The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-03
He VISITS CASTLE
Francis Willard Writes of Ex-
perience in France.
Tower Of French Fort Nearby
Was Built Sc B. C..
COUNTESS WAS AN AMERICAN
Now Her Gold Is Keeping Fa-
nous Old Place Intact.
Ensign Willard Is Son Mr.. and
Mrs. F. G. Willard, Topeka.

Ensign Francis Willard, of the
United States navy. has written to his
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Willard,
an account of his visit to an ancient
French castle. Ensign Willard has
met an old friend who is from his class
at Pelham, and is now attached to
one of the transports which has been
in the same conveys and ports as his
own ship. Pete" as this friend is
called, is a bridegroom of some five
months. The letter is. in part, as
follows:
All right, now to begin the day. At
10 a. m. a signal message was deliv-
inviting me over to dinner. I accepted
ana after cleaning up a little and
gaining consent of the executive Off
Ger to use our gig" the boats cox
swain drove me over to the (deleted)
in our twenty-mile per hour speed
boat-a regular thorobred that.
Wen before dinner we listened to
Pete sing a few popular sings, accom-
panying himself on the piano, and
then ditto with ukelele. After
"mess' we jumped into the (deleted)
boat and went ashore. First we went
thru famous old French fort which
looms high above the waters edge at
the border. The tower part of it was
built 56 B. c. by the Romans. Gold
Julius himself might hav- trod on the
same rocks as did. 1t is noted par
ticularly for its dungeons, and with
lanterns in hand we descended some
seventy feet below ground level into
innumerable prisons, torture pits, ETC.,
and each having a long history-three
of the nobility and many others. In
one an English spy confined for life,
stuck it out for seven months and
then kicked the bucket-showed us
where he had tried to dig out, ETC.;
chambers where the court sat and
priests received prayers. etc. A lot of
it was probably twentieth century hot
air, but it was exceedingly interesting
nevertheless. Next we we walked out
to the Count de Auglae's castle, one
and one half miles outside of town.
There were four of us in the party:
two other ensigns besides Pete and
myself. We were told repeatedly that
the count was a very inhospitable
chap to all common clay like our
selves; that his vast estate surrounded
by high walls, iron gates and guards
was strictly private, but this only made
the project more alluring, and SO we
soon arrived at the outer battlements
of the counts private estate. 1t seems
that some heiress by the name of
Stewart of the United States fell, for
the count or his title and ancient pos
sessions, and now it is her gold that is
keeping same intact She is about
Is years old and is quite a social
mademoselle around the countryside;
it is also said that her husband, the
count, spends most of his time and her
gold in Paris. Well, we avoided one
of the very imposing main gates we
passed and slipped in thru an old
rusty one on the side and walked up
thru rolling greens, woods, over little
bridges. etc. till we reached a main
road leading to the castle proper.
The grounds were well kent and
dotted with Colonel Hughes of Potwin,
statuarv. etc, only much more elabor-
ate. We went up the driveway till we
reached the castle. It had circular
walks, palms, and fancy gardening all
around in front and the very imposing
castle itself sat up high. You may
use your own Imagination. 1t would
take all Right to describe it. Off on
our left a kind of summer house eff
feet hclf enclosed with bushes was a
place of gathering and several high
United States army and naval officers