The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-07

| the most persistent and unyielding
| protesters against the violation of the
republican constitution by the second
after he had been chosen as head of
! the republic, was exiled and trans
| ported to an island at the mouth of
| the Amazon river.
+ Flight to America.
Political prisoners especially OBJ
noxious to the usurping powers in
France were sent to that place, where
most certain. But Gilbert Billiard was
not possessed of conquerable mind.
He devised a way of escape from his
prison, got to Dutch Guiana and was
there Joined by his family. They took
the first boat they could get to New
York. J. B. Billiard, the son of Gil
bert Billiard and father of Phil, was
then a young boy. While still a lad
he came to Topeka, and has made this
city his home ever since.
The tablet to the memory of Gilbert
Billiard bears this inscriptions: Gil
bert Billiard, 1S16-1S61, mayor of St
Leon, exiled to Cayenni following the
coup d'etat of December 2, 1851, died
in exile. This tablet has been placed
here to honor the memory of Citizen
Billiard, who was subjected to de-
portation and exile for having defend
ed the constitution of the republic
against the criminal attempt of De-
cember 2, 1851. Proceedings of the
municipal council of July 10, 1903.
This slab of marble is placed in to-
Street Billiard the Exile
Street Named for Him.
The proceedings of the council by
which a street was named for Billiard
state that the action is taken to keep
in memory the name of a man who
had attempted to defend the constitu-
ton and befriend the people. The
street ends at the foot of a hill on
the summit of which stood the home
of the Billiard family.
The pictures sent home by Phil
BiIlard include photograph of an an
Gent monastery which stooda on the
farm which Gilbert Billiard forfeited
by his loyalty to the freedom of
France The monastery was erected
In the eleventh century and was aban-
doned many years ago. In the time
when 1t is remembered by J. B. Bill
lard' II was used as granary. It is
still used for storing feed.
Phil Tells of Visit.
Among the papers sent hom by
Phi! was a copy of the record of the
birth of j. B. Billiard, taken from the
original records in St. Leon.
An excerpt from Pills letter, telling
Of his visit, is as follows:
the afternoon to visit a young lady
from Paris who tried to speak a bit
of English. Sunday afternoon a priest.
came to the Bardet house during my
absence. Rose Bardet came to the
chateau after me, and told me another
cousin was calling for me. His name
was Gilbert Bardet. When got back
the priest was in his skirts and funny
little flat hat. He jumped up and
greeted me my kissing me twice and
was SO overjoyed at seeing me that
he actually cried. He said he still had
seven years ago, in which you de-
scribed the mill to him. I enjoyed his
line of talk very much. He had rid
den q. bicycle ten kilos in the rain to
see me. He had to hurry back to do
some more something in one of his
two churches. He drank wine and
smoked cigarets like a regular French
man, and he has a bicycle, an auto.
some horses, a telephone, some fine
stock, and a lot of ground which he
cultivates himself since the war. He
seems to be greatly liked by every
one, and is thought to be reckless
driver when he can get enough gaso-
line for his motor car. He wants to
ride in an airplane now; SO promised
would be back with a two-seater
some time to take him up, which
may do.
"On Monday a man by the name
Of Louis David invited me to his house
for supper, and a durn fine supper it
was Had potato soup made with real
cream, chicken, veal, potatoes, lettuce,
cheese, wild and tame strawberries
with thick cream and sugar. The re-
pair crew I had sent for to repair my
machine, got back without the repairs,
so the plane had to- be loaded onto
trailer and taken back pulled by
Ford.
1.-THE monastery is on the mountain
The chapel is now being used as part
of a barn. The old well is still there,
and the people on the mountain use
the water from it. A gun range has
been built on the side of the mountain
opposite the village, but that is dilapi-
dated and only part of it standing.
According to the records, you were
born in the Maison Billiard in the town
and not on the farm. The house hal
had some additions made, but a part
Of the old house still stands.
Heard tonight there were some
testers who might be transferred from
this to another post, but 1 think I'll
remain here till I get a chance to go
where there is some real action.
after the war I think you wou1t
enjoy a trip over here to see your
birthplace and your relatives. Maybe
our priest relative would kiss you too,
and he might make a priest out of
Wouldn't that be fine?
Lovingly, L. P. B.
nTn0UEERIn RUUInHIEAEn-