The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-01
Birmingham Man Longs for Some Biscuits in Air
 Tight Packages
ICE CREAM CANNOT
 BE HAD IN THE CITY
Not a Drop of Coca-C Cola in All Vera Cruz-Interesting Sidelights From Birmingham
 Viewpoint

Vera Cruz, Mex. June 2s-tSpecial.) What is said to have been the prettfest naval sight ever witnessed in Vera Cruz was had yesterday when all ships of all nations that were anchored here had all their flags displayed in honor of the birthday of Queen Mary of England. Tc use the terms of the sailors it was fol lowing an order to dress ship that everything was made so beautiful.
 At the noon hour a salute was fired and I am sure that could Englands s great Queen have been present she would have been deeply impressed with the evidences of good feeling towards her and her country manifested by the sailors of the fleet of Uncle Sam.
 These Englishmen down here seem to count themselves as one of us. The day I first reached here l had several thou sand papers for free distribution to the men of the fleet which were given them and while the American boats were com- ing alongside the "Esperanza to get the bundles the Englishmen came too and when I asked what they desired he re- piled. "IIi want my papers" and that same spirit stills shows here. There is also a strong bond between the French ships and ours, but they dc not hit off so well with the Spanish. We have all kinds of a time with the mail orderly or the French ships because they do not put the stamps on the front side of the letters, but on the back. On one of these ships I saw my first pair of wooder shoes in actual use Strange to say they seem comfortable
 Biscuit Cannot Be Had
 The makers of a national biscuit dc not seem to have tried to cultivate trade relations down here Very few crackers are to be had and they are never served at any hotel. There is one firm here that advertises cracker made by con cern in England on whose advertising i: boldly blazoned, biscuit makers to his majesty. We need the biscuit all right but prefer that they come from home II the air tight packages. Another thing too, is that these people down here do moi know what pie is. We have taught ont restaurant how to make them somewha like those at home, but somehow they cannot get them to taste rignr
 If I ever get back to good old Birming ham I intend to eat a whole sweet DO tato pie at one time, and I know that i I ever get another whack at Red Smith'' mothers biscuit there wifi be none left even though two dozen be cooked. Ho biscuit is thing we do not know dowi here, nor have we a speaking acquaint ance with butter.
 saw some good Alabama potatoes ant corn meal when the Mexican ship Tamau lipas arrived today from Pensacola. was told that the potatoes were growI near Mobile, while some came from Flor ida points. The ship was laden entirel, with groceries which commodities ar shipped in to help lower the cost of liv ing.
 No Coca-Col in Vera Cruz
 It is a strange thing to an American that coca-cola is not to be had here any where and yet this is city of abou 30,000 and the principal port of Mexico l am of the opinion that it would be saf, for the salesman l met on the train ii Texas to come down here and try hi hand on introducing that drink. Heavel knows they drink enough of other stuff Cognac seems to be favorite with them.
 One soft drink they have down her, that is good Is what they call a san garia. It is a kind of grape juice, bu has flavor that cannot be obtained a Z home.
 Ice cream is something you have hear, about but never see. The ice plant her, is small and has all it can do to ge 7 enough ice for necessary use so tha none can be had for making ice cream That is something else l expect to catcl up on when I get back to Birmingham Even as I write, in my minds eye, 2 can see the crowd at Parker's and othe places taking something cool. We d. not have any ice in the office at nigh and the water gets pretty hot, but it il 2 ell in the game and we go ahead with best''
 Some Peculiar Americans
 We have some funny kind of Ameri cans down here. I had supper tonigh at the Hotel Mexico and sat at the sam z table with refugee who has a plac y with Uncle Sam in the public works de partment. As usual we were discussin, the prospects for peace and when Presi dent Wilsons name was mentioned thi great CD product of the United State flared up and said Wilson is fool.p would like to be the head of the publi works department for just three minute to give that gentleman his walking pa pers' And yet he Is one of the fellow : that bellows loudest for American pro lection. l do not think I should care t. be lined up with people who elect fool for President.
 .Alabamians would be proud if the could see the fine work that Dr. vo, Ezdorf of Mobile is doing. He Is one O the foremost health officers here and tn safeguards thrown around the army an, the public commands the admiration Q every man who appreciates what goo, health means. I reckon these doctor must be right about mosquitoes causin, ' malaria. We do not let them bite u and we are free from it. BILL SYKES. AnDnYyUvvr ryNTvYn AnD~y