European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 25, 1981, Darmstadt, Hesse                                February 1981 the stars and stripes Page 7 a Case of Tortoise Hare a strike by operators of Venice Motorboat taxis and Small ferries has virtually halted motorized transportation in the Lagoon City in but its been a Boom for the which entered its fourth Day came at the worst possible hundreds of thousands of tourists Are in Venice these Days for carnival festivities which traditionally precede the beginning of Venice who usually leave their boats Cov ered with Canvas during the slow and Windy Winter sea have been cashing in on the those tourists who do not take gondolas have been forced to walk the often confusing routes Over the Many Bridges and narrow streets to attend carnival which Are deliberately interspersed throughout the City to avoid the striking workers Are asking for an increase in salaries and the employment of 150 More personnel they say Are needed to service the City United press International Venice Motorboat taxis Are anchored at right during the strike which is just Fine with these Busy a lady in Paris named Billy the woman who ran the most famous Brothel in Paris for nearly four decades sits in her stately apartment surrounded by religious complaining about How today youth have cheapened a few Days ago my son drove me to one of these hot streets where women solicit sex on the said Madame it was utterly said the bleached blonde whose real name is Aline robot the women wore Coats and nothing when cars would pass they would open their Coats and expose their naked bodies to they had no no style and class have been the guiding forces for most of Madame billys 80 until two years she owned and operated a discreet House of pleasure that catered to the whims of the very famous and the very Rich in a fashionable neigh boyhood not far from the arc de when it a no frills visit with a trip upstairs Cost about on a Paris court sentenced Madame Billy to a suspended 10month prison sentence and imposed the Maxi mum Fine of against her on charges of running a House of Why this conviction now a surprised Madame Billy during the 37 years i ran my the police always knew i was there and i worked with i lasted through three republics and More than 20 police there were so Many High ranking government officials at my that it was some times referred to As a Branch of the for eign the Case against Madame Billy began shortly after she closed her some of her former barmaids set up a Tele phone service from within the they were arrested and one of them implicated Madame Madame Billy has said that she plans to Appeal the the House at 4 Rue Paul Valery that had been known As the Kleber Star or grand quatre is now a where misinformed patrons some times still appear in search of what i dont like the Kleber Star being referred to As a said Madame Bil who sports a fast smile and sparkling i Call it a Maison it was where the very Best of society inside the 11room House the Best Champagne gilded mirrors and luxurious velvets graced the Walls and the upstairs rooms were decorated with authentic Louis Xvi it was for Madame billys numerous and celebrated that the four Story House is Best former King Farouk of presi Dent Sukarno of movie ranking diplomats and the Creme de la Creme of the French political world All came Madame Billy i remember one time when the late Shah of Iran stopped she he stayed downstairs and drank Champagne while his friends went As a he put on an apron like a waiter and carried up bottle of Champagne on a tray to his they gave him a tip and he was in some Madame billys even became a family i remember one widow who brought her three sons she she wanted us to initiate them because they we rent paying attention to their the Mother said instead of listening to their they were drawing naked Pic Tures of during the War the great French Singer Edith Piaf but did not at Madame billys for three Singer Maurice Chevalier also would Stop in to sing to the guests it was also during the War that Madame Billy helped members of the French resistance and hid jews in her establish ment during the nazis fou year occupation of she some people said 1 should have been awarded the legion of Honor for my War time she but i guess that would have been too embarrassing for the in 1935 she married the late Singer Joseph then the Star of the Casino de shortly afterwards she opened her historic these she remains mostly at Home in her gracious apartment not far from her former Maison her living room and bedroom Are filled with Cruci plaster saints and wooden statues of the Virgin retirement has not suited Madame Billy my Days Are so Long she i often dream about fixing up a House getting some girls together and giving sex the style and class it associated press life magazines Mike Wells won Amsterdam world press photo contest with this picture of hunger in a