Americus times-recorder., 1919-06-11
British Hot Scenes at Nice Goo-send
to Biscuit-Hungry Captain From
Americus and Four Dixie Comrades

at the Chickamauga post were
Lieutenant j. Gittinger, of San
Antonio, Texas-over here, he is
a member of the I86th Aero
squadron, and Lieut.. H. L.
Mills, of Mississippi, and a for
mer Chattanooga newspaper
man.
The trip was broken by
change of cars at Cette, the
party encountering on the plat
form of the little station hun
dreds of French. 1t was $3.50
a. m. From there on, the ride
was made in a third class COM
partment. In the rush for seats
a wounded French officer trip
ped and fell and his care occu-
pied the attention of the crowd
until the next station was
reached. Still no sleep.
Eight O'Clock came and then
nine, but no buffet signs ap-
peared in the depots where the
little train stopped. The Hot
Biscuit" topic was again reviv-
ed, real hunger lending tragic
note to the conversation.
Near Mines the train stopped
for water and a mad dash for a
doorway bearing sign Cafe"
disappointment followed, how
ever, for the sandwiches that
the restaurant boasted were
made of coarse black bread and
horse meat.
At Tarascon, the dinky local
discharged its passengers into
the sunlight of broad square,
bordered with camelia and palm
trees and with tiny tables spread
in the shade. The Southerners
made dive for food but were
told they could not be served
for an hour.
Freshly packed figs and dates,
oranges and maodarins right off
the trees and English walnuts
from street vender helped to
assuage the ache below the
belt'until the dinner gong sound
ed. Still they longed for "Hot
Biscuit"
Reach Marseilles.
By dinner time they reached
Marseilles. Men and women in
the quaint costumes of many
countries filled the streets, doz-
ems of sailing vessels lay peace
fully at anchor in the harbor
and a soft breeze from the
blue Mediterranean shook pc
tails from peach and almond
blossoms over garden walls in
to the sidewalks that led to the
water front.
The best food in France is
served there and the meal that
night would have satisfied con-
nosieur for the menu included
many delicacies not obtainable
elsewhere. But the folks from
Dixie were not in the humor for
anything but hot biscuit and the
old conversation continued to
wax and wane.
Mental telepathy may have
had something to do it for three
days later, reaching Nice after
is siX-hour ride, they halted at
a British tea room for a bit to
eat. They had an idea it would
be possible to get a cookie or
two or a cup of tea if one had
the price of dinner back home
in his pocket, so they lounged
comfortably around a tiny table
in a corner.
A trim English maid appeared
with a menu card. Hot soonest"
she asked. Now no member of
the party had ever eaten a hot
scone, but each was perfectly
willing to try a hot scone since
it appeared to be the piece de
resistance of the menu, so six
were ordered.
Imagine the joy of the crowd
when the scones turned out to
be biscuit served piping hot with
butter running out of the mid
die.
"Holy smokes" said one of
the fellows. "What have we
here"
A bit furnished convincing
proof that the scone was enough
like the real article to make the
crowd admit their wish had
come true.
The news spread at Nice, and
that's why Southerners forsake
the promenade every afternoon
at and drop in to tea at the
little shop facing the Jardin
Public.