The Washington times., 1922-10-16

perate plight into which I have
been plunged than the fact that I
have felt and recognized the neces-
sity Of barring to the world the
innermost secrets and most minute
detail Of my relations with Asa G.
Gambler.
Nothing could be more repugnant
TO me personally. 1t must be re-
pugnant to anyone reared in the
seclusion and with the shelteriAg
protection that was thrown about
my girlhood.
There are no more exclusive
people on earth than the French
aristocracy of Louisiana.
Emigres Clannish.
We have never felt ourselves bet
ter than our neighbors of English de-
scent. The haven furnished our
wretched ancestors, the Emigres,
forced to flee from France by the
horrors of the Reign of Terror, has
never been forgotten. But the French
artstocracy of Louisiana has always
felt that 1t is sufficient unto itself.
1t is proud, of course, but moro than
that, 1t is clannish
So in my early associates my COM
panions were chosen for me and the
circle was naturally limited. My
girlhood was spent on Pecan Grove
plantation in st. Bernard parish. 1t
was the original seat of the De Bou.
chelles in America.
History knows this plantation as
being the spot where General Grant,
after the taking of Vicksburg, made
his famous junction with the fleet OF
Farragut and practically sealed the
doom of the Confederacy.
Adjoining this plantation was that
of the Bayards, my mother being a
Bayard, and almost my entire. child
hood was spent in the quiet, though
entire social. atmosphere OF these
fine old river places. ..
Father in Politics.
My father, Onizime De Bouchelle,
was a member of the State senate
from st. Bernard, and ever since
can remember 1 have been intimately
acquainted with the leaders of the
political and social life of Louisiana.
He had also served with gallaltrv
in the Confederate armies, and 1t was
due to this fact that / came in con-
tact for the first time with Asa G.
Candler.<
was educated after the usual
fashion for girls Of good family Of
Louisiana. I attended parochial
school and later a convent, that be-
ing the accepted finishing for a girl
who Is expected to enter New Or
leans society.
My debut was made my first year
after completing my convent edu
cation, and for a while had all the
delights of social life in New Orleans.
and there is no more delightful social
life anywhere in the world, as any.
one who has enjoyed it will testify.
Married DIR. ROcquet.
continued my social activity until
after had married DIR. Adolph Roc
quet. He was Of fine old French
family, whose members had been sin.
innate friends of the de Bouchelles
and the Bayards for more than a CEN
tury. At the time 1t was supposed to
be a rather brilliant match for both
DR.. ,Rocquet and myself.
Soon after our marriage, though,
riffs came in our happiness; our~na-
tm es were entirely dissimilar. Frank.
ly, was not born to be a social but
terfly. I enjoy society, but enjoy 1t
in moderation. DR.. Rocquet's social
life was his life. I became deeply in
terested in the feministic movement.
DR.. Rocquet looked on 1t with the
sneering disregard of the usual old
line Bourbon. This brought me in in
timate contact with the leaders Of
politics, and I also began taking q
keen interest in the political affairs
of my State. DR.. Rocquet cared moth
ing for them.
Then I had always had love that
amounted to a passion for the old
Confederate soldier. My father wore
the gray, and wore 1t gallantly.
DIR. Rocquet, who was interested in
none of my activities, however, was
not inactive himself. He had ample
means and an utter disregard for the
Conventions.
Ugly stories began to reach me; a
woman too well known in New Or.
leans was mentioned in connection.