Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-26
portland Express, May I'D


Dr.. D. E McKim Of New York City
and hts assistant l. B. Jones. also o.
New York, have just arrived at the
Falmouth Hotel, preparatory TO sail
ing sometime the frs, Of the week or
the Thomson liner Fremona. in charge
OF the large consignment Of 100
French army horses. whose destina :.
ton is Bordeaux OF the 700 wal
horses but 21s arrived on Tuesday at
the East Deering stockyards, while
the balance Of the entire consignment
is due TO reach Portland from Mon
treal on Sunday morning.
This trip across will be the second
which the new American veterinary
has accomplished SO far this spring
His first voyage over was on the
steamship Chauplain from New York.
sailing on Easter Sunday Of this year.
The Champlail, which is a subsidiary
vessel Of the French line, was for
merry used for strictly South Aueri-
can trade She was then the biggest
passenger ship in that service, plying
from New YORK 20 Buenos Ayres. and
carrying large ca-soes Of coffee and
grain, as we'll as much human freight.
The Champlain, while engaged in the
active work of carrying war horses
from this country 10 France began,
gradually, 70 acquire the reputation
q being an actual "hoodoo ship fo-
in her four previous crossings. with
French veterinaries in charge. she
had lost. upon an average. 200 horses
10.
port Of Bordeaux. therefore, the
Champlain was very completely over
hauled, and was actually returned to
her former passenger service between
this country and South America.
Dr. Mckim may here be quoted as
saying that he greatly missed our
good old American breakfasts. dur
ing his brief absence from the
United States. both while on broad
the French steamships, and while On
shore at Bordeaux upon strictly
French soil. He stated that the bread.
in particular, was very poor upon the
steamship Champlain. Now as it is
a very we'll known and undeniable
fact that French coffee is nearly al
ways bad, and since the Gallo break
fast actually consists. in its entirety,
Of nothing more or less than bread
and coffee. the poverty OF these two
quite necessary articles is certainly
very regrettabIe, is not entirely un-
avoidable. On the other hand, more
over. it is extremely curious to note
that. with one accord. the French
veterinaries who have been making
frequent visits to Portland this win
ter have. one and all, made vigorous
complaints, TO the exact contrary
that our American breakfasts were
really too abundant for their mucn
daintier appetites.
The American veterinary found
everything rather high, in France
This advancement of prices is. how
ever, but a very feasible and naturai
consequence Of war and the exlstin-,
war conditions. There are very few
civilian males remaining in Bordeaux
at the present moment, and the town
end government are compelled 10 re-
sort to Algerian labor. TO very large
extent. These Algerians, like all IN
habitants Of an extremely warm ell
mate, are much inclined to natural
indisposition for work, and 1t Is,
therefore, due largely to this inheren'
laziness that such large quantities OF
copper, steel pig iron, tobacco. bacoh'
flour, sugar, etc. are lying in gigah
tic piles upon the Bordeaux wharVeS
waiting for their subsequent removal.
DR.. McKim ascribes this in some part
TO The scarcity Of capable help. but
in a much greater measure to the
natural inability of the French 20
manage transportation difficulties as
we'll as such conditions are handled
in the United States.
Another thing which struck DR.. Nc
Kim's attention in Bordeaux. as being
decidedly odd. was the fact that there
seemed to be so little enthusiasm in
France. Troop after troop went tramp
ing past the American veterinarys hotel
in Bordeaux, in full marching order, on
their way direct to the front. There was
absolutely no cheering whatever, as the
various regiments filed slowly past, in
fact. the numerous people about the city
streets were really Indifferent. almost to
the point Of contempt, and scarcely
deigned to turn their heads TO watch
their soldiers march past on their way
to probable death. Plenty of mourning
wells were seen everywhere about the
town. but Dr. Mckim was really ungal-
liant enough to admit that he thought
the very general adoption of the crepe
was largely and chiefly due to the ex-
tremely fascinating effect which it lent
to its dainty French wearers. AS to the
much Wanted civility and world-famed
politeness of the typical old-style French
man, he judged that the majority Of this
so called Gallo courtesy lies mainly In
the removal Of hats at the slightest OF
provocations, and in the saluting of one
another heartily and most resoundingly.
upon each extended cheek. He adds, for
his part, he has seen little of real polite
ness in the country across the seas.
DR.. McKim returned to this country
upon the s. S. Hudson of the French
Company Transatlantic Line, arriving in
New York City just a week ago Sunday.
He found the food upon the Hudson
sufficiently all right In quality. although
the portions were very small. and it was
almost an absolute impossibility to per-
suade the garcon to bring In reasonable
supply Of the same at any one particular
time. The Hudson was formerly used for
the purpose Of carrying steerage. In