The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-07
AMERICAN SOLDIERS HAVE SWEET TOOTH
 AND BUY CANDY
Canteens on Board Trans ports Are Unable Some times to Supply Demand
 Going Over'

London, June 30.-(Correspondence o the Associated Press. )-''Next for candy. cries the keeper of the ships canteen In front of his booth is long queue ot American soldiers. patiently awaiting their turn to buy the sweets and souve. nrs displayed on the counter and in the showcases. It is an incident of life of American soldiers on a transport bound for France.
 The canteen keeper is tired. Never in his experienced on British vessels has he encountered such rush of busi- ness He has sold his wares in all the seven seas to people of many nationali- ties, and if he were awarding a prize to the best customer it would be be- slowed promptly on the American soldier.
 T 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 out, there won't be a gumdrop left by the time we get halfway across"
 On some of the British transports that are taking Uncle Sans troops to France there 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. Aft CT the home variety of confections have been sold out, the soldiers begin to eX- pertinent with British sweets, of which toffee wins perhaps the most favor. If American pop" could be had, it would be consumed in large quanties Failing that, the troops drink spanish g1nser ale.
 One soldier Is known to have spent s15 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, such as shells on which are painted the American flag, attract many buyers, and before trip is ended almost every soldiers kit contains one or more of these treasures.
 On the British transports the barber shop is advertised on the door as "hair- dresser" As rule this sign is not understood by the American looking for a haircut or a shave. He thinks 1t Is 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 good deal of joshing from those who have fathomed the secret.
 The soldiers who patronize the hair dresser find the experience rather nov IL fmmovable upright chair, and queerer still, but extremely satisfactory, to be charged about half the price one pays in a first class American shop.
 It is on the ship that many Ameri- cans become acquainted for the first time with English money. Aside from R Sirey Canadian dime, they usually have neysr seen British coins, and when in exchange for an American bill they are given strange-looking 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 an 1owan of a Texan, puzzled and showing some disdain for the big Eng fish pennies.
 You put 'em in a sock to bean Hun with. I reckon" replies the south erner, hefting the coins. "Or, maybe" he adds. i've can use 'em to throw at submarines"
 A sergeant steps up with information volunteers. They're worth two cents apiece. That's good sized tip in Lon don"
 You fellows" the sergeant goes on, reaching for the Iowan's coins, "bet- ter get wise to this English dougft." He holds up a silver coin. You know what that isT'
 crowd has gathered to hear the lecture.
 That's shil1ing,- says a voice.
 Shilling your grandmother. That's a half-crown. It's equal to two shil-