
After the dinner everybody focks to
the roadside, where the cheese rolling
takes place. A level strip of road is
necessary. 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 a pound, and they weigh from 10
to 40 pounds apiece. Any number of
people can play-at least as many as
have cheeses, for the contestants supply
their own cheeses, and the winner takes
the lot.
Each player winds the band round
his cheese, and with q mighty effort
sends the heavy disk bowling along the
road. From the point where it stops he
throws it again, and the player covering
the greatest distance in four throws
wins all the other cheeses. Some of the
good players can cover an extraordinary
distance with even heavy cheese, 30
pounds or more. A Brooklyn Italian,
VINO is considered champion, has. sent
his cheese 300 feet in single throw.
He has stocked his store with Parmesan
cheeses and sold good many to his less
fortunate competitors. The cheeses are
expensive, 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, 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 roll
ing is said to improve them. Though
the rolling looks easy, trial will con-
vince the novice to the contrary. The
cheese will probably travel about 20
feet and then ignominiously 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 Chianti. The scene fur
nishes pretty little picture of Italian
life when the swarthy SONS of Italy make
up their minds to enjoy themselves.
New York Tribune