Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-06-24
ICANTEEN MAN
ON SHIPS HAS
A BUSY TINE
-
American Soldiers Stand in
Line in Front Of Counter
Awaiting Turn.

OF the A~SSOCldLeu IIcSS.J- MAJ III
candy" cries the keeper of the ships
canteen. In front of his booth Is a
lone queue of American soldiers. pa
tiently awaiting their turn to buy the
sweets and souvenirs displayed on the
counter and in the showcases. 1t is
an incident of life Of American sold
iers on a transport bound for France.
The canteen-keeper is tired. Never
in his experience or British vessels
has he encountered such a rush OF
business. He has sold his wares. in all
the seven seas to people of many ma
tionalities, and If he were awarding a
prize to h best customer 1t would be
bestowed promptly on the American
, soldier.
81 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 buy
left by the time we get half way
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 Sc
great that the supply, large though 1t
may have been, is quickly exhausted.
American chewing gum is next IN
popularity. After the home variety OF
CONNECTIONS have been sold out, the
British sweets. of which toffee wins
perhaps the most favor. If American
"pop'' could be had, it would be con-
sumed in large quantities. Failing
that, the troops drink Spanish ginger
ale.
-. One soldier is known to have spent
!. SIS for candy and ginger ale. He
probably would have spent more be-
fore the ship reached port. but M
day, greatly to his astonlsnment, ne
/. became seaSick.
The canteen curios, such as shells
on which are painted the American
flag, attract many buyers, and before
-. the 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 a rule this sign is
- not understood by the American look
ling for a haircut or a shave. He
thinks it is a place for women to
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 Of
! ioshing from those who nave 1athom-
ed the secret.
The soldiers who p%atronize the
hair-dresser fine the experience rather
novel. 1t seems queer to be shaved
in an immovable upright chair, and
aueerer still. but extremely satisfac-
tory, to be charged about half
price one pays in a first class Amerl-
can shop.
! 1t is on the ship that many Ameri-
cans become acquainted for h 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 looking
pieces Of silver and big disks Of cop
per, they register, in the language OF
* the movies, wide-eyed interest
: "What ar these stove lids for?'
{ asks an Iowan of a Texan, puzzled and
;. showing some -disdain for the bic
." English pennies.
you put 'em in a sock to bean a
Hun with, I reckon" replies the
maybe" he adds, I'VE can use 'em to
4 throw at submarines"
"A sergeant steps up with informa-
ton. "You use those things for
tips" he volunteers, They're worth
two cents apiece. That's a good sized
tip in London"
you fellows the sergeant goes on
reaching for the Iowan's coins, "better
HI S6l WISE u IIAlo LIDO ~oNSAs
holds up a silver coin. "You know
what that is?"
"A crowd has gathered to hear the
lecture.
81 ttAThat's a shilling" says a voice.
RI. SHILLING your grandmother. That's
a half crown. It's equal to two shil-
1ings and six pence. You van to be
careful not to get it mixed up with
one Of these t%wo-shilling pieces that's
nearly the same SIZE"
How much is a shilling?" querie.
the Texan.
"About two bits" says the sergeant
who halls from California. cit!
equal to two Of these six pences."
He gives the coins back to theil
owner and stalks of, followed by ad
miring eyes.
Say" observes the 1owan, I'VE go
a lot to learn. And when we get t.
{ France I guess we'll run into som
other kind of foolish money"
War certainly Is hell" says tn
Texan.