Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 179, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1918 — YANKS BUY OUT SHIP’S CANTEEN [ARTICLE]

YANKS BUY OUT SHIP’S CANTEEN

Britisher Tired Out by Americans Who Purchase Everything in Sight. HAVE WEAKNESS FOR CANDY One Soldier Spends sls for Sweets and Ginger Ale and Is Only Stopped by Seasickness—Discover English Money. London. —“Next for candy,” cried the keeper of the ship’s canteen. In front of his booth is a long queue of American soldiers, patiently awaiting their turn to buy the sweets and souvenirs displayed on the counter and in the showcases. It is an Incident of life of American soldiers on a transportbound for France. The canteen-keeper is tired. Never in his experience on British vessels has he encountered such a rush of business. He has sold his wares tn all the seven seas to people of many nationalities, and if he were awarding a prize to the best customer it would be bestowed promptly on the American soldier. “I say,” he exclaimed to the chief steward after he had closed shop the first day out, “what a sweet tooth they have! At the rate they’re buying me there won’t be a gumdrop left by the time we get halfway across.” Have Sweet Tooth. On some of the British transports that are taking Uncle Sam’s troops to France are as many as five canteens. The demand for chocolates is so great that the supply, large though it may have been, is quickly exhausted. American chewing gum is next in popularity. After the home variety of confections have been sold out, the soldiers begin to experiment with British sweets, of which toffee wins perhaps the most favor. If American “pop” could be had, it would be consumed in large quantities. Failing that, the troops drink Spanish ginger ale. One soldier is known to have spent

sls for candy and ginger ale. He probably would have spent more before the ship reached port, but one day. greatly to his astonishment, he became seasick. The canteen curios, spch as shells on which are painted the American flag, attract many buyers, and before the trip Is ended almost every soldier’s kit contains one or more of these treasures. On the British transports the barber shop Is advertised on the door as “Hairdresser.” As a rule this sign Is not understood by the American looking for a haircut or a shave. He thinks it is a place for women to-have their hair dressed, and he passes it by. When he confesses to his comrades that he can’t find the barber shop, he is made the victim of a good deal pt joshing from those who have fathomed the secret. The soldiers who patronize the hairdresser And the experience rather novel. It seems queer to be shaved in an immovable upright chair, and queerer still, but extremely satisfactory. to be charged half the price one pays in a first-class American shop. “Discover" English Money. It is on the ship that many Americans become acquainted for the first time with English money. Aside from a stray Canadian dime, they usually have never seen British coins, and when in exchange for an American bill they are given strange-jooking pieces of silver and big disks of copper, they register, in the language of the movies, wide-eyed Interest. “What are these stove lids for?” asks ap lowan of a Texan, puzzled and showing some disdain for the big English pennies. “You put ’em in a sock to bean a Hun with, I reckon,” replies the Southerner, hefting the coins. “Or, maybe,” he adds, “we can use ’em to throw; at submarines.” A sergeant steps up with information. “You use those things for tips,” he volunteers. “They’re worth tw’o cents apiece. That’s a good-sized tip In London.” . “You fellows,” the sergeant goes on.

reaching for the lowan’s coins, “better get wise to this English dough.” He holds up a silver coin. “You know what that is?” A crowd has gathered to hear the lecture. - “That’s a shilling,” says a voice., “Shilling your grandmother. That’s a halfcrown. It’s equal to two shillings and a sixpence. You want to be careful get it mixed up with one of theslrtwo-shllling pieces that’s nearly the same size.” “How much Is a shilling?” queries the Texan. .“About two bits,” says the sergeant, who halls from California. “It’s equal to two of these sixpences.” t He gives the coins back to their owner and stalks off, followed by admiring eyes. “Say,” observes the lowan, “we got a lot to learn. And when we get to France, I guess we’ll run into some other kind of foolish money.” “War certainly is hell.” says the Texan.