Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 220, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1920 — QUAINT OLD-WORLD CUSTOMS [ARTICLE]

QUAINT OLD-WORLD CUSTOMS

Whitsuntide Superstition Hi Parts of England 'Annual “Cheeee Rolling*’ la Small Village. Aa eld superstlttou still lingers in some parts of England, notably Derbyshire, and induces people to rise unusually early an Whitsuntide morning in order that they may see the son -rieev for they frankly believe that whatsoever request le proffered the Aindgkty at tha* particular moment Is oerteln to be granted. The county of Northampton celebrates an old custom, dating from the time of Queen BUsabeth, once la 20 years. The seam of it Is the village of Gasby, Very early on WMta Monday, bands of men sou stationed at the by-ways of the parish, who demand toll of all pedestrians. Should they refuse, they are-seised, hoisted on a stout pole, and oarrled to the village amidst the rhsirrt and jeers of the spectators. no origin of the “cheese rolling*’ which takes place yearly in the quiet little Tillage of BlrdHp, In the Chel-. tenham district, Is lost, like many more. In the mists of antiquity, but local sentiment forbids it dying out. A substantial round cheese is "set rolling down a steep hill with all the young ■ml active membeee of the population In hot pursuit. Before it can be captured many of the men are rolling after, but the cheese evades the 1 majority of them, and usually falls to the lot of one of the company wbe has managed to keep his feet.