LIFE O F T HE

' ABB E ADRIEN ROQUETTE " " CHA HT A -IMA

Compil ed and E dited by

R . E LD E R M S S B .

from material furnished

fri ds by en .

Published under auspice s of

B env e A ssemb Kn hts of Co umbus i ill ly , ig l ,

on the cente ar of his th n y bir .

W O R E A N E L N S , 1 9 1 3

3 J J n ’ T h e L . Go éh m o a omm n S . I A C t , N 0 j i.

A;

o r h t 1 9 1 3 C p y ig ,

B Y M B E L D E R U S A N . R . S . S

A l l r h t s r v e d ig s r e e .

T I N T R O D U C I O N .

Probably one of the most striking and picturesque figures in the later history of the lower Mississippi Val f ley i s that of the Abbe Rouquette , who lived his li e in

! and about N ew Orleans . Students of American His

of L a tory are well aware Salle, Bienville , Audubon and of the many others wh o have had a part in our early

al Louisiana development . The Abbe Rouquette seems most to have been the last of that long series of pioneers who instinctively and progressively worked from within

h i s for the betterment and welfare of people . h Himself a distinguished sc olar, he yet was imbued — ’ with a desire to help forward the lowly his life s greatest

‘ f el t d r awn duty was, in his Opinion , the mission work he towards among the Choctaw Indians , whose last villages , of M B L m east the ississippi , were near ay ou aco be , j ust f north o N ew O rleans . The Choctaw Indians in Colonial days were an exten s i ive tribe , occupying the territory , now Alabam a and M s s i ssi i e P on t ch ar t r i an pp , as far as the Lak north coast . The tribe have interested the Ethnologist because of superior qualities and traditions that seem d to indicate that they had wandered northward from ol d Mexico and A zt were probably of ec origin . Their location between the English plantations of the l ower Atlantic coast and the

of French settlements Louisiana, mad e them of consider able political interest . England laid claim to Carolina with an extent as far

West as the Mississippi River . This was set forth by Coxe 461 51 6 6 R D T I I N T O U C O N .

in 1 740. Some years later traders from Charleston came as far through the Choctaw country a s the Mississippi .

Tomahawks an d firearms were traded to these people, and

a the English tried to get them , with the Chickas ws and Natchez to surprise and exterminate the Louisiana pion

er . e s The Choctaws were friendly, however, and but little progress was made in setting them against their French neighbors . Capta in Bernard Romans i s the first E nglishman to

e a write intimately of these people , an exc edingly r re book

d 1 775 r to ay , was published by him in , afte he had spent

i s many years in their country . This book a famous source book and seems a faithful account of this fine Indian peo

wh o t o ple, were then quite numerous , according Romans , having some seventy villages . I mention Romans , the first white man to reside with these red men , to draw a contrast with Pere Rouquette , wh o was the last Ca ucasian to take up a home with these people prior to their transmigration to the Indian Ter

r i t or d . y, where they are to ay Romans was among them of his own volition as a — student originally but he later developed designs favor ing an alliance with t h e British in their effort to push their possessions westward . He was called away by the

Revolution against England, the Choctaws remained neu

tral in the war that followed, and continued, as before, — on good terms with the French trading post s frequently h visiting New Orleans, capital of t e Province of Louis iana . One of their very interesting villages was near Bayou I N T R O D U C T I O N .

n t . was Lacombe, o far from Lake Pontchartrain It to

h R ou this settlement that t e polished scholar , Adrien

uet t e h e t o q , retired when had determined to apply himself

a . a special work, impelled by great devotion There can hardly be any doubt that when the world h as becom e acquainted with the Abbe Rouquette he will rank among the distinguished figures of the nineteenth

of m century . His was a bright mind , great i agination , — wi th ideals and conc entra tion like all men of genius he wa s peculiar . The impressions of an infancy spent among a Choctaw Indian environment eventuall y lured him b a ck

f or a fie i on to that people whom he had acquired a great ct . Had he remained in Paris where he wa s educated the d world would know him to ay, without doubt, a s it does

Chateaubriand .

Hi s a h i s return to Louisi na, the development of love of h e the Faith , his going into Orders, all in t direction of the missionary life which seemed to him his. spiritual des — Hi tiny these were practical duties he had in mind . s great literary accomplishments were held by him secon dary in importance, and were not developed as they would

en vi r on m n t e have been in an of l tters . However it is as Natur e lover an d servant of man

’ a for God s s ke , that Pere Rouquette is remembered lo cally . The descendants of the Choctaws revere him a s a saint ; h i s deeds of charity have become the story of the “ ” Vi ews Cam e, h i s soul stirring oratory in Louisiana’ s

i s a two historical Cathedral part in its century traditions .

of A fine description Abbe Rouquette , written from

n . d of perso al observation by Dr Alexan er De M enil , St . 8 N R D C N I T O U T I O .

“ t e Louis, in his in eresting work entitl d Louisiana Writ er s is as follows :

1 74 a s ta On a warm day in February, 8 , I w s nding on Rue Royale , industriously engaged in idling away time

e m and youth , when I was startl d by a voice that came fro ‘ ’ ’ C es t l A bb e R ou u t t an Open doorway just behind me , q e e — i ” n : n t . u m m s a and the commere crossed herself . “ a — a I looked down the narrow street man , old in i years , yet strong and active , of about medium s ze , a little stooped, long black hair streaked with grey , and clad in the

wa s simple black clothes of a Catholic priest, leisurely

‘ — a passing along the sidewalk . Abbe Rouquette real saint ! ’ The words have often recurred to my memory

f ew since then . A years later I was delighted to learn that Abbe Rouquette had written several books , and was a poet ! ” I am very glad to contribute to the Abbe Rouquette

n ot h i s matter, a Choctaw vocabulary yet published , in

a s autograph which has recently turned up in Paris . It w sent t o me and now forms a part of my Americana collee tion .

a It is given , in part , as an addend to this very ex

’ cel l en t of relation the Abbe s life , which though much

fin e t o h i s belated is a tribute worth , his genius and his patriotism .

T . P . THOMPSON .

Chairman History Committee , m Bienville Asse bly,

Knights of Columbus .

N E 4 1 91 3 . W ORLEANS, July , P I C T R E O F . R E T U A OU Q U T E .

CHA PTER FIRST .

B IRTHPLACE .

‘ — New Orleans how varied are the thoughts evoked by ! ! thy name . Oh Queen City of the Southland Situated near the mouth of the great Mississippi— and possessing a — — capacious harbor to - day almost the eve of that gigantic

of — achievement , the completion the Panama Canal the would - b e seer has little difficulty in predicting a future greatness such as the most sanguine of her sons has never

f or O r l ean s m wh en dreamed of , New she will be the center of commercial enterprise and in touch with all the nations of the world . But these promises we will leave f or future ver ifica — of - tion , while we consider New Orleans to day . Visitors

on l come from all over the world , some p easure bent , some

b al m to seek the v winter sunshine, and some in the inter

f o ests of business . And as varied as the reasons r their

wav sojourn in the Crescent City, are the souvenirs taken a

of a memories ple sant company distinguished for courtesy ,

s s — of varied amu ement , gay crowds brilliant pageants and splendid buildings . There are the fine public institutions ,

th e the colleges and convents, hotels , banks and exchanges ,

a n d the churches and chapels , many quaint old corners w i n ith their reminiscences of other days , recalling most t er estin f ’ g periods o the city s history . One scene sure to be remembered is the kaleidoscopic 1 0 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE ,

of an d view Canal Street, with its vast emporiums of art luxury, and the ceaseless movement of busy toilers, butter

s flie of fashion , and various Spectators , coming and going all through the day, and well on into the wee small hours of the night as the trains come in from the lakeside resorts and add new - comers to replace those who have retired to their homes .

Another picture will be the wide avenues, with their

of beautiful shade trees, and the palatial residences the wealthy inhabitants , especially Esplanade, in the French

of section the city , running from the river back to Bayou

St . John ; and St . Charles Avenue , extending about eight

an al . miles above C Street , parallel with the river

Then , who that has been so fortunate as to witness the

- Carnival parades, can ever forget the fairy like , the weird and fanta stic , the brilliantly beautiful floats of the night

n processions , maki g the rustic rub his eves and wonder if “ he be not under the power of some ge-n u of the Arabian ” Nights .

B ut it was n ot the New Orleans of to - day that wel comed the advent into life of Adrien Rouquette , the sub

ect 26 1 81 3 — j of this sketch , born February , , and in order to understa nd correctly many of the circumstances that

f or influenced his youth , we will glance a few moments

of over the historical background his birthplace . A‘lthough in 1 8 1 3 the city could claim almost a cen

i t s tury of existence, development had naturally been much retarded by the conflicts with surrounding Indian tribes .

Al a a n d The Tunicas , abamas , Chickas ws , Natchez other R E S I D E N E C .

L A K E P O N T C HA R T R AI N

- POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 1 1 children of the soil were loath to see the palefaces

di of n from over the seas , spossess them their hunti g grounds . Besides these fierce foes who menaced the very f l life o the young colony , there were so many politica

of s o changes , that stability government , necessary to pro

a s gress , w a boon long desired before it was finally granted . We can say that New Orleans was founded about

1 722 f of n e , when the o ficers and archives the provi ce wer

d t o s we remove from Biloxi the present ite ; the city , if

s of may use o dignified a name , consisting at that time ,

e ch a el perhaps , a hundr d cabins, a warehouse , a little p

and about two hundred inhabita nts . These were chiefly Canadians who had settled upon the spot chosen by Bien ville some twenty years after his discovery of the mouth — of the Mississippi and were t o prove by experience whether the place were a suitable location by the fertility of its soil and i t s immunity from the deva stating floods

of the river during the springtime . With regard to commerce the colony was very favor

ably located midway between Mobil e and Natchez , being about a hundred miles from the Gulf and within easy th access to Lake Pontchartrain , by e picturesque little

n ow a s . a stream known Bayou St John , which flowed b ck of the Spot selected by Bienville f or the city he wished to

’ of e d r l n s found in honor the Duk O ea . It would be useless to dwell at length upon the vi ci ssi

tudes of the new - born town in the course of the 1 8th Cen

a s tury , the Colony passed from French control t o Spanish 1 2 or T HE LIFE ABBE ROUQUETTE , domination and thence wa s won back to France by the diplomacy of Napoleon Bonaparte . Meanwhile before the dawn of 1 800 there were inter

l n al disturbances which made th e A m er i can Government

e a of v ry desirous to obt in possession the territory . First ,

a a in order to f cilit te commerce, and secondly, to obviate the threatened war between the Western States and the Spanish authorities in New Orleans— who refused not only to sell or grant any lands to a citizen of the United

States , but even forbade any deposit of merchandise in New Orleans— and thus destroyed all the commercial

a hopes founded by the United St tes , which looked upon the Mississippi as the natural channel for transportation and New Orleans a s a center for export and the most con v en i en t receiving port .

efier s on Thomas J , President of the United States at the tim e when Napoleon regained Louisiana , knew how loyal the States had been to the Union and h ow they had reje cted a l l the Spanish off ers to forego allegiance to the central government in order to join th e colony of Louis

so b a s iana , e resolved to do all that w possible to remove the causes of complaint and disturbance . James Monroe was accordingly despatched to France to open negotiations — f or t h e purchase of New Orleans a s soon a s it was known that the colony had been ceded back to N apoleon— and the chief object Jef f erson had in view was to obtain right of way through the Mississippi de lta to the Gulf .

a N poleon , realizing the strained relations between a Engl nd and France , was willing to sell, not only

1 4 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE , ily understand that the feelings be tween the old residents a n d the new - comers were somewhat strained for a long — time and thus divided the city into the French and E u — glish sections of which Canal Street was the dividing line .

see Thus we that New Orleans , though peopled by

a various n tionalities, was now secure under the home gov er n m en t with no more danger of being the shut tlecock be tween the battledores of European unrest ; progress could now keep pace with the ambition of the citizens, and a period of calm seemed about to dawn during which the fair Crescent City could expand and grow in beauty, wealth and importance . The Indian tribes which had given so much trouble 1 8 all during the th Century were now at peace, but a more — powerful foe wa s approaching and while disturbing the

plans for comme rce and improvement. wa s to add a new

a page of glory to the history of New Orleans . All are f miliar with the thrilling account of General Jackson ’ s splendid victory at the Battle of New Orleans— which — closed our contest with England so it were needless to do mo r e than lay a new tribute of praise and gratitude b e side the countless others presented to our heroic com

wa s mander . New Orleans saved , and without losses to mourn was under these glorious auspices ready to begin a

e new p riod of rapid development . These few historical facts merely noting the import a n t and interesting events which illustrated the period pre c eding and at the time of the birth of Adrien form a nec - POET MISS I ONARY OF LOUISIA NA . 1 5

— essary foundation to the sketch of h i s life for how can

’ ’ one form a correct conception of the child s and the man s

an d s life if surroundings circumstances , so potent factor i n ? character formation , be unknown

m r It is not possible to ention all , o to go into detail , but the reader will be able to form some idea of the boy

a n d f e hood home environment o Adrien Rouqu tte . — — All these vicissitudes all these change s played no little part in moulding the characters of the new race born of the descendants of French , Spanish and English col

n i st s e i n o , and the sons of New Orleans were prud nt coun cil, brave and gallant in warfare, generous in hospitality, and deeply attached to the pure pleasures of a home life ,

W a t here urbanity, grace and good t s e made their homes a

r efin ed — t rendezvous for the cultured and , and so brillian were th e assemblies which grouped together the elite of the city, that a European might easily fancy the beautiful women in their silks and laces and jewels, and the gallant men so distinguished and noble , to be in the salon of a i S t h n e. Madame Recamier, or de we c

The Faubourg St . Jean might have been termed the garden district of the growing city , which was then com

v prised between Bien ille, North Rampart, Hospital and

- the river front . A short drive back brought into view the beautiful little Bayou which gave its name to the section ” St . Jean . On its sloping banks were the country homes of the well - to - do citizens who owned plantations between — the city and th e Bayou and across the laughing ripples of the winding stream the sunlight frolicked as it danced 1 6 LIFE OF THE ABBE B OUQUETTE

es through the branches of the giant oaks and pecan tre , which were yet undisturbed and sheltered remnants of the

Choctaw Indian tribe .

J . BAYOU ST . OHN

In the forests of God h ow peaceful i s prayer !

’ With Natures own Music no Art can compare .

The waves of the Bayou bring balm to my heart,

How happy to feel of this scen e I am part . t Hearing the wind speaking low o the trees ,

t o While the tremor of leaves in response the breeze ,

t o th e e Lifts up the soul heavens s rene , Where earth fades away and God only i s seen

Only His voice in the silence resounds ,

A n d heavenly j oy through my being abounds .

AB B E B OU Q UETTE .

Many of the wealthy Creole families had made their

i n homes this pleasant l ocality, and among the number was

- - d Mr . Rouquette , a well known , highly respected and istin

i h en gu s ed gentleman of French d escent . He was well dowed with the goods of this world and Madame Rou qu ett e wa s in every way fitted to adorn and direct her

luxurious home and growing family . We can easily pic

ol d i t s ture to ourselves this colonial residence , with wide verandas curtained from the tropical sun by a verdant screen of honeysuckle and climbing roses ; with its broad halls and spacious apartments in which most of the arti

f or cles , whether comfort or ornament , had come across

as the se with the French ancestors . B Y S T J HN A OU . O .

CO L O N I A L R E S I D E N C E

- 1 7 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

n ot Wide gardens surrounded the house , those stately formal creations which make on e recall Washington Ir

’ vi n g s description of a Dutch parlor in New Amsterdam , ff where everything is in prim , sti , unattractive symmetry — — n either was it the opposite style of landscape garden ol d wherein art rather hides nature, but it was the sweet fashioned garden when walks curved their shell borders amid beds of luxurious and brilliant if simple flowers so loved by our grandmothers long ago . h Th ere were t e periwinkle, verbena , marigold , and coxcomb nodding as gayly in the balmy breeze as the rarest exotic of tod ay could do . Nowhere were the roses more beautiful , the violets more fragrant and the lilies ’ more dazzling and stately than in Madame R ouquett e s

a n own — g rde , carefully tended by her hands and all the year round the air was laden with the sweet perfume of

or . Chinese olive , magnolia fuscata shrub mignonette

Such was the birthplace and home of Adrien Rouquette . B ut here and there at n o great distance were Indian — villages the name of one still remaining t o designate the

of T h u i t oul as of site the c o p . The proximity the home of Adri en to the woods where the Choctaws roamed and the

m i n flu villages where their wigwams were , tended uch to ence young Adrien . So thus we see him at the beginning

of h o of life , the child wealthy parents , w owned many — negro slaves and coming in contact from h i s earliest years with the race f or whose salvation his future life was

so l to be entire y devoted , as the Apostle of the Choctaws . N D CHAPTER SECO .

CHI LD HO O D

New Orleans at the time of Adrien ’ s birth had b ut one

c . . a hurch, under the patronage of St Louis The origin l 1 788 frame chapel was destroyed by fire in March , , and the n e i t s w edifice , which owed existence to the generosity of

D on Al Andres monaster, of Roxas, a Spanish Knight and

R e i st or g of the Supreme Court in New Orleans , was 4 1 79 . opened for public worship on Christmas day ,

S i d el l a The celebrated and revered Antonio de , “ ” l e n familiarly called bon Pere A toine , was no doubt ’ the Officiant at the ceremony of little Adri en R ouquette s

a e son of baptism, privilege very the Crescent City

a would feel honored to claim . Thus did the sacred l ver

a of h i s of regener tion , from the dawn existence, make the little child a citiz en of heaven and the brother o f the angels . But it did not transform his natural tempera

n ment , and from his earliest infancy Adrien ma ifested

c a wilful , petulant disposition , whi h soon made him the supreme master of the nursery and h i s devoted black “ ” “ ” Mammy . Little Massa Adrien ruled her completely , “ ” an d when pralines and d es petits gateaux could not be obtained by cajoleries they were generally yielded up to

’ pacify her young master s violent outbursts of temper . Yet his was not a morose nature and the clouds soon m drifted away to give place to sunshine . Fro the time

20 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROU QUETTE, tion and unconsciously rej oicing in the absence Of any

O ff b a r e obstacle, he ran as fast as a to overtake the Choc taw youths ere they reached the Bayou . They were by

’ so no means loath to accept the little boy s comradeship , Adrien was placed in the pirogue an d in a few moments they were on the Opposite bank of the stream under the

h e s hade of the great trees , enjoying the fresh breeze and t perfume of the young vegetation still sparkling with dew .

The vast solitude pleased and awed the child, the flowers

of attracted him , the songs the birds thrilled him with a

a saw j oy he could not underst nd , and when he the rabbits jump about and heard the squirrels chatter in the branches above his head , he exulted in the possession of a happi ness to which his whole nature seemed to go out , and he thought nothing could be more desirable than to live f or ever there in the forest .

Meanwhile at hom e no such sentiments were enter

’ t ai n m ed . A few moments after Adrien s departure, Mam y

e t o — a cam get him for a trip to the garden morning walk, but no where wa s the child to be found . She searched the house and grounds in vain , and then crying bitterly over

sh e the loss Of her favorite, whom vaguely feared to have — — fallen int o the Bayou as s h e noticed the Open gate she went in to tell her mistress of Adrien ’ s disappearance and to get help to find him . Mada me Rouquette a t once summoned several young

‘ ” slaves, who were devoted to their young Mars Adrien , f and sent them in di ferent directions to look for him . One of these had also remarked the Open gate, so he went at B O G E F L Y I V E R U A A A R .

H P E L A T H I N C H B C A C U A .

-M 2 POET ISSIONARY OF LOU ISIANA . 1

o nce to the Bayou, and saw the pirogue fastened on the

O pposite side . The idea occurred to him that Adrien might R ’ have gone over with the Indians , so seizing the ouquett e s

own . boat , he crossed and landed at the same Spot Then stooping h e examined the footprints in the moist earth a n d s aw what made him sure that h i s quest would prove s n ot uccessful . Sure enough he had gone far when shouts of laughter from the little runaway guided h i m to the g roup of children where Adrien was e njoying his freedom to the utmost . It did not take long t o swing the truant to h i s shoulder a n d hasten homewa rd to allay the anxieties of Madame

Rouquette and Mammy . When the little fellow burst into the room , breathless and eagerly poured forth the joy and happiness he had experienced and Showed the treasures he had received from his young Indian friends ,

Mammy could only smile, while Madame tried to look

s grave . She drew her little on close beside her and tried t o make him understand that h i s running away had given i l her much pain and worry . At the conclusion the m p u sive child flung h i s arms around his mother ’ s neck and promised never again t ogo with h i s dear Choctaw com rades without letting her know . And so th e ep isode passed away . By the time Adrien had reached the age o f S i x all were accustomed to see him go O ff with h i s dusky w playmates , and he a s even allowed to seek them from time to time in their wigwams— and he loved nothing half so well a s to dress like on e of them and revel in the wild

’ woods, where , young as he was, God s presence in the 22 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE, primeval forest impressed h i s innocent mind with a de

. s vout sense of reverence . Adrien was naturally a piou ’ was child, and from the time when at his mother s knee he

o taught t o lisp the sweet names f Jesus and Mary, he had loved to offer his heart to our Lord . And especially when far from the haunts of civilization did he realize the O m — n ip r esen ce and omniscience of the Creator though h e

h i s h could hardly have told you why . But was not t e

of t o G od calm , quiet elevation the soul , it was more like

i f sea the impetuous rush ng O the torrent to the .

So when he stole away to j oin his red - skinned com

h a s e rades , e would first drink in , it were, the sweet sens

’ f or of God s nearness, which he always felt when in the

s a s e t . Then away he would speed swift as any Indian lad , and with his friends would race through the tangled S undergrowth of our outhern woodlands , or vie with any in agility in climbing a tree, and prove himself as skilful as any in fishing or in trapping . He listened to the Indian chants , and looked at their dances, and ere long could

s b j oin with them as one of the tribe, o perfectly had e ac quired the language , tone and gesture . What more fitting preparation could Divine Provi dence have planned f or one whose future Sphere O f action — was to be among these same Choctaw Indians D en g M eus

m u n ’ qu a ad mi r ab i l e mitt s t as su t . CHA PTER THIRD .

YOU TH A N D SCHOOLDAYS .

m Such a wild existence , untrammeled by the conve ti on al i ti es of civilized life suited young Rouquette ex actl was m s o y, and he absent so Often and re ained away

wa s S O t long, and habituated to the Indian customs tha before his eighth year dawned he could easily have been mistaken for a little Indian h ad a stranger met th e child roving through the woods or playin g in the Indian vil lages with the Choctaw children . Madame Rouquette at first thought little of her son ’ s “ : fancy for this sort of life , saying He is young and will

o e a n t be harm d at all by cont ct with the poor , simple In

i n dians, and the open air exercise will strengthen and f vigor at e him physically . Besides there is plenty o time ” to think of taming him wh en he grows Older . But when h e reached his eighth year and repulsed al l attempts to confine him and teach him aught save

Indian craft, Madame Rouquette grew anxious and wished she had n ot allowed Adrien such freedom of intercourse

wa s with the savages . It a little late , but S h e could only see the matter from a human standpoint and did n ot know that sh e had been unconsciously a iding the designs

’ r of God s P ovidence .

n ow e She determined to sever th se Old connections ,

and by placing Adrien at school , where h e could meet 24 LIFE OF THE AB BE ROUQUETTE

a h i s children of his own rank and st tion , turn thoughts in another direction . “ ’ At that. time the College d orleans was the best equipped and most frequented by the aristocracy of the

O our wa s h i s city . S young hero formally entered , and mother drew a sigh of relief as sh e thought that the task was removed from her to the professors . But the life Adrien had led up to that period had not prepared him to sit quietly on the bench es Of the classroom ; nor did he find his new friends half as entertaining a s the Indian

’ d of lads . How coul the prosy rules grammar fix the child s

of attention when the trill a mocking bird , or perfume laden breeze from the woodland reminded him of the de lights h i s forest friends were enj oying while h e was i m p r i s

O f — oued and had to undergo the penance study dry, dull

! a s m s ! and uninteresting It w i po sible He could not , thus, at

of so a s once change his mode existence, and at school w w oefully idle , ever on the watch for a fair Opportunity to N escape and run away to the woods . ot infrequently would Adrien plan a whole day of freedom , and on such

o occasions never g near the college ; instead , seek the

of shortest road to the haunts his wild comrades , whom he had planned to meet for an excursion of hunting or

fishing . Under such circumstances the beginning of Adrien ’ s

n or education was neither agreeable to the professors ,

Ye t very beneficial to the child . , by dint of persevering ff e orts , the foundations were laid for the brilliant after i career , when , as a writer , young Rouquette won h s lau

26 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROU QUETTE,

’ of th—e city had not left her child s soul a s innocent and pure and while his mind had little knowl edge from

of books , it was stored with many a lesson nature learned from the children of the forest .

Nothing tells more upon the health than worry , and by the Summer of 1 822 Madame Rouquette was almost an invalid . Physicians recommended a change Of air, but

a s f S h e it w di ficult to leave home , and thought that if

’ relieved from the responsibility Of watching over Adrien ,

r . f sh f o at least the two months o vacation , e could more easily recuperate and at the same ti m e l gi ve the b oy a pleasure often longed f or and much anticipated . The ful fil m en t would approach as near as possible the acme of

O his ambition . S it was arranged that Adrien would pay

t o h i s a long visit uncle, whose home was Situated on

Bayou Lacombe , about half way between Mandeville and

h i s s Pearl River . There he dwelt with family quiet and e cluded in the heart Of the pine lands on the banks of the

n o wh o Bayou , with neighbors but the Choctaws , lived here f and there , cultivating their little plots o ground and bring ing to New Orleans the surplus Of their crops and the va rions herbs so much prized by the old Creole cooks . A drive to the lake and a short trip across it found

e Adrien at Mandeville , wher his uncle was awaiting

. a him Very soon they reached home , very simple but ! comfortable dwelling, and Adrien was welcomed by h i s sh e at y cousins, who gaz d him quite timidly at first .

He soon made friends , and determined to lose not one iota of e t the rustic pleasur s the surroundings seemed o promis e . L A K E P O N T C HA R T R A I N

B Y O P I T R E A U C U .

- 27 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

Ere long Adrien was the life of all their sports and fore most in every expedition on pleasure bent . What games they had on the pine n eedles of the woods ! What picnics when they spent the whole d ay abroad ! A n d how the days

! A w a s t o flew away ugust about close , and in a few n davs A drien wa s t o return to N ew O rleans . T h e you g people planned one m ore d ay of fine Sport ; they would go O ff t o on e of t h e deep pools in which the fish seemed to con

a a e l ow g r eg te during dry we th r , when the water was in

on e the Bayou . There they would spend the day . Early

u t a morning they started o , and fter a delightful ramble

wa s reached a spot famous f or i t s fine fishing . There a rather wide expanse of water and f or some distance down the stream was quite deep and covered with those lovely lavender blossoms of the water - hyacinths s o common in

r ou Louisiana bayous . The chil dren at Once set to work preparing the fish

f or t h e ing tackle , digging bait , and gathering fagots for the fire ; for they intended to cook their dinner and enj oy fi their sh on the Spot .

a s n ot Very soon all w quiet, a word was Spoken for

O f fin n fear frightening away the y treasures , and ere long on e could hear a smothered exclamation here and there as

n ot first on e and then anothe r l anded a fine fish . It did

t ffi f r o n take very long o catch su cient o their w repast , and still have a good string t o carry home . Then the fire was

an set a crackling and busy fingers prepared the fish , d soon

- w young appetites , whetted by the pine scented air , ere enjoying the toothsome morsels . O F T HE 2 8 LIFE ABBE ROUQUETTE ,

The Sylvan banquet ended , the basket. packed and e verything ready to carry home , the children wandered up and down gathering flowers a n d mosses and delicate ferns .

Little Marie , who had sworn allegiance to Adrien, and s eemed to think her city cousin could accomplish any thing, asked him to help her Obtain some water lilies .

Some grew so near the shore she could almost reach them .

t o Adrien assented , and looked about for some means get

e a . to them , for while near the shor , they were beyond re ch

O l After looking about for some time, he spied an d delap i d at ed pirogue abandoned as worthless by some Indian .

Adrien pulled it out , seized a long stick , and was about to push o ut toward the flowers when Marie aske d to go with him , and without considering the pros and cons both chil

o dren were soon seated in the little b at, and Adrien , warn

e ing Mari to sit erect in the center and keep the balance , pushed out from the shore . In a few seconds they were

O f in the midst of the bed flowers, had gathered large bunches and were fast returning, when a water snake

e glided out beside the canoe so n ar that Marie started , leaned t o on e side and before either realized what had hap pened both children were in the water . Adrien had been too Often with the Indians along Bayou St . John not to have learned to swim , and he knew the water was Shal l ow s o , did not lose his presence of mind .

so The pirogue , bottom up , was beside him , he held to

. n it and looked for Marie Though the water was ot deep ,

wa s sh it far beyond her depth , and e had gone down out - 29 POET MISSIONARY O F LOUISIANA .

of sight, but only to rise in a minute . When she came to the surface Adrien caught her by the hair , drew her to the f t oo on . or boat , and she held Then Adrien looked his

wa s out of . a on stick , but it reach Me nwhile the boys

Shore were frightened , but not helpless . They took in the

t o situation at a glance and in less time than it takes tell , had cut a long sapling and held it out to Adrien , and in a few moments both children were standing on terra fir m a

- laughing at each others half drowned appearance .

a s n ot S O Luckily the fire w yet dead , it was soon blaz ing and the hero and heroine of the adventure were drying their garments and able to lament th e loss of the hya

i n h c t s .

The Shadows of evening were already making a twilight under the pine trees when they reached

t o of . home, eager recount the events their day Nat ur al l f y Adrien was the hero o the occasion, and he seemed

t of to experience a sor proprietorship over Marie, feeling that he had saved her life . She in turn looked upon him as her preserver and the ideal Of all that was noble an d

s o heroic , a bond of mutual sympathy was formed between the little cousins , and in later years Adrien used to say

wa s that it then he met his first Ata la . A few days later Madame Rouquette sent a servant to bring her son home, and in a few more days he wa s again

’ at the College d Orleans dreaming of the happy days spent on Bayou Lacombe . I wonder if some sweet voice did n ot

on e ? i whisper that it would day be his home Strange , n

d i t i s . eed, , but the most striking events of Ad rien Rou 30 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE ,

’ quette s life were to be connected with this humble seques a t er ed region . Throughout his c reer the memories of

B ayou Lacombe ever lay closest to his heart .

n v As time sped o , years later, in this same Syl an soli

e . tud , Adrien met his second Atala , and it was here that “ ” h i s t Adrien , the poet, wrote idyll , La Nouvelle A ala,

n a d finally, when Providence had guided the poet into the priesthood , it was still upon the banks of Bayou Lacombe

- that he made his home and the scene of his life work . — But now to return to our young student ; a title to which b e by no means aspired .

Madame Rouquette pleaded with him , and the pro

sor f es s encouraged him , so Adrien promised to apply him s h i s elf to his books, but good resolutions melted like wax

m wa s near the fla e, and soon he longing to escape the

O f O f r e thralldom the school , the haunts civilization, and

h i s . e turn to habits Of old , truancy and idleness His par nts were very wealthy, every desire had been gratified, but when Madame Rouquette saw that her s on did n ot respond

sh e to her wishes , determined that another year should

find him so situated that. it would be impossible for him to

h i s live as at present , with, and like Indian friends . There were several English - Speaking families in N ew Orleans

e s o who sent th ir sons off to the schools of the North , Madame Rouquette Obtained all the information requisite and wrote to the Preparatory School of Transylvania

n University, in Kentucky , for arrangements , in order to e

e ter Adrien as soon as possibl . Everything was prepared and the passage engaged

F T HE 3 2 LIFE O ABBE ROUQUETTE,

“ : Opposite end, he exclaimed Look, Mamma, there is a boy

‘ ” just my size coming to m eet m e ! This illusion wa s more than verified , for before the last bell rang quite a number of boys and young men came on board , several Of whom were destined for the same school as Adrien . S o from the beginning of the trip it promised to be lively . At the last

r moment M s . Rouquette reiterated her instructions , and

s on then fondly embraced her little , bidding him write regularly and tell her everything . Adrien promised and waved his handkerchief as long a s his tear - dimmed eyes al

se lowed him to e the dear figure standing on the wharf,

u wa s until the boat wa s o t of sight . A new life to begin

f or . Adrien , and this was a pleasant part of it There was

t h e no section of boat unexplored , and whenever a way land in g O CCl l pi ed any length of time the boys were allowed t o go on shore . The steady companionship with boys a I t good deal Older than himself had an excellent effect . showed Adrien what he had failed to acquire , brought

t o i n home him his ignorance and backwardness . These fl uen ces prepared Adrien t o make a good beginning in his college career, for he inwardly resolved to make up for

t o lost time , give pleasure thereby his mother and please his Heavenly Father . U nfortunately there are no details to be had Of this ’ t i period of Adrien s life, save a few salient facts . No w th standing his resolves , there were occasional lapses into idle habits , and these were followed by salutary punish ment , but these occurrences grew rarer and the boy de veI O ed p into a thoroughly satisfactory student . - 3 3 POET MISSIONARY OF LOU ISIANA .

He left the preparatory school with honor and en

r t er ed the college o university, where he achieved great success . After three or four years ’ steady application Adrien Obtained permission to go to a private institution at Man tua, near Philadelphia , which enjoyed a fine reputation , and Madame Rouquette was only t oo well pleased with her son ’ s progress to deny a request which might aid much l in spurring his ambition t o attain the highest excel ence .

’ F r of o this promised to the mother s pride , the fulfilment her cherished desire to have Adrien enter the professional

wa s n ot a s rank and acquire celebrity . This trip easy to

a s N e mak e was that from w Orleans , but it was perhaps

a . more interesting, and cert inly more varied It would be useless to describe the progress of the

a s a l l boats , and the uncomfortable stage coaches , these details are given in the lives of most of our early mission d aries . A rien was young and enjoyed what would be pain

t o ful an Older person . He reached Mantua and spent at least a year there and wa s S O well advanced in his studies that the masters d eemed it advisable , should he desire to continue his ed ucat i on further , that he should enter on e Of the greater

so of h i s universities , at the close his term , in seventeenth V year , Adrien returned to New Orleans . I e can readily imagine the sentiments of Madame Rouquette when the d a on y arrived which her Adrien was to return . Love and

f or pride each strove the mastery, though I fancy the

? - former predominated . And Adrien What were his feel 3 4 LIFE OF THE A BBE ROUQUETTE ings ? Mingled hopes and fears ; j oy at the thought of

an again meeting his loved ones , d vague fears lest some barrier be raised t o prevent his ever renewing the old friendship with the Choctaw youths . He little dreamed — of the near future awaiting him nor did Madame R on

uet t a s of s h q e yet think what e was so soon to do . Mean while Adrien reached home . He left it a child and now he wa s closing that volume

f — hi s ch il d h oo o his life d . CHAPTER FOURTH .

B D STUDIES A ROA .

The late arrival of the boat left little time that night f or Madame Rouquette to study with a fond maternal eye t the changes time, developmen and athletic exercises had wrought in Adrien .

Early next morning, knowing that Of Old her son had

e e wont to lov an early ramble, and feeling sur this first day at home would find him anxious t o visit every nook

f O l and corner o his d time haunts , she descended to the breakfast room to await his entrance and feast her eyes

. e be upon his manly figure . She did not hav to wait long

h i s b ou an t fore firm , y step announced his coming, and in a few moments the mother and son, in a loving embrace, told each other the joy Of reunion . Then bidding r Ad ien walk back some distance from her, Madame Rou

ue q t t e examined him with pardonable pride .

' m i d d l s1 ze h i s Above e , tall for age, strongly built,

- t with a well kni sinewy frame, yet agile, supple and in i m every motion graceful , his broad shoulders giving the

of pression physical strength , while his air of ease , almost amounting to dignity, his reserved and thoughtful coun t en an ce - denoted self control and moral power . Jet black hair framed a broad brow bespeaking intellectual develop

h i s ment, and beneath heavy black eyebrows large black eyes Sparkled and sho n e with lustre upon the least ex 3 6 LIFE OF THE ABBE B OUQUETTE

m en t an ci t e , d looked straight forward with a glance so

on e limpid , pure, frank and honest that felt instinctively

con that Ad rien Rouquette commanded implicit trust , and

n of ,fid e ce, and was utterly incapable any deed he would fear to lay before the world . At the same time a merry twinkle revealed the boyish glee and very delight Of existence in God ’ s beautiful world

wa s with its pleasant inhabitants . Such the picture that Madame Rouquette gazed upon with sentiments Of love and gratification . “ i s Unfortunately , as the Old adage tells us , there no ” rose without a thorn , and a few moments , conversation revealed the sad fact. t o his mother that Adrien had nearly

- ! forgotten his mother tongue . The discovery was appalling Why had she n ot foreseen such an event ! Wh v had she n ot arranged some means to have her son continue the

or sh e n ot t o study Of French , , in fine, why had sent him a place where he stood in n o danger Of losing the use of his own beautiful language ! Such were the interior self expostulations Of Madame Rouquette after Adrien had left the house and she had the leisure t o think .

To understand fully the annoyance caused by this d i s

over of ff c y, we must recall the state a airs existing in New Orleans at the time when the Western States were

o f r t threatening t battle o the right o use the river , harbor

f r and city o purposes Of commerce . It is true the Louis iana purchase settled that score amicably , and Northern an d Western merchants and man ufacturers poured into

- f the long coveted foothold , stirring up a lively tra fic with - 3 7 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

their energy and determination . Little by little the num bers s o increased that the new - comers formed a strong party in the business quarter Of New Orleans , and while it became evident that the new element was Opening a period

f or of great development the city, there was a sentiment among the original inhabitants that somewhat resembled dislike , and aggression . The Americans , as they were called , built their homes chiefly above Canal Street, which served a s a sort of dividing line between the French and

. wa s s o American quarters There it neutral ground, but ci al functions generally assembled in their own respect ive sections, the elite of French or American families . In those olden days many a distinguished lady boasted that sh e had never crossed Canal Street to enter the Opposite

of of half the city . So in general among the Old families the French and Spanish dominions there was somewhat of — an antipathy toward the English language suggestive, as h of O f t e . it were , the encroachment Americans Hence we

’ can understand Madame R ouquett e s horror when she l learned that Adrien knew more Eng ish than French . This was a cloud obscuring some Of the sunshine of the home l i i coming . Adrien had eft h s mother to begin h s tour of r e connaissance among the slaves and even among the domes — tic animals playfellows of childhood days . While he wa s enjoying the praise and admiration of Old Mammy

wa s n and other dusky friends, his mother busy plan ing

wa s f another change for him . Her son a descendant o an

Old French family, and her will that he should embrace a

wa s n ot profession and become illustrious to be thwarted , her ambition must be satisfied ! 461 51 6 38 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

Before the family met at dinner everything had been

r arranged f o the near future, and we can imagine the young man ’ s surprise when h i s mother told him to prepare at once to depart on a voyage .

d . a He was somewhat isappointed Wh t, not even given time to cross the Bayou and seek out h i s Indian ? comrades of some years ago Well, it cannot be helped , so we must try to find som e pleasing side to the situation .

of At seventeen one has curiosity , love excitement, and

s change, and finds o much delight in travel that the mere

a suggestion is ple surable .

Besides these sentiments, Adrien had been so long absent that n o ties beyond family af f ection bo und him t o his home . “ ” “ to f or But where , he asked , am I go, and what purpose ? ” “You will take the steamer that sails in a few days

” ‘ f or France, replied Madame Rouquette, and go directly ” to Paris to continue your studies .

a This was news indeed , and opened horizon all aglow with the brilliant scenes that his imagination began to pic “ ” . l a ture To France , belle France, the land Of chivalrous d O f eeds of heroes and saints , the home of art and science, the shrine of beauty, the land whose history had made him

i t s — a s dream of glories . Adrien was ready w happy to

u f go , and in a few days more was o t Of sight o his native land, beginning the long, dull voyage , uneventful , unless a storm arose, and then dangerous . He had ample time f or of reflection and the immensity the deep , the solemnity

40 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROU QUETTE

“ event changed the name to College of Three Languages .

Under Louis XIII it was first called College Royal , but when the Revolution came the term “ National ” was sub stituted f or Royal and later Napoleon converted this into “ ” t Imperial . Students were admitted free , and hey flocked in great numbers from all over Europe to profit by

ofier ed the splendid a dvantages .

Francis had also added chairs of mathematics, medi cine and philosophy ; Charles IX that of surgery ; Henry III that Of the Arabic languages ; Henry IV two for bot auv and astronomy ; Louis XIII canon law and the Syriac language ; Louis XV French literature and Louis XVIII chairs of Sanskrit and Chinese . These statistics, with

of the list eminent men who formed the brilliant faculty, will give us an idea Of the great advantages such a mind as that Of Adrien Rouquette could derive from a course Of study und er such favorable circumstances .

n ot a After a long, but unpleas nt voyage , he reached the great metropolis , and though at first somewhat. bewil d ered , expressed his desire Of entering the college ranks

f i n flu at once . He had letters o introduction to several en t i al gentlemen , and in a short while was comfortably established in good lodgings within the vicinity of the coll ege and beginning in earnest the purpose of his com i n g . It was about the Fall of 1 829 and until the outbreak of 25 1 83 0 the great political upheaval of July , , he worked with zeal and ardor , making great strides in knowledge and science .

The political horizon did not seem very clear , and - 41 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . h i s friends advised Adrien to withdraw from Paris and go to Nantes t o pursue his studies . This was well suited to

of his taste, as he realized that the whirlpool fashionable frivolities was drawing him into its dangerous vortex , and

h i s . with impassioned nature, he feared to be engulfed Recommendations from the college and from h i s friends placed him advantageously at Nantes .

on This ancient capital of Brittany , situated the right

o fier e bank of the Loire at the junction O f the Erdre, d multiple attractions to the young student . The ancient part of the city had been walled about until the seven t een th century, and with its quaint, Old buildings and narrow streets , seemed to take on e back to the stirring scenes of the Middle Ages . Adrien had resolved not to allow any Of the Parisian dissipations to hamper his progress, hence he spent many hours searching among the college folios for minute de s cr i ti on s p Of those Olden days .

The Cathedral of St . Pierre contained the mausoleum of - the last duke of Brittany , and the semi Gothic castle

a s i whose chapel , used a powder magaz ne , and in 1 800 blown up, thus mutilating the famous pile to a great ex

th e tent, proved most interesting to young student of his t or i al c antiquities . Here Henry IV in 1 598 had signed the Edict of Nan of 1 tes , giving freedom worship to Protestants . In 654

of the castle had become the prison the Cardinal de Retz , but besides these recollections every part o f the building

w a was connected ith the sojourn of one or nother monarch , 42 O F T HE LIFE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

for most of the French Kings from Charles VIII , had made this a royal residence, and all these historic souvenirs were more attractive to Adrien than even the museum with i t s thousand paintings and its three hundr ed sculptures . Young Rouquette had rooms in the new part of the

a s of b eautified city, which w built white stone and by some fin e boulevards ; but now these offered f ew enticements to

of him . His natural bent mind inclined him to avoid gay

t o throngs, such as were be met had he frequented the fashionable resorts, so when freedom from college duties gave him the leisure , he turned his steps toward the castle,

r the cathed ral o some other antique , sequestered nook , where undisturbed he could pursue some favorite train of

n ot O ur thought . But Nantes did keep young student any

an l onger than Paris had , and the next year found him in

O l d f l - other famous city o Brittany , the O d time fortified

O f town at the junction the rivers Ille and Vilaine, whose ancient name of Con d at e wa s changed into its modern

a f r appell tion o Rennes, from the A morican Tribe called

i n en B u . d by the Romans , edo es This people had been ep d ent, until the marriage Of Anne of Britta ny to Charles

VIII of France made them vas sal s to the French crown .

’ Adrien s principal Object in coming t o Rennes wa s to benefit by the fine faculties of science and literature ofier ed by the college there ; and at the same time profit by the

’ n magnificent library, o e Of the city s chief attractions .

a s t oo There is also a fine art gallery, but he w much

f or in books and preparations his examinations , in the hope Of winning his degree, to allow any other attraction - 4 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 3

to r ob him of the precious time of study . Among the

Bretons Adrien was in his element . They are a hardy , noble race , strong in faith , bold in courage, with a virility that knows neither softness or frivolity , and as step by step we follow our hero through the various stages of h i s life we cannot help but see h ow the wi sdom of God was leading him on , unconsciously to himself, unknown even to his intimates and familiars , but in a clear and merci

h o a l ful way , as we w view his life in the perspective of

see . most a century, can so plainly Providence had brought him to Rennes and so arranged circumsta nces that

‘ b esid es th e or l d l wi sd om l w y he came to seek , many another lesson Of Spiritual intelligence was t o be instilled into his

so soul , generous and ardent in the pursuit of what he

of h i s deemed worthy upright and loyal adherence . Never before had Adrien been placed in contact with staunch and earnest Catholics whose faith had never been shaken

t o and could never waver , and whom faith and practice were equivalent terms . Such Catholics had he found among the Bretons .

In New Orleans faith and piety had su fier ed much from the unsettled sta te of affairs at. the beginning of the n 1 2 ineteenth century . In 8 0 there were hardly twenty

Paschal communions in the whole city . This condition

' the holy Bishop Dubourg set himself to remedy as soon as possible, and the noble zeal of his successors wa s so suc cessf ul that by 1 83 5 there were ten thousand communions at Easter, and the able auxiliaries , the Jesuits and the Religious of the Sacred Heart were established and began 44 - U E T T E LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQ , the formation of that galaxy of pious Catholic youths and maidens , the ornament and pride Of the Church in

Louisiana . True Adrien had n ot seen much of the religious con

h i s dition in native place , having spent much time at

h i s s chool , but the influence had been felt , and soj ourn in the North had n ot tended to foster or strengthen his religious inclinations . t And now to be transferred to the heart of Brit any,

of the home of piety and the devout practice religion, was to eff ect in his soul that which takes place when a plant in bud is transferred from a dark , cold place into the

of . n u warmth and light a hothouse The bud develops , f ol d s , expands and blooms into fragrance and beauty . But Adrien wa s so far almost unaware Of this awakening of his soul . Time was Speeding away as on wings and at last suc 2 6 1 3 . 83 cess was to crown the young student March , , he passed brilliant examinations and received with the ap l p ause Of his many friends h i s degree O f Baccalaureate .

France had crowned him with honors , friends smiled

- upon him , and invitations poured in to visit fellow students in various parts of the country before he left Europe f or

America . He accepted many and spent some very pleasant weeks flitting about from plac e to place i n the beautiful

O f valley the Loire , studying the old legends and mediae val romances connected with the history of so many an a ncient castle and famous abbey . - 45 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

He thoroughly enj oyed the beauty and luxury of the places where he was entertained , but some how there was a void in his heart that nothing filled . It seemed to him that the dwellings built by human art could never e supply what he experienced in the groves , the prim

t h e O f sa . val forests his native land, as he used to y Even “ ” grandest , richest palace or castle seemed small and cold when he thought of life in the heart of Nature . Thus the sweet Spring - tide and beautiful Summer vanished and Adrien bade adieu to France and the many friends he had

wa s on t h e made, and once more the ocean counting days that must drag by s o slowly before he could say once more “ ” Home again . The voyage was long and so momentous in the after

of m life Adrien that it merits more than a passing ention .

’ Here a gain we see the admirable designs O f God s Provi dence in placing Adrien in the role of protector t o two holy Sisters of Mount Carmel , coming over to make a foundation Of their Order in Louisiana . They sailed from

8 1 833 fif t - t Havre, September , , and y wo days were to elapse

th e of before they entered harbor New Orleans . In the daily life on shipboard the passengers are thrown t o

t o on e gether and become very well known another , and this daily intercours e of the young Louisianian with the daughters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel became a source

a ed i ficat i on Of gre t to Adrien . He never tired of convers ing with them and never l eft their presence without a deeper sentiment O f piety in his own soul and a higher ideal of the life which i s a complete oblation and pure 46 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

on e sacrifice to the great God high . The perfum of their

O f o n virtues lingered in the sanctuary his w soul , and little by little , gave birth to a dissatisfied sense of the vague and — emptiness of his own life and often a s he pa ced the deck

of alone, gazing aloft at the heavens, he would dream the future and plan out in heroic measure the life he felt he was but n ow beginning . Adrien was much interested in the history of the O r der of Mount Carmel and th e venerable Mother Therese one of the early members and a foundress, gave him a full account of the origin, progress and subsequent perse cut i on which led to this voyage to the hospitable shores

Of the New World .

SISTER S OF CARM EL .

of O virgins Carmel , whose life is a prayer ,

i n Whose hearts are untouched by s , sorrow or care,

a of Whose home is cloister peace and delight,

Where pure lips forever, by day and by night Are pouring forth praise to our Fat her on high a ’ List to my ple ding, hear my heart s cry

Pray for me, Sisters , when morning dawns clear ; ! Pray for me , Sisters , when shadows draw near

’ a i s or Wh t to me vain glory , a poet s brief fame If in your pleadings you breathe but my name If my poor songs and your oraisons sweet

of our In the heart Savior lovingly meet , Then at hour of death I can Offer this plea

f or ! My muse, dearest Lord , sang only Thee

B B E A E R O U O U T T E .

F T HE 48 LIFE O ABBE ROUQUETTE ,

Bishop N ecker e received him cordially and kept him some d ays at the episcopal residence , where they could talk over and arrange all f or the speedy coming of the

Order of Mount Carmel . Just at that time the Religious of the Sacred Heart were obliged to resign their establish ment in Assumption Parish and the Bishop Offered their

of convent to the Sisters , while the great extent surround ing territory wa s to be the fields of labor of the holy mis si on ar r B out el ou y . After visiting the locality, Fathe ar

t e - ranged with h Bishop that the Vicar General , Father

- Jean Jean , about to visit France, should meet. Mother Therese in Paris and decide the departure of the Religious for America .

of Many the Sisters , after the dispersion , had taken

two to i n vi refuge in other Orders , so only responded the tati O n - Mother Therese and Sister Augustin , the two trav eling companions of Adrien Rouquette . Bishop de N ecker e died just before they reached New

sa Orleans . Adrien w that they were safe under the pro t ecti on of - the Vicar General , Father Blanc , later Bishop of a s New Orleans . He w a very holy man , and though Bishop de N eck er e had obtained from Rome the bulls f or 1 his consecration , it was only in 83 5 that he could be pre vailed upon to consent to receive the dignity and r esp on i i l s b i ty . He was full of zeal and gladly welcomed the new

t o saw laborers the vineyard , and them established in the spot chosen by the late Bishop . It was with genuine sat i sf a cti on that Bishop Blanc witnessed their success and numerous foundations . Four years later he called the l Order to New Or eans . - 49 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

on f Bishop Blanc loved the religious Orders, and e o

i R ed em h s first acts as Bishop was to call the Lazarists , p t or i sts and other congregations of men and women to

a of a Open schools and t ke charge charit ble institutions .

Adrien Rouquette , ever after this memorable voyage ,

of recalled the pleasure the intercourse, which , he was

t o O f of happy say , had laid the foundation that work grace in his soul which made him a priest forever according to

M l h i sed k e c ec . the order Of And furthermore , led him later to that Indian apostolate which he followed with saintly

- of zeal for twenty nine years his holy life . CHAPTER V .

R OMANCE .

“ ” The Opening lines of La Nouvelle Atala reveal the s n t i m en t s with which Adrien must have again pressed the soil of his birthplace when he landed once more in

“ ’ New Orleans : D i ea a m is d au s l e coeur d e l h om m e

’ ’ ’ ’ l am ou r d e l a at r i ez I n es t d h -mm vi l n p . l p as o e ci i se qm e ” r r o a a t o l c a ut r p ef e s s u p ys a s s es p ays .

E N W ORLEANS IN THE FORTIES .

f 0 city o beauty, my birthplace and home,

’ My heart s d eep devotion from thee cannot roam ;

Thy murmuring waters sang soft as I slept,

Round my cradle thy trees their guardia nship kept .

n e s In my infa cy thou wert a villag o calm , Now with New York thou d i sp ut est the p al m !

0 c ! ity once French hold that glory to thee . Once vassal of Spain ! make their chivalry be

of The crown of thy sons , the shield thy maids , Thy own special flower that nevermore fades !

t o e t o Ever dear my heart, ver fair my eyes — Wert thou when , poor exile, I grieved for thy skies,

And mid pleasures abroad I longed for the day ,

When clasped in thy arms I should n ever more stray .

AB BE ROUQ UETTE .

- This home coming was joyous in every way . Now there was no cloud to intercept the sunshine of exultant pride - 51 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . with which the young Baccalaureate was welcomed by his family and friends , and at once multiple plans were formed f or a brilliant season in society . Here , in this

h i s other French capital , New Orleans , Adrien , with Par

t o isian courtesies and French urbanity , would be sure charm the young Creole belles , and , who knows , a most desirable match might be th e result ? This would fulfill

’ at least one part of Madame R ouquet t e s dream f or her favorite child . But Adrien was almost a stranger in the mid st O f h i s

- own home circle , so he gladly postponed visits and enter t ai n m en t s until he had renewed ol d ties of family life . What joy to Mammy to be abl e t o gaze upon the nursling “ ’ ” of former days and expatiate upon Mars Adrien s i m provement .

All the servants would gather round, delighted to hear their young master converse with them in their own soft.

a f or and liquid p tois . It ever had a peculiar charm Adrien , h ’ and years later when he ad long worn the poet s laurels , he still loved to laps e into the language of the French negro . Some time passed in this way, and when urged by

s his mother to join some plea ure party , the young man

h a always d some excuse . He felt no inclination to enter society ; the frivolities

e of the gay world had no attractions for him . Anoth r quotation from his “Atala” can perhaps best express his “ Opinion of those butterflies of fashion wh o forgot God and forgot themselves , inebriated by the pleasures which

on f whirl them , in the midst o a cloud of artificial per 2 5 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQ UETTE,

of th e fume , who give themselves over to the delirium dance and of all those passions which sear the soul and destroy its beauty ; who deceive and are deceived ; wh o corrupt and are corrupted ; who give and receive death . “ ” “ . ! ou of Oh world he exclaims , y make slaves your sub

e t s ou t h e . ou an j c , y break asunder most sacred unions ; y n ih i l at e th s the most holy resolutions , and yet e multitude hasten to your festivities . Open your theatres, open your

- m th e ball roo s , open your reception halls , and crowds will throng them precipitately, hearts palpitating with excite ment, subjugated by your pompous playthings , by your

s ! u s en glittering vanities . Ala Of what e are all these t i cem e-n t s ! Vanity of vanities ! since they must termi ffi ! ” nate in a co n , in a grave ; in oblivion

c a Still invitations poured in , there were soli it tions at — home and from without all seem ed determined to launch f Adrien into the midst of the circle o amusements . He was

— an d e almost forced to appear several times his r serve ,

- m d ignity an d refined manners m a d e quite an impression . He h ad travelled and made good use of his powers of

b n d so o servation ; he had met noted men a women , he

of always had some real subject conversation , and did not know how to while away the moments in that vain and idle chit - chat which passes sometimes under the name of con versation . His memory was excellent and furnished many a bright and witty anecdote which pleased both young and

ol d . S o Adrien promised to become the lion of the day .

h i s But, such was not ambition , and regardless of what

or people might think say , a short while after his arrival , he - 53 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

“ h i s took a congé, with no companion but books , and fled

a t o the solitude of the forest , seeking the banks of th t

- much loved Bayou Lacombe , which appeared more desir able than the court O f any king . Here he found the hap p i n ess he could never taste in social city life . He himself “ s aid : I became a half savage as I wandered through the woods— and I dressed as did the young Choctaws and lived ” a h s t ey did . It was not long before he had found out many Of his o l d companions , and they very gladly gave him shelter in their huts and shared with him the produce of their sport .

n ot t o Adrien did seek company, he preferred be a h ow lone , and he did revel in the Silence and solitude of t h e lonely forest ! He h a s told us somewhat of his deep love for Sylvan beauty when h e describes Atal a in her woodland home . “ Solitary she interrogated primitive nature and prim i i t ve . nature has answered her She loved the flowers , the s i s tars, all that is graceful, all that beautiful , all that is th sublime , all that reflects e ideal and unveils a glimpse o f the Infinite . Her senses were ravished in the presence

ou of the flowers , those tinted stars of r earth , and by the s tars , those luminous flowers Of the heavens . She was lost in admiration a s sh e contemplated the meeting of t h e horizon of verdure with the azure horizon O f the heavens and gazing at the distant scene which attracted and reposed her soul , she would listen while God spoke t o her by His creation . Similar were the thoughts and feelings of Adrien as O F T HE 54 LIFE ABBE ROUQUETTE, he left far behind the habitations of men to indulge in ’ the absence of social thralldom and enjoy to his heart s content a period of perfect freedom .

a n One can picture the erstwhile student , with no noying Obligations , wandering alone , undisturbed , breath ing in with every breath a deeper love f or the life Of a

on e l on solitary . Or can see him ying some mossy bank absorbed in the perusal of the books he had brought with

’ “ of him . One Of these was a copy Chateaubriand s Atala , and it wa s with intense interest that b e poured over i t s pages . Strange indeed the influence a book can exert ! The

’ f R ou t e s whole tenor o Adrien que t mind was changed . He who had escaped from home to avoid the mere possibility that social intercourse might settle his destiny in life and convert him into an ordinary benedict, was now so com

’ p l et el y metamorphosed by Chateaubriand s glowing word

a . pictures , that it is hard to believe the result possibility

’ Adrien s young soul was richly endowed . His was a m poetic tempera ent , easily yielding to the inspiration Of th h such scenes as e gifted author a s depicted s o vividly . At this time his soul might be compared to a very

l of ferti e soil awaiting the seed the sower, but meanwhile growing wild flowers of the field ; or to a rich mine await

ex l or or t h ing the p , while in e meantime the little nuggets

of yellow gold go dancing down the mountain torrent . Under the influence of Chateaubriand ’ s magic pen Adrien was wrought up to an unexpected pitch Of en t h u si asm A s h l f . he read t e tragic ta e o the poor Natchez In

56 O F T HE LIFE ABBE ROUQUETTE , he always listened attentively to what might be said of diff erent Indian maidens— and though he often heard

of f or on e words praise or another, nothing seemed to tell him that he was at last upon the trail .

One night, after he had spent some weeks in this sort of life , he sat with the braves around the campfire, and

on of u sh ol a e of some e spoke O , the daught r a great chief,

’ head of a numerous tribe . This maiden s wondrous bird “ ” - like voice had given her the name of Bird Singer . Adrien

I Va n ot ? started . s this the sign he had awaited

He had a particular affection for the song - birds of the woodland , and would stand motionless, revelling, de

h e lighted , as listened to an outburst of melody from a

0 of ush l a mockingbird . N 1: a word the brief mention of O o wa s lost , and he silently resolved to set out in quest of the

’ chief s dwelling place as soon as the dawn gave the signal to break up camp . Early next morning Adrien bade farewell to his com

’ . a rades and began his j ourney . It was a good day s w lk

s un and just as the was disappearing below the horizon, leaving the heavens all aglow with the sunset splendors, and casting a rosy hue upon all surrounding objects, Adrien reached the home of an Indian chief whose first

’ appearance proclaimed him one of Nature s noblemen . He had just returned from the chase and stood before

f h i s the door o humble cot a picture to tempt an artist .

h i s Tall , erect, strong , dignified, an elderly man, gun

l of a upon his shoulder and a fine ot game in his h nd, he

t o e stood in the light that lent beauty all that it touch d . POET M ISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 57

a f He ring the step o a stranger , he turned , and the back ground of green vines which luxuriously mantled the front

N ow th b ut t o . of e , added a new feature the scene the reflection from the crimson clouds gave h i s countenance a brighter hue and his piercing eye sparkled in the light as — h e gazed at the new - comer but no word was Spoken till

Adrien had reached his presence and addressed him . T h e chief inspired r espect and it wa s almost with ven

' r a i e t on that Adrien craved hospitality , lodging for the night

f h ad o and ood, as he journeyed all day and had tasted n th ing since t h e evening previous . The chief knew at once who h i s wa s - guest , as the news that the pale face was in their midst had spread far and wide among the Indians . When

’ he had heard the traveller s request, he assented , bade him

of . welcome, and advancing to the door the hut called “ ” twice : O ush ol a ! O ush ol a ! In a few seconds a young

wa s maiden stood in the doorway . She apparently about

of e t o sixteen years age, with so striking a resemblanc the

a chief that one e sily recognized his daughter .

’ a Adrien s heart beat rapidly, he felt that this m iden

d h . was the object of his search and he listene for t e sign If,

sh e - l when spoke, the bird like tones of her voice thri led his

a ear , he would be sure that his Atal was found . He leaned

s an d forward , intent to catch the first ound of her reply ,

’ when in a clear, musical voice she answered her father s request to take the game and prepare food and lodging for a guest, Adrien trembled with excitement and was obliged to turn away and walk rapidly up and down before

as the little cot until the nervous tremor w under control . O F T HE 58 LIFE ABBE ROUQUETTE ,

un Having disposed of his game and put a way his g , the chief came ou t and found his guest in the pleasant h ad evening of an Indian Summer day . Very soon he learned the reason of the visit and that having seen O us

wa s t o i hola , the paleface resolved wed the Indian ma den , — if her father assented and if sh e were f r eeL n ot already

sh e promised t o another . The chief answered that was

n free a d that she had ever been a gentle, docile child , and

For n t . she would place o obs acle in the way himself, he had heard of the white brother of the Choctaw braves for

h i s b many years , and thought daughter could do no etter

f n t o by wedding one o her ow race . S O he consented the union . Adrien requested the father to Speak first t o his d augh

so on . ter , and the chief promised to do the morrow

ofi In the morning Adrien went early , leaving the father and child together , and toward evening when he returned, he looked at the chief inquiringly . He nodded f an assent, and by a gesture in the direction o the interior f h l o O us o a . the hut, indicated that had been told

O ush ol a At the evening meal all were more silent , was more timid and reserved, scarce raising her eyes while she quietly attended to the needs of her father an d their

a n d a s sh guest, soon as possible e retired to her own humble little apartment .

of There was no sentimentality , no tender exchange

— i n a s love tokens this strange wooing, all w arranged w - of - - ith frank , simple , matter fact business like , straight — ’ forwardness rather between the bride s fath er and - POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 59

’ - groom elect than between the betrothed . So O u sh ol a s

t o n ot haste disappear rose from any uneasy apprehension ,

of but rather because her native humility and modesty . The beautiful Fall weather seemed now about t o give

c on of pla e to e those long, cold , rainy spells most trying even a midst the comforts of civilization . Adrien told his host that he intended to return home in order t o arrange

l ush ol a all his affairs and then he would come t o c aim O , and in his new life never more to leave the race of h i s adoption .

The chief agreed , and Adrien , having bade farewell to

O ush ol a e . , depart d She stood at the door and watched h i s figure until

a dist nce hid him from her view , then turning with a sigh , feeling as though all were over, and she were simply

- r e . awaiting a new destiny , entered her lowly home As

so time soon would tell , her presentiments were before long to be fully realized .

I t wa s n ot without some trepidation th a t Adrien started toward New Orleans . By the time he reached Bayou Lacombe he had reflected seriously on th e obstacles sure to Oppose his plan once his aristocratic mother and f family became aware o what he proposed to d o . He could s o i n well imagine the tears , expostulations , entreaties , d i n an of g t refusal to hear such a misalliance , that day after day passed and he did nothing but. ponder over th e situation , never reaching a satisfactory conclusion .

Then took place the torrential rain , the cold weather, and made almost impassable the gullies which lay between 60 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

h i s present abode and the l ake . He was not sorry to be

f r allowed more t ime , o he really had not the courage to meet Madame Rouquette and Shatter her hopes of s o m any

. s ee n ot i n years . It is easy to that Adrien was under the — - flu en ce of that all absorbing pass ion l ove . Finally the bright sunshine came to draw him forth

of and he had journeyed all day , when about the middle the afternoon he reached that beautiful pl a in lying between

Bayou Lacombe and Man deville. Just then he perceived in th e distance a group of In

d . ians, and hastened forward to meet them As he drew near he noticed that they bore signs o f mourning . He soon caught up with them and found that they were r e

wa s turning from a funeral . He questioned them , and surprised that they hesitated to answer, looking respect fully toward a tall figure in the background whom only

’ O ush ol a s then did Adrien recognize to be father .

ol r e The d chief looked mournfully at Adrien, and “ ” : h O ush ol a plied We are ere to bury , and he then added f a few brief details o her illness and death . That dread

al O f l m ady the Indians , consumption, had long he d a

s on gra p the young Indian maiden , and during the cold ,

sh e wet weather, had been exposed to its inclemency , had h s e . taken cold, pneumonia developed and had succumbed Her last words were a message to her betrothed that “ their u k nion was not the will of the great Father, who was ta

Hi s ing her to own home , there to celebrate celestial nup l ” t i a s . He had other designs , a nobler plan to fulfil .

When the chief had finished speaking, Adrien r e B E ACH A T M A N D E V I L L E

Y B A OU .

CHAPTER VI .

D RIFTING .

Past experience had produced a. noticeable diff erence in the Rouquette household when Adrien once more b e came an inmate . There was now no attempt to force him

a wa s into society, marked reticence perceptible in any

a n o convers tion with him , or even in his presence , born ,

of doubt, the fear that some unguarded suggestion might cause him to flee again from home to the woodlands . Still ,

e minds were busy and pr occupied , and to all , except “ t o : of Adrien , the question seemed present itself What ” ? a s the future Adrien w drifting . He still felt saddened

of O ush ol a by the untimely end , that sweet flower of the

t of . ou forest He had then made the plans his life , but

’ the All - wise Guardian of men s destinies had not approved and had cancelled them all . And now, as a child sits

e of ruefully gazing upon the castl cards, demolished by the Summer breeze , so Adrien remained gloomily con “ ” em l a i n t p t g what might have been . He heeded not that

Hi s a future was awaiting him . mother knew but too

’ well what result she desired . Up to the present her son s “ ” — life had been a v er t i t ab l e cup of T an t at l us for h er and

n ow sh e e yet , even , dared to dream once mor , that her

- f or longed hopes be realized . Her ardent Spirit chafed at the restraint she imposed upon herself, and as the days

on a went , and Summer g ve place to the beautiful Autumn - 63 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

s tide, she aw that Adrien was slowly losing his gloom and regaining h i s Old natural self . She determined that the silence must be broken and one more effort made to i n duce

- t o him to lay aside those useless reveries and dav dreams ,

f of . think o the activities a useful , honorable life Instead of losing his time she would urge him to exercise that eu er gy of soul which sh e had bequeathed to him more fully than to any of her other children . It was latent now and would soon prove h i s worth should she be able to persuade

- on e him to embrace some profession , some life work which day would register h i s name among the celebrities of his country . Madame Rouquette resolved to speak to her son as soon a s she felt that a suitable occasion presented itself . Before t h e decisive period arrived she made a fervent novena , imploring the light and grace of the Holy Spirit to direct her words and to prepare Adrien n ot only to receive them well , but to follow their counsel . At the close

a Of the novena, after earnest supplication , M dame Rou quet t e awaited what seemed a favorable opportunity . She had eagerly watched the buoyancy of youth assert “ ” on ut D ve itself, more and more, and was the g i for the

- long sought propitious hour . It came at last . Towards

on e O f sunset, after our most perfect October days rival ’ “ ” ing Lowell s rare day of June, Adrien , after a day spent in reading, came down to dinner in high Spirits , more ready than usual to talk and make himself agreeable. “ After the family left the table , he remarked : What a ! ” fine evening for a walk Here was the opening, and with 64 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

h i s ready tact mother replied , suggesting that they enj oy

sh e a stroll along the banks of the Bayou . She rose as spoke, and , throwing a light shawl over her head, took her

’ son s arm and they went out . f The intimate communing, the interchange o thought

s between mother and on can only be surmised, their guar dian angel alone having recorded the earnest pleading of

of ff the maternal heart, and the yielding filial a ection and

O bedience . They remained out a long time, walking slowly up and down , far too intent upon the subject under dis

n cussi o to pay much heed t o the beauties of Nature . Ever

an t o and on they would pause , standing face face , Madame

Rouquette, Speaking earnestly , would gaze beseechingly

of or into the countenance Adrien , would take his hand ,

ar m r e place hers upon his , and then the walk would be sumed . Just a s the stars began to twinkle in the fir m am en t

th e and the lights to glow from the windows , mother and s on c r entered the home, ea h reti ing at once to the privacy

on e f or required, by for thanksgiving ; by the other quiet reflection in order to gain equilibrium of mind which had long been unstable . Yet Adrien had not pledged himself

a to anything definite , beyond giving up his present imless existence and embarking for Europe to let Parisian life and friends once more influence him , and no doubt help him to decide his ultimate vocation . Several weeks must pass before the period set for h i s

’ departure , and Madame Rouquette, with a woman s keen

S h e perception and intuition , felt that could still do more - 65 POET M ISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . to fix her son ’ s will in the selection of a particular pro

i n f ess o . A few days after her first memorable victory h over inanition , s e adroitly brought Adrien to introduce the projected trip to France . Naturally relatives and

on friends were l oquacious the subject , and numberless questions were flung hither and thither a s t o the object of the voyage .

un Adrien hardly knew what to answer, and finally,

of der the persuasive influence his mother, who wisely used the most trivial circumstance t o make him settle

a n upon real tangible object , he was i duced to form the d efinite plan of going to Paris in order t o study law .

There had, perhaps, been no happier day in Madame

’ R ouquett e s life than when sh e concluded this conquest . s Though filled with jubilation, she wa careful not to let

s n her o suspect that the design was other than his own .

of Looking back over a lapse more than fifty years , on e is al most surprised that a mother should not have f known better the character and inclinations o her child . But sh e was dazzled by the brilliance of her own dream of glory, and being of a strong mould , felt that she could l l a t o . oo sh e bend to conform her will Then , t , knew less

’ of her son s character than she fancied . The greater part of his life having been spent far from home, accounted f or this ignorance . Otherwise sh e would have felt i n st i n cti vel y that s uch a lover of Nature could never become “ ” l aw a successful man of , wherein , as Adrien used to say “ A l l is but a weary pell - mell of contradictions and chican ” eries . But this is an anticipation . 66 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

an d The farewells were said again , Adrien , with feel ings unlike any before experienced , found himself once more on deck, watching the last glimpse of the Old familiar

a o scenes disappear from view . He was no longer b y, and was soon conjecturing on the new life awaiting him in — — Paris , wondering not at all certain whether his

’ h i s mother s desires could ever be realized . He sounded own inclinations and found little encouragement in the p ursuance of the profession he was going t o embrace . Still he had promised to apply himself to th e distasteful task , and now there must be no shrinking . The long voy age helped to fix his resolve . When Paris was reached A drien at onc e set about beginning his new course of stud

on d r ous ies . He found the dry technicalities of the p law books very untempting to a literary appetite heretofore

t h e e nourished by choicest s lections of prose and verse , brilliant and beautiful . He did not take to his new task very graciously .

Fortunately f or Adrien the tribune and the bar O f f er ed a exceptional attr ctions , possessing several eminent and distinguished orators . The duty of attending the Chamber of Deputies and the Palace of Justice was made very often an excuse for negligence in study . France has

of a given to many her children this gre t gift of eloquence, but seldom h a s sh e assembled so many a s during this

’ of period Adrien s stay in Paris, and they fascinated him

- and fairly held him Spell bound . Foremost in the ranks

r of these distinguished orators wa s Pierre Antoine B er ger . At the time of the Restoration he gained great celebrity by - 67 POET M ISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

h i s defence of Marshal Ney , in union with his father and

1 h i s the elder Dupin . In 83 0 parliamentary speech in de fence of the crown and the Polignac Ministry won the ap “ l a use an d O f o p of all, the remark Roger Collard, Beh ld, ” wa s so in B er r ger there is a great power . His popularity great , even before this , that his friends purchased and presented him with the estate of Angerville , so that he might be elected to a constituency , and later , when forced to sell his property, as his political career demanded

n ot means he could otherwise procure , both Legitimists and Republicans united t o buy back and r e- endow h i m with his sacrificed estate . B er r ger was a staunch Catholic and not the man t o i place h s salvation in jeopardy for political interests . Having the courage of h i s convictions he was always the

F r r a upholder of religious liberty . o a time he did not p c

e h i s f tic religion , but God rewarded this champion o the

R avi n an Church and put him in touch with Father de g ,

S . J and the saintly Jesuit had the supreme consolation of bringing back t h e celebrated orator to the pious exer

h i r s . B e r er cises of faith g had no human respect, and boasted that he made his Easter duties twice, once in Paris to Show h i s colleagues of the Chamber that he glor i ed t o s et in his faith ; and a second time at home , a good of example to the simple dependents Angerville . Besides

B er r er his speeches from the Tribune , g delivered a series of lectures during t h e Restoration to the elite Of the literary “ c ” world at the reunion of the So iete des Bonnes Etudes , where such men as M on t al am b er t and L a cor d ai r e were n u

i n remitting their attendance . O F T HE eg LIFE ABBE ROUQ UETTE ,

There wa s something astounding in the power and t eloquence , even after apparen inattention , with which

’ r r r B e ge could crush an Opponent s argument . So attra e tive and so universally admired were his talents that the “ : a s actress, Rachel , used to sigh If I could only act Mr . ” B er r ger can speak ! This eulogy was as cordially admit

— on e of ted also by his Opponents whom , Mr . Jules Favre , “ ” referred to him as My sublime adversary . There is no doubt that B er r ger will ever be looked

s f upon a the Prince o the French Tribune . None greater than he could have been found a s a model of oratory but Adrien wa s also privileged to meet the famous Charles ’ h !J acques Dupont de l Eure, w ose popularity elected him 1 1 4 1 4 term after term , from 8 to 8 8 . The most interesting event connected with h i s at tendance at the Palais de Justice was the trial in which

’ d E st e- Chaix Anger , so famous in criminal cases , and the

was en most distinguished pleader at the French Bar , gaged by the government. to sustain the suppression of

’ “ ’ ” a s am u se Victor Hugo s f mous drama , Le Roi , in which

i s t h e Francis 1 . vilified and his fool Triboulet supports role of a hero . The opponents were the author himself

- - and the all t oo famous Odilon Barrot .

T o mention this name recalls a nother type and a va

of a ried and stormy career . Son a Revolutionist , C mille, Hyacinth Odilon Barrot in turn helped to bring on the

f 1 0 a s Revolution o 83 , and then strenuously opposed the form a tion of a . republic as he fought against the r est or a H r tion or the B ourbons . e also opposed heredita y peer

70 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

a s Months passed in this kind of life , but Adrien w n ot happy . He had never experienced a phase similar .

h i s On the contrary, all life, anything vicious had been repulsive and filled him with loathing. So conscience could not long remain dormant under the efiect s of those sweet draughts with which dissipation sought to reduce

a s her t o silence . The Heavenly Father w still watching from above over this soul whom He had looked upon and loved, and while allowing him t o become acquainted with evils of society, was to bring him forth a humble man ,

. of more distrustful of self, and with a knowledge the frailty of poor human nature essential to the physician of an n o souls , if he would support the bruised reed d t

n t ex ti n break it , if he would fan the dying flame and o guish the smoking flax .

th e of Besides voice conscience , God was preparing another an d most efli caci ou s means t o rouse Adrien and enable him to shake O ff the trammels of the present n u happy life . The gayeties of the carnival sea son were still in p r o l i gress when Mgr . de Q ue n issued the announcement that

of o f the pulpit Notre Dame , left vacant by the departure

L a cor d ai r e R avi Father , would be filled by Father de g nan, S . J . The eloquent Dominican had effected a great

of B o s revolution in Sacred oratory . Hitherto the style s B o r d al n M s i l l uet, of u o e and of a on had served every on e

L a cor d ai r and everywhere . e realized that the age, the tendencies and the audience, now cosmopolitan , required l something diff erent . Hence he laid aside the o d usage

of and introduced a reform style and method . - 71 POET MISS IONARY OF LOUISIANA .

T o say that he achieved success does n ot express the result of his Splendid series of conferences . Paris was “ ” fairly electrified by this new Chrysostom , and each suc

1 3 6 f a t o h i s . 8 ceed i n g year added prestige In , the now

of el o mous orator went to Rome , and the vacant throne quen ce was given to the already eminent Jesuit . To note that the Conferences of Notre Dame main tai n ed their former popularity and won the same appr e ci at i on is to learn that between the two distinguished preachers there was n o question of superiority . Mon “ t al m er t : Fa e b , himself an eloquent speaker, writes thus

L acor d ai r e h i s ther holds audience spellbound , yet thrill ing with enthusiastic appreciation as the lightning- like

flashes of faith , humility and love send their bolts into the very depths of the most hardened an d rebellious hearts . Father de R avi gn an moves and persuades as much by the charm as by the authority and masterly power of his eloquence . He restores light to the darkened intelligence

al l and purifies the soul from stain , while his majestic style exercises an empire bound to d raw all who can ap proach him , to listen enraptured to his incomparable ex

’ position of God s truth s o logically and powerfully man i f est ed i s m , that it i possible to resist his influence . Father de R avi gn an was not unknown in Paris ; a series of Lenten sermons given at A i m en s in 1 83 1 had

h i s an d a established fame, a fine discourse given in P ris

1 83 6 of s in had attracted the attention all , o when the

of 1 83 7 n o Conferences began , there was t even standing room f or the immense crowds wh o thron ged the entrance t o Notre Dame . 72 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

Adrien wa s naturally much interested in oratory and was foremost among the fortunate ones who secured f a vor abl e places for the first sermon .

That first discourse was but the prelude , and none was more assiduous in h i s attendance than the young

American , and may our partiality be pardoned if we say,

a t h t f ew minds were more capable of ppreciating e lof y,

so . the sublime, the convincing truths ably presented A

f o new life had dawned r Adrien , he turned his back upon c b the pleasures which had re ently absor ed his better self,

so h i s and finding him no longer inclined, comrades left

Hi s of of of him in peace . love history, science , and art,

a s h w suddenly but metamorphosed, and e now looked at

a all things from new standpoint .

’ “ ’ R avi n an s e L d os Father de g first Confer nce , Etat Esprits ” had Opened new vistas— and he now saw the

o a ’ world through the eyes f real C tholicity . Adrien s mind loved to be absorbed in some pursuit it deemed important,

h i s so now all thoughts were coursing in a new channel , and the vapid and noisome amusements of his id l e hours were transformed into a thirst f or an intimate knowledge

I of the Church , of her history, her teachings, her nfluence, her inner life . This thirst he sought to quench by employing the tim e

e h e va betwe n the Conferences in the libraries, studying t r i ou s subjects treated by the learned orator . Paganism,

n the Mosaic system , the schools of philosophy, a d so on through the whole series of 1 83 7 .

The Lenten season sped away, and yet his task was but - 73 POET MISSIONARY OF LO UISIANA .

begun , so month succeeded month, and Adrien was still deeply interested , and unremittingly occupied . He was

a of f or - laying up store rich treasures his after life, and th becoming daily better fitted for e next step in his career,

n that of a author . Meanwhile he had written to his mother of the aban d on m en t of a legal profession and yet had said nothing of

n i his ew work . It is easy to imag ne how anxious his fam ily were , when they thought of his being adrift in Paris .

Letter succeeded letter urging him to come home, so finally b e decided that he would, thinking that he could do as well

t h e there as abroad, pursue course of study he had under

a s i n taken . The only delay he proposed w sufli c e t time to collect all the books necessary to aid him in his work .

This did not consume much time, so he was soon en route for New Orleans . CHAPTER VII .

R S M LITE ARY BLOS O S .

a During a brief period , after re ching home, Adrien Rouquette applied so seriously to the studies he had b e

on e gun , that could have fancied him to be some antique

c of um re luse the Middle Ages , turning night into day in ’ or tiring search for the philosopher s stone, that magic

r o secret of alchemy, by which the purest gold might be p

d uced .

But the incentive to perseverance was lacking, and

ol d after a while, when the longing would come over him , when a whiff of pine - scented air fr om Bayou Lacombe “ invited him to ta ste once more that Pleasure of the ” p athless woods , that society where none intrudes, he could not resist . Packing a few books into a portmanteau , he would simply disappear without any warning to his

Hi s s family or friends . habits became o quixotic that all “ ” endeavors to make him like unto other folks were r e l i n i sh qu ed as useless .

on 1 842 And so time went till , when he surprised every on o of e by ann uncing his intention going to Europe again . Friends shrugged their shoulders ; few questions were

t o . asked, and those few no satisfactory answer given The genius that had lain dormant so long was awakened and f demanded a Sphere o exercise . Adrien had seen enough of the world to mature his mind , he had made good classi - 75 POR T MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

m t o - e an d cal studies , had devoted uch time Belles lettr s, in fine wa s really fitted for the project in contemplation . He had conceived the desire to test his powers by an at

at tempt literary work , thinking his destiny might be in

’ an author s career . With the aspiration came the sug gestion t o go back to the genial sunshine of th e French

s o capital , that atmosphere fostering to budding genius .

set His thought was speedily executed , and soon he was

tl ed . in Paris, hard at work The first production of h i s new end eavor had its birth place i n the forest home he had always loved . Chapter by chapter it had evolved from his mind as he roved

h ad through the woods and over the plains . He thought

n ow it all over, again and again , and this early love “ ripened into the first fruit of his pen , Les Savannes . Who better than Adrien Rouquette could describe our Louisiana forests , with their ancient bearded oaks , with their majestic pines and feathery cypress , with their

- multi colored and many voiced singers , with their stately deer and other denizens of the woods ? Every aspect of it “L ” all he knew s o well . es Savannes was but the over

’ fl ow of ff and outpouring his heart s a ection . As soon a s the work was finished he sent th e manu script to a publisher with urgent orders t o hasten the com

l i n p et o . The very first copies gotten out were sent imme d i at el y to the best authorities for criticism , having r e solved either t o pursue or abandon his p r O p osr d p r of es sion according to the reception met by his maiden effort .

‘ n ot f or l He had long to wait , on y a few days h ad O F T HE U 76 LIFE ABBE RO QUETTE ,

elapsed, when a veritable shower of congratulations poured in upon him .

a s And when we learn that such names Saint Beuve,

Lamartine, Chateaubriand, Emil Deschamps and Bar

h l m a t e e y were among the first to applaud the young uthor, it must needs be granted that he merited the praise .

. h i s They not only lauded work , but encouraged him to give the world more of the same kind . “ ” “ n e I l b ean cou e o . d Daus votre style, wrote y a p ” “ n r es sem b l an ce avee n os p l u s gr a d s eer i vai ns . V ans ” av z l en r e d e n os r an d e an ai tr es d e l a l i tt er a tn r e e e g g ,

B r i zea n - wrote another . , that sweet voiced singer of Brit tany, whose poems will ever be loved by every true child of France, and by all who are worshippers at the shrine o f n Nature, wrote most enthusiastically to Adrien, calli g “ ” “ n ssi an l J ea n e. him the second Ossia , O e There wa s on e amon g al l these letters of felicita tion which exercised quite an influence over the young author . “ ” L es Thomas Moore read Savannes, and was at once curious to know something of this young American

P ar i s writer . Inquiries from friends in aroused even grea ter interest .

f o Moore entertained no love r America or Americans ,

’ but was honest in exp ressing his appreciation of Adrien s

. or coi n ci ability Perhaps it was the similarity, rather a dence in their opening manhood that evoked a certain

- fellow feeling , for Moore also had studied for the bar and then abandoned that career for literature . Just about th is time the old poet had completed a new collection of

78 LIF E OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

” “ was ao sustained the lofty style of the Thebaide, and knowledged by the critics as a poem which could chal lenge the pen of Laprade . By these works Adrien had conquered a permanent

s glory , and though above petty vanity, felt a rea onable glow of pride that he had not only found a profession in harmony with his tastes, but that he had achieved success .

r Once launched into the literary career , he never eally

- gave it up, and later on his life work was too engrossing

h i s to allow him to devote all energies to literature , still he never ceased to publish sketches, prose and verse , on a variety of subjects .

It would certainl y be desirable to mention Mr . Rou

’ uet t e s or q works in chronological order, with the setting background of the circumstances connected with their

’ c of produ tion , but in this brief sketch the author s life they must be grouped together, regardless of their period of presentation to the public and with the sacrifice of extended description and analysis . With Adrien ’ s literary position so firmly established

at in Europe, it is needless to say that laurels awaited him home . The clouds had drifted away and his family longed to have him return that they might enjoy the sunshine of

a s e his popularity and renown . Again and again he w p ti t i on ed t o 1 843 r e to return America , and finally in he turned to Louisiana . We will leave him to the enjoyment of a cordial wel come , while we glance toward a sphere of labor which h e was b en eficen t to render for many years . - 9 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 7

of Abbe Perche , chaplain the Ursuline Convent, and

N ew later Archbishop of Orleans , had always held the Press to be so important a factor in procuring for h i s

- a er fellow citizens instruction , and explaining way the r or s h i s of the people , that he used greatest endeavors to aid good Catholic j ournalism . For years he worked to raise t o its highest excellence the paper known a s the “ ” Propagateur Catholique . He was indefatigable in his efforts to secure good writers and to contribute articles himself, for he was an able and learned author ; in fine, to leave no stone unturned to develop and improve the p a

For wa s per . a long time it the sole Catholic organ in

s o the diocese, and the good Abbe wishes to make it good

t o that all would wish subscribe . It was published weekly

an in French and in English . We c understand how Abbe Perche must have dreamed of the good fortune coming to him when he heard that Mr . Rouquette, whose brilliant , scholarly writings in both languages, made him so fit for col ab or at i on wa s in the Propagateur, coming home to New

Orleans . Not much solicitation was required to gain his serv

’ ices , and the Abbe s dreams were realized . The paper rose at once into greater esteem and was deemed a great acquisition in every Catholic home . So now we will glean “ ” from among the ol d files of the Propagateur two speci

’ R ou uette s mens at least , which illustrate Mr . q ability and versatility . 1 8 80 . U In , Mr Parnell made a tour of the nited States ,

’ soliciting contributions in favor of Ireland s poor . He 80 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

“ m n made a y addresses , aroused great interest in the Home ” Rule question , and excited the sympathies of all Irish Al l Americans . over the country Irish leagues were formed, Hibernia societies organized , and that year St . ’ Patrick s day was celebrated with greater pomp than ever . Processions wearing “ the green ” marched throughout the cities of the land . Loyal Catholics could not forget that “ ” Parnell had called them cowardly Papist rats, yet they ff gladly gave him aid for their su ering brothers . Mr .

e di o Rouqu tte rea ly resp nded to the exciting theme , espoused the cause of the Isle of Saints , and wrote the poem

TO IRELAND .

h Sweet virgin land ! Untouc ed by foreign taints ,

Bright Emerald resting on the azure brine, Be fadeless glory thine ! ! Oh Erin green Hibernia , dearest home

on e And fairest, save the heavenly above . How shines thy faith ! How burns thy love divine ! A n d what unbounded praise should not be thin e ! ! ! Oh fam ed Hibernia Erin , Shamrock Isle

That naught could ere from thee, thy faith beguile . Through countless trials even unto death

of Thy persecuted sons , pilgrims faith , Knight errants of Apostleship are seen Untired t o hold aloft thy banner green

a W ving anear the cross, in every clime, ” r s u ! I hail thee, chosen ace , adly s blime - POR T MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 81

Our next selection is in prose, and a very good illus

’ - i R ou uet te s . wa s t r at on of Mr . q vivid word pictures It

1 883 . p ublished in June, tw n This is a contrast between o bridal ceremonies , o e in the city, attended with pomp and fashion ; the other in

ar e . a humble Indian village . Both from real life This article was written in French : “Last Thursday a grand wedding took place in the old

t . St . Louis Ca hedral The Mayor, the City Council , the

of of eminent gentlemen the bar , the most distinguished our of our n citizens , the very flower populatio , both Creole

u a and American , were there nited in greater multitude

e than ever before gather d in the vast edifice, to witness the ceremony .

“ Pompous decorations , with unprecedented Splendor, i transformed the majest c Cathedral into a fairy palace, and when the grand organ pealed forth its floods of magic harmony the very walls seemed to pulsate with emotion , while the immense assembly, in intense sympathy, seemed

on i n to have but e soul , which throbbed unison with the

. n b melody There, illumi ed y the glow of a thousand waxen

- tapers , breathing music in the incense laden air , Spain and

France , Philadelphia and New Orleans , rejoiced together

n at a spectacle as touchi g as it was imposing . The toga and the sword , the ermine and the helmet , mingled with a n f legitimate pride their obility and their glory . An o ficer f o of . D u an l ou Far as France, nephew Mgr p p , M . Henri j ,

’ A l zi r e and M lle . Bermudez, the accomplished daughter of r of the Judge Of the Sup eme Court Louisiana, received 82 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

the Nuptial Benediction from our venerated Archbishop, Wh o called down upon the young couple all the blessings of Heaven .

“ May this fair flower of Louisiana bloom into fuller

th e beauty beneath the sunny sky of France, whither

i s valiant chevalier to shelter her with loving care .

“ May she be happy herself, and make others happy in the land of exile which will often remind her of her n of e of ative land , in which the language Corneill , Lamar tin e and of Chateaubriand is still spoken by the des cend ants of the French emigrees . “ In the midst of this beautiful assembly a poet mur mured to himself

’ Si j avai s de Chateaubriand La plume ardent et p oet i que Avec u n accent sympathique

E t n u r h th m e eb l oui ssan t dans y . m Emu , ravi , com e poete ,

fl eur s Semant a pleines mains des , Ah ! j e dirais tous les bonheurs

‘ ’ E t tout l ecl e t d e cette fete ;

’ n d a tt r ai t s Mais fasci é par tant ,

’ ” — m i r a d e et . Je sens j , j e me tais

The splendid ceremony described above recalls a scene I witnessed a few days previous near the few scattered cottages which have the name of Bayou Lacombe village .

A marriage wa s t o take place among the Indians . The - 83 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . natives of the two villages of Madisonville and B uch awa were camped in a forest of oaks and pines on either side

a of the R vine Dorée , so called because the limpid waters of the bayou flowed over a bed of yellow sands a s golden hued as those of th e ancient Pactolus .

‘ The young maiden who was affian ced belonged to

h i n h abi t o B u c awa . Madisonville , her betrothed All the tants were witnesses and were to take an active part. in

n the ceremo y .

“ ’ Those of the maiden s village were to defend and protect her when the Opposite party came to carry her O ff . The maide n s of the other village were to accompany the young brave and aid him t o Obtain possession of his bride . “ At a given signal the maiden left her cabin , her eyes l modest y cast down , trembling and pale . At the same instant the betrothed left h i s cabin and advanced slowly toward the maiden . When within a few steps from her he

t o made a movement as though seize her, but more quickly than the deer she fled toward the forest , accompanied by all of her friends an d pursued by her betrothed and h i s comrades . When at last overtaken and seized by her future husband both the men and the women of the village

o r a s used every means t elease her, and soon as she was freed the same chase recommenced without delay for rest .

The two crowds wound in and out among the trees , and f at times in the struggle the maiden was almost su focated . Then some stro n g arm separated the living wall and she d arted forth again . This continued until sh e fell ex h aus ted wi th f a t i ue — g and emotion her hair dishevelled , 84 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

a her garments soiled and torn , herself the picture of victim going to i m m ol ati on m f ear and terror depicted in her countenance . “ But whence this fear, this pallor . Is it only a part h She a s to play ? No . Every ceremony of these primiti ve

s people hides a profound and instructive significance . Thi child of the forest really fears to change her condition

w sh e from maiden liberty to edded thralldom . Perhaps had seen the regret and sadness of her own mother .

sh e Perhap s, during the long dark hours of the night, had heard this mother weeping .

She knew what her past had been , but was ignorant of what the future held in store . Hence her soul was

. N O troubled , her heart agitated , her senses disturbed ,

wa s n ot on the fear feigned ; and often , such occasions , have we seen the tears fl ow from the anxious d ark eyes of the trembling maiden . “ t o After a while the elders told her calm herself, and,

- nsh when she had regained self possessio e rose and , going

a to a blanket spre d near by , there seated herself, while the

n of two oldest Indians , o e each side, came forward and held over her head a stick upon which each Indian in turn placed a gift . These wedding presents consist chiefly of calico , ribbons , bead necklaces and other ornaments .

“ This ceremony concluded , the maiden and brave

t o were each conducted their cabins, to be decked with all the richest garments they possessed . When attired they received the felicitations of their friends and their good

‘ wishes . The women say to the bride : May corn and meat

86 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE, concert of harmonies repeated by the distant echoes of the mysterious depths of that grand sanctuary of solitude .

X‘ ' X«

Let us n ow turn to a work which must have been a — source of keenest delight to Mr . Rouquette the English poem which appeared in the same j ournal a s the above

on selections , but which , account of its superior dramatic

t o and lyric qualities , deserves be printed separately and sent abro ad over the world wherever the English language is understood .

T e ah i th a Catherine g w , the saintly Indian maiden of

Caughnawaga, ever commanded the sincerest devotion and

a s veneration of Adrien R ouquette . Her life w a subject

h i s . which lay very close to heart , and even in the last hours “ ” of h i s life the mere mention of this Lily of the Mohawks would bring a smile and unwonted animation into his wan features . o “ The following quotation fr m the poem , Catherine ” T e ah oui t a of our g g , is a lyric in praise Southern songbird, h the rival of t e nightingale . Whenever Adrien Rouquette

- heard a mocking bird he seemed spellbound, Silent , motion

i n f o . less , drinking every note the melody The poem tells u s this

- Wondrous songster , many voiced, Whose music has so oft rej oiced d And charmed the gardens ecked with blooms ,

That shed profuse such sweet perfumes . Gardens less brilliant than thy notes

t o o a That seem gush fr m thousand thro ts, - POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 87

To bloom and shine in colored tones

Like flowers , like pearls , like precious stones

To flash in quick , vibrating rays ,

T o d e Sparkle , azzle, glow and blaz

With all the richest , warmest hues

That love inspires and light imbrues .

Light is color and light is sound ,

an d r And sound colo s correspond .

A n d figures , forms , express in lines

Of notes and hues the vague confines .

Sounds , colors , figures , forms, diverse ,

a s Yet one in the universe,

Reflected and reflecting all ,

Till all are lost in One Original . For all are but created signs

’ Of God s ideal , first designs , A n d all ascending must return

To the great Type whence all are born .

to The varied Simplicity , All numbers t o the Unity ! 0 Thy varied strains , minstrel bird !

’ won d r i n Oft, gazing, g crowds have heard , Heard in their wild variety

n And yet their sternest u ity .

Thou canst all others imitate ,

All others matching emulate,

. And yet thou art thyself unmatched .

Thy magic none has ever snatched ,

a And none the b ys shall win from thee, LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

Thou art a living melody The soul of music breathing forth

Is echoed through thy voice on earth . — There is a world still undefined ,

of Such heights , and depths , soul and mind

o s o Th ughts innermost, delicate, S O simple, yet so intricate

That they can find expression meet,

or e But, in faint colors notes fle t . — 0 This world thou couldst , Artist, weird ! O ghostly singer, spirit bird Thou couldst embody and impress

With twilight tinge of dreaminess ,

With softest tints and highest shades ,

That fancy blends and love pervades ,

And yet thy notes are warm and bright,

Thy notes are dipped in vivid light .

ar - Thou t impulsive, almost rash ,

And fierce in thy unbounded dash , Sweeping betwixt the two extremes ’ From t he bald eagle s savage screams, To the sweet throstle’ s warblings faint

‘ ’ e . Or the dove s t nder , cooing plaint ! O Virtuoso whose wild sway ,

Whose compas s vas t and boundless range, Whos e stretch of voice surpassing strange

n o Some seem to doubt . Thou hast peer

N 0 match in either hemisphere .

Unrivalled in thy lyric strain ,

LIFE O F T HE ABBE ROUQUETTE

ki sor ci é Sila , sé zozo ,

K outé k outé so l a , musik — — K out é li koute li La p é “ ” Di nous : K i l i kl i k ! K il ikl ik !

K outé ! K out é ! d ou sor ci é la

Koute begin sa la pé di nou . “ La pé di n ou Wawa ! Wawa ! “ ” La pé di n ou : Hibou ! Hibou !

K out é pandan la nuit trankil — K out é sou s a la pé di n ou “ ” K outé é : - - ! , la p di Whip pour wil “ ” La pé pele z Kolin - forou !

K out é li ! Shange so la voi

’ t ou L a pé shante Kom zozo , K om t ou sa ki chanté dans b oi

K om l K om n narb , Kom devan , dolo .

r i Li Si gran mete , li S i so c é T ou sila ye ki t an d é li

u ’ Ye resté la, ye t o blie ’ s r e Ye koute j onka mouri .

é Ga , li dans siel a p valsé S o la voi ap e rane li s ou Li pli konen sa la p é fé ! — Li pl i konen ar yi n li fou ! - 91 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

Ah ! M ok eur ! Ah ! M ok eur sh an t eur !

r Ah ! Ah ! T o gagn i n gi ab dan k o .

’ T o a n i n t r o l es r i t m ok eur g g p , ,

Mai cha n té ! Ma k out é cukor .

The above might be rendered somewhat as follows

K I THE MOC ING S NGER .

Hidden away in the Spanish beard

f - ( That hangs from the limbs o the forest trees ) , Wh o is the Singer there ?

i s I know it not the nightingale . Listen to h i s song ! Wh o i s there ?

A l l ! He who is singing thus , T o on e possessing such a wondrous voice That all the world would gladly listen Until death from hunger would overtake in th e

woods .

That is a bird which may be called a sorcerer ‘Listen ! Listen to his music ! Listen to him ! Listen to him ! “ He says t o us : K i l i kl i k ! K i l i kl i k ! ”

Listen ! listen to that sweet sorcerer !

e i s Listen w ll to what he telling us . “ ” He says to us : Wawa ! Wawa ! “ ” He s ays to u s : Hibou ! Hibou ! 92 LIFE O F T HE ABBE ROUQUETTE

i L sten during the tranquil night , Listen to a l l that he i s telling us ; “ ” Listen a s he says : VVh i pp oor wi l l ! ” l - ! : e . He is cal ing Kolin forou ( i , all the birds

forest ) .

Listen ! h ow b e changes his voice ! He h a s sung a s all the other birds A s all which h ave ever sung in the woods

A S as n a s the trees , the wi ds , the waters .

is o He such a grand master, such a s rcerer That all wh o hear h i s voic e

A r - e spell bound and forgetful . m i l w i t . They ould listen , listen death

N o w see him waltzing in the sky ! He i s dazed with h i s own song ! He knows not what he is doing ; — He is wi ld reeling with j oy !

— A mocking bird a mocking - bird A h ! an evil Spirit n ow i s thine ! Thou are drawing out my soul

n o But Sing to me . I listen w a gain .

One more work of M r . Rouquette must be mentioned before leaving the subj e ct of his literary productions ;

ch a t er a ar t i t s but it deserves a p p , being , in rich beauty, l ik d a e the glowing sunset that follows a clear summer y .

94 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

A bout the first of the nineteenth century a family of French origin dwelt on their plantation in the southern

h . p art of t e United States, near a large city Their secluded residence was hidden b eyond groves of orange trees . A venues of p ecan and oak trees wearing the grey moss festoons and all the luxuriant growth of many tropical

i s i t s v ne led to the large dwelling, with broad verandas

an d . comfortable , airy structure — The family consisted of three members the father, — mother and an only child a daughter . There were many n a e t o t o t h e egro sl ves on the plac , till the soil , tend herds

’ t h o and flocks and to serve e master s househ ld .

M r s 0 Mr . and . had named their young daughter

’ of Atala, in memory the heroine of Chateaubriand s novel , which they had read with unusual interest . They had sent the little Atala to be educated in a famous O l d convent of

sh the city , and at the time the story opens e had just com

l et ed p her studies and returned home . d ' In isposition , Atala was serious , reflective and with out the slightest attraction for the ordinary pleasures . and

. e vanities of her sex and age She pref rred solitude, and

sh e was fond of seeking the most secluded nooks, where c ould contemplate at leisure the wild beauties of the forest . The sight of a flower charmed her , the song of a bird thrilled her with emotion , the sighing of the breeze t h e in trees , the murmur of the waves , cast her into a reverie . In the Open fields , beneath the majestic pines of the forest, her nostrils would quiver and her lungs expand t o inhale the fresh scent from the wild prairies and wood lands . - 5 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 9

Her imagination , her heart, her spirit, her whole being was drawn by that mysterious genius who inhabits

f s the immensity o the virgin olitudes .

n She almost envied the Indians, who ofte visited her

’ fa ther s h ouse to sell their baskets and aromatic herbs, and she loved t o speak to the pure and innocent m aidens “ of . s a : the desert She would y to them You are so happy, while I am most miserable ! Why was I not born in a reed cabin like unto yours ? Then I could wander free in the

! t o great forest . Oh I long run away from the world of ” of f ! civilization and go with you far , far into the woods

wa s a This very puzzling to the simple s vages , but they asked no questions , and Atala gave no further explanation . All is wantin g to a soul that lacks what it most de l ? sires . What are pleasures, riches, g ory, celebrity The soul is like an ocean into which all the rivers flow, but

S . which they never fill . o thought Atala “ Oh ! Infinite Beauty ! Oh ! Ideal Perfection ! When ” ! of Shall I possess Thee cried this child the Spirit, whose

e of soul was captivated by the spl ndor a celestial vision . Her parents understood nothi n g of this divin e nostalgia which devoured Atala . Her father was engrossed in amassing wealth , and she cared nothing for riches ; her mother wa s constan tly in the exciting whirl of worldly

e an d amus ments, Atala despised them as vain and useless .

con fid i n She lived a life apart, g her secret longings to none save the faithful negro slave who was given to her a s a

t h e present on her return from convent . ’ A t al a s wa s e health frail , and with sadd ned hearts her l parents beheld her grow dai y more pale and fragile . 96 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

They consulted the best physicians , but none could

of discover any malady . All , however , counseled change

on air, exercise on foot and horseback, and removal from

a habitual s cenes . The family left at once for a dist nt

t o country residence, and strove by every means interest

Atala in her new surroundings .

One day they all wen t out f or a long walk in the

so forest . Atal a seemed pleased and so gay that her parents rejoiced to see h er eagerly gathering flowers to

a s fli tt ed make a bouquet, and singing low she here and

sh e there . They became absorbed in conversation , while

- wandered further and further away . A mocking bird perched on a tree nearby seemed singing to her alone . He

a s a watched her closely, and , soon as she drew ne r the

t o . tree where he sang , would flit away a more distant Spot

d of h i s Each time she followe him , attracted by the magic

sh e wa wondrous song, and ere long was far a y from her

of parents, in the mazy depths the forest, where no path

h on Showed her ow to return . In her endeavors to seek e she only went further away .

’ a f or A t al a s The parents w ited some time return, and

a a an d then grew une sy and began long fruitless search .

At last, worn out with fatigue and anxiety, they returned home t o get help . In another hour they returned wi th n i h b or s g , who soon made the forest resound with their

of cries, with the ringing bells and the firing of guns .

Echoes alone responded .

Atala heard the noise , but was frightened and fled as

fleet as a deer deeper and deeper into the solitudes , cross

9 8 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

birds, the trees , the stars , all Sp oke to her of the Creator . She loved them all and it seemed to her they reciprocated her affection . She called each spot , each object with a

o n name of her w coining , thus forming a new vocabulary,

a a a new langu ge , even composing an alphabet cont ining

an many vowel sounds d only the necessary consonants . Her language reproduced the harmonies she heard in the

- f t many voiced accents o nature . She would even lis en to t hear the flowers to bloom , and the rays of starligh quiver a of s they shot through the mellow air evening, and played hide and seek with the m oonbeams am ong the fleecy cloud lets in the Sky . Atala had , as it were , become the echo of t h e of voice nature . The visible symbolizes the invisible ; the sensible the

G od ideal ; the intelligible, the Divine . So Atala saw in — all and all, in God, putting everything into its proper

i s i t i s place, and as order beauty and harmony and unity,

a h a God manifested in His works . All cre tion s a mystical s ense and speaks a divine language which we call poetry .

a th e Atal possessed this instinct , this gift, knowledge of this mystical sense, therefore she was a poetess . All her t houghts were unwritten poems celebrating the love and

a s beauty of God . Her soul w the sanctuary wherein burned this divine fire of love returned, and it was lofty, pure, exalted . From the dawn of reason S h e had consecrated every fibre O f her being t o th e Creator ; without even understand

t sh e h ad al ing wha did , she made the vow of virginity, t hough the secret was hidden in the depths of her souL - 99 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

She h ad fostered every pious sentiment by a love of spirit

- ual reading, and at first , in her wild wood home, missed the companionship of her books ; but. soon She learned to read from the great book whereon God ’ s finger has traced the characters and from which G od spoke to her in the

of Hi s colors , the sounds , the figures and diverse forms works . The open life of the forest soon developed th e maiden into a woman and ere long, tall , majestic , her long black h air flowing free , her dark eyes reflecting the dim avenues o f a the sombre woods , with a glint of the sunshine and

on e of gleam of the moonbeam , She might remind Mar

i of or guer te de Montmorency , the Solitary the Pyrenees ,

of rather, the imposing personification the wild, the aus tere nature surrounding her . f In her wanderings She often met tribes o Indians , “ ” t h e r e who called her White Savage, and often hunters t urning from the chase would place beside her little her t mitage game and the skins of wild beas s , dressed and

c ready to onvert into apparel .

A young Indian maiden who wa s p ersecuted by her parents for having received Baptism , sought the retreat of n Atala and received hospitality . They Spoke ot the s t o n ah ame language, but were soon able understand o e o ther ; and Atala ta ught her companion the language She had composed, without knowing that She was imitating

S t . a Hildegard , who also composed mystic language which s h e alone understood . Atal a had kept with care the dress she wore when 00 1 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

t t lost , and was thus enabled o attend Mass in a little fores w chapel . The saintly old priest, her confessor , alone kne b ut her history . He gave her aid from time to time,

: never revealed her secret . He thought her more like a religious than a sibyl .

’ The young Indian girl who had become A t al a s com

wh o panion , had a brother who still loved his Sister, and

h i s always brought her a share of game, so the two maid ens never lacked food .

wh o s Atala, o loved the birds that they would perch upon her head and Sing while she worked and prayed , had

a fie t i on of e S h e also gained the c a g ntle hind , which

or e named Palki Fleetfoot , and the faithful animal gav

won fid el her milk , fresh and pure . She had likewise the

of ity a magnificent deer hound , which one day pursued

f th e Palki even t o the hermitage o her mistress . When

d o a t o g saw Atal kneeling motionless , her eyes raised

d a s heaven , her arms extende , he stopped and then , though

e t h e charmed by some secret influence , crept clos to

kneeling girl and lay down beside her . He never after left

. of n a her On account a white Spot o his forehead, Atal “ ” called him Star . Palki and Star guarded the repose of their mistress with a vigilance as sure a s the grilles of the monastery af

ford the cloistered nuns .

’ wh o A t al a s t The young Indian Shared solitude , buil for herself a little hermitage near by on the border of k i “ O e t t a . L ass m a or of Lake Thus , the Flower the Even ” d a s u ing welt beside her friend . Atal a w very happy, b t

2 1 0 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

L a s si m a smiled and asked if he had dreamed of a cr adle swinging from the branch of an oak He answered

r e n ot but pursued h i s suit . At first Rosalie refused to

I ssab é linquish her maiden liberty , but when saved her

f a from the charm o a r ttlesnake, and when he promised to be baptised , she yielded consent .

L a s si m a wa s grieved to think that earthly love was

h of stealing I ssab é and Rosalie from t e servic e G od . “ ” “ sh e Happy the virgin , would exclaim , who like Atala ” loves G od alone and resembles the angels ! Then in an ecstasy of thanksgiving S h e would renew her own con se

i n or at o . About this time a new personage appeared and won the esteem and respect of the solitaries . European by

t o birth , he came America and begged to be admitted among the Indians a s on e of their tribe .

x r He had belonged to a noble Breton family, had e e ci sed important functions in France and might have

t o of looked forward a career renown , but had abandoned home and country to become a savage and - was known “ ” Ho o ouska among the Indians as p y , or Wise Man .

HO o ou sk a I ssabé e p y and had becom friends , hunting

e an d e together, sitting beside the sam fire, reposing b

HO o ou sk a neath the same tree . p y loved God with a love so intense that h e hated evil and wickedness with a hatr ed

n ot . that knows how to Spare Hence he fled from France,

of s l the land his love, because he could not ee her ru ed by

Hi s a government which sought to banish God and service ,

i n t o abolish religion . Here the virgin forest he could - 1 03 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

For possess h i s G od in profou nd peace and pure joy . several years he had dwelt in th e very forest which had given Atala a home , but had never addressed her , content to admire h er from a distance . One dav when HO p oy ou sk a wa s near the hermitage

a S h e he ventured to speak to At la . received him kindly , an d when h e began t o tell her the story of h i s life sh e l i s

t o h ow tened with great sympathy . He recounted her

t o n he had come dwell among the I dians , and that loved

of . by a beautiful daughter the tribe, had wedded her

n Their u ion was blessed by the birth Of a daughter , but

! h i s alas during his absence, enemies had come , destroyed i home and ta ken away h s wife and child . The tale was so

’ pathetic that as he Spoke the tears fell from A t al a s down

of cast eyes . At the conclusion his narrative, he looked “ wh o r e upon Atala exclaiming, Thou , art so beautiful ,

of P akan l i mindest me my poor , that ideal woman whom I so ! ! t loved and have lost . Oh Atala If vou are free o give yourself to another

n o f or He could say more , with a piercing shriek Itala fell senseless at his feet— horror and anguish de

i n p ct ed o her countenance .

The heavens grew dark, thunder rolled ominously on high and a bewildering flash of lightn ing struck a tall

n . of pine near by, se ding a large section splintered wood ,

’ Ho ska burying it deeply in the ground at p oyou s side . “ Fear, terror , remorse , filled his soul . Sacrilegious fool that I am ! I have tried to r ob the Almighty of His ” consecrate d spouse ! And he fled from the spot which he

h i s felt that presence polluted . 1 04 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

’ a l a L as si m a and Rosalie had flown t o A t s assistance,

l a i n a n d soon revived their ho y companion . But the p st i w t er v ew a s impressed upon her mind , and she did not c ease weeping bitterly and crying aloud to her He avenly ! S . pouse Oh my God, where was Thy jealous love when this man dared to suggest to me , Thy promised bride , the t hought of human marriage ! Oh ! how long is my exile ?

a of a Would th t I had the wings dove , that I might fly to

T e ! 0 h hee, my treasur , my love would t at my soul could break the chains that bind me to earth ! O d eath ! how slow ! 0 ! thou art to come my best beloved come, come and t ake me to Thee ! Atala was consumed by a divine nostalgia and the fragrance of immortality wa s just ready to be wafted f rom the flower that was drooping toward the tomb . As day succeeded day Atala grew weaker and more feeble . Her devoted friends saw She could n ot linger much longer s a eparated from the union with the He venly Bridegroom .

S h e was ripe for heaven .

At last L assi m a and Rosalie realized that the end wa s I s sab é a n H o ou ska very near , so they summoned d op y . T hey came and brought with them the venerable Father

E a mmanuel , who administered to Atal all the rites of

Holy Church for her departing children . After the cere m ony Atala revived . Rosalie knew her strength could n ot s o last long, she knelt beside the l owly couch , took the ’ “ d : ying saint s hand, and said My dear Mistress , the hour h as come for me to reveal what I promised you long ago when first I j oined you in this solitude . Listen , this is

B 1 06 LIFE OF THE A BE ROUQUETTE,

l . was d one to render her ife agreeable Once, during an excursion into the forest , she became separated and was lost) ’

s HO o ouska As Rosalie continued her tory , p y drew

a n d a s . nearer, knelt near as possible to the dying virgin “ This young girl , this mystic virgin , this Spouse of

Christ , who was called Atala by Mr . and Madame Oman ,

n ot of P ak an l i t h e was their child , but the daughter and noble Frenchman wh o came from Brittany t o live with ” m a and a s the Indians of A erica . Rosalie p used and

Ho o ouska h i s p y , unable longer to control emotion , cried “ ” : o n out She is then my w daughter, and taking the hand of h ot Atala kissed it reverently , while the tears streamed from his eyes .

a t At la , half supported and par ly by the strength

: given her from excitement, whispered faintly , but audibly

n ow What I have never understood in my life, I com

. G od prehend at the hour of death My and my all , I am

! h as ready, receive my soul It never loved aught but ! ” T hee She fell back ; her prayer was answered . Atal a

a s w dead .

i s of of Such the substance the last great work Mr .

Rouquette . The legend was recounted to him by a n aged

of - five Indian woman a hundred and twenty years of age, who claimed to have known the various persons men

i n t o ed . r in the tale Words of app eciation must be brief, though the subject temp-t s one to linger l on g over this pure and chaste Idyl of Louisiana . The following quotation from emin ent critics will “ ffi t o of su ce establish the great merit La Nouvelle Ata la . - 1 07 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

“Aside from the religious idea which permeates like a “ of L a leaven the whole structure the volume, Nouvelle ” Atal a Offers a curious study from a purely literary point of view . It reflects the spirit Of a life, a most unique

of a s o and strange life , the life missionary enamored with

of nature and with solitude, and the Simple , healthy ex “ ” n - r i st e ce of those who call him the Black Robe Fathe , that he has become as on e of them a s h i s Indian appell a

i s tion teaches us . A priest whose temple the forest, with the cloud - frescoed heaven f or its roof ; and for the aisles the pillared magnificence of the pines ; whose G od is the

od of th e G the Wilderness , great Spirit overshadowing — the desert must be a man of high and holy aspirations . Aside from its spiritual merit s we may call attention to the work as a most remarkable and beautiful piece of writing, idyllic in sentiment, strong and brilliant in col

a s of oring, valuable a unique example romance, inspired by the personal experience of a life Spent in the solitude ” of the wilderness . “ From the pen of another we read : Atala i s written in most harmonious language , spontaneous , picturesque, ff colored, fresh , limpid , graceful , with all the e ervescence o i f youth . The work s a resumé of the most diversified

a talent . The uthor has put his own soul and life into it .

i s t h e of It cry his heart . From the midst of a material world he conducts the soul up into the sublime regi ons

‘ of the ideal . But to understand and appreciate L a N ou ’ on e of velle Atala , must be pure heart . Only the pure of ” heart see G od . R CHAPTE IX .

’ D GO S HOUR.

A sa e s we w in a preceding chapter, Adrien Rouquett

4 a s returned to New Orleans in 1 8 3 . He w now in the full vigor of h i s manhood and had embraced what he deemed the career destined for him by Divine Providence .

a He had proved his capability as writer, and the world had welcomed his works with applause .

b e Once settled at home in New Orleans , resumed his literary l abors , entering the broader field of journalism ,

’ soon to become one of Abbe Perche s most efficient co workers . Thus the future seemed mapped out to every one ’ s

’ s h e u Al satisfaction . But a t Prophet tells S of the mighty s “ ” : S O designs Your thoughts are not my thoughts , in the

of secret arrangements the Most High , a new epoch in

’ A drien R ouquet te s life wa s at hand .

t s o Before touching upon the coming even , wonder

s o f ful and far reaching in its e fects , a glance backward at the history of religious aff airs in New Orleans is n eces sary . We need not dwell upon the great work accomplished

h i s by Bishop Dubourg and immediate successors , Bishops

N eck er e Rosati and de , but proceed directly t o the great prelate who achieved what these had so nobly begun . In 83 5 1 , Bishop Blanc had been appointed to the onerous

1 1 0 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

1 855 of the foundation , until , when the Seminary was de l stroyed by fire , it was a veritab e home of piety and eccle si a st i cal discipline under the abl e management of those

f . renowned trainers o young levites, the Lazarists There wa s another reason why Bishop B l an e did not

n For attach the Seminary to his ow residence . many years there had been a very sad state of affairs at the Cathedral . As far back a s 1 828 Leo XII had been obliged to condemn the mode of procedure of the l ay trustees . Unfortunately ff this was not very e ective, and the abuses continued to prosper until the trustees had actually usurped even the

Spiritual authority . In the time of Bishop Dubourg,

h e d when returned from Rome, at the perio when he se

of n h i s cured the services Mr . de A dreis and Mr . Rosati , intention had been to fix his See in New Orleans and es t a l i sh b the Congregation of the Mission in that city . But there was s o much opposition that he was forced to change his plans and settle in St . Louis .

- Later , when some of the anti clerical chiefs were out of was the way, he able to come to New Orleans . But the troubles were not ended yet . The trustees still governed the Cathedral . They were elected by the congregation , and in order to secure votes admitted to the church , on those

or occasions particularly, people of any no denomination . S o one need not be surprised to learn that a t one time the p resident of the board of trustees was at the same time grand master of a Masonic lodge, and had gone so far as to attempt to erect a Masonic vault in the Cathedral cem et er y . - 1 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 1 1

In 1 842 a new outbreak of hostilities occurred . The trustees positively refused to allow Bishop B l an e or any

e ffi priest appointed by him , the privileg of o ciating in the

. d church . This was the climax The Bishop at once place T h the church under an interdict . e trustees were furious , and determined to call in every weapon of t h e law to force the ecclesiastical authority t o bend before their will . Liti gat i on ensued and the battle continued in t h e courts al — — most a year ending finally in 1 843 an d may it ever r e d oun d of f or to the glory Louisiana, by a complete victory the discipline of the church .

’ e 1 843 Therefor in , at the time of Adrien s return t an d . excitement party Spiri ran high However, the

Church was soon to issue from the conflict stronger , more

r iti powerful , and more flourishing than ever . It was a c cal moment . There must b e union of forces to combat

r e- a s error and establish right . Abbe Perche w a host in himself with h i s writings and influenc e on the other sup

of c porters the Catholi press . He had r ealized what a gain his cause would enjoy

R u uet t ’ . o e s in securing Mr q services , and the prize was

s won . Adrien wa now ready and willing t o devote all his energies toward the moral elevation of mankind and the

of progress religion, to aid in the warfare t h e Church must ever wage against the powers of evil , and with filial en d eavor to Show forth her divine mission . — Here was the very occasion the very Opportunity and he embraced it . Bishop B l an e felt that n ow was the propitious hour 1 1 2 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

to draw th e people together, to foster their piety, love of

G od , devotion to the Church , and above all , at the present

a moment , win their filial obedience to their lawful p stors , whom they must n ow actively support in the distressing conflict .

Inspired by the Holy Spirit , the Bishop decided that a mission would be given to the lay Catholics in the

’ church adjoining the episcopal resident, at St . Mary s, on

. Chartres Street, near the St . Louis Cathedral , now stand

S O S O ing solemn , dark , so gloomy, in its desertion, under the ban of interdiction . Abbé Perche was chosen as the

a - r orator for the mission . He enjoyed well deserved e nown as an eloquent and persuasive preacher , and those

n ot s who did know him in that capacity , were curiou to

a s a s hear a speaker one so distinguished a writer . The

wa s e whole city excited , enthusiastic , and many wer ready

’ t o t h e to rally call for loyal adherence to God s cause . Adrien ’ s sympathies were already enlisted in this cause, and even were it not so, the personal magnetism of A bb e Perché ’ s character exerted such an attraction that

’ n ot a he could have kept aw y . St . Mary s Church wa s

wa s packed , there not even standing room , and many were

obliged to return home without even reaching the d oor . T his continued throughout the mission . l Adrien, from his connection with the Abbé, was a

a an d lowed privileged place, there the grace of God

awaited him .

It is very hard , nay , it is impossible t o tell what transpires within the d epths of the soul when the voice of

1 1 4 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

a Special grace , they enter the mind and Shed such bun dant efficacious light and strength that the soul sees

o t clearly what before was dark , and embraces j yfully wha

of th e the Master desires . The hour grace passes , but

f f — on e th e e ects remain and will wonder , upon considering

a s of words , which God used a medium communication , h ow they could e ver have been fraught with such S ign i fi

vi vi fie a s t h e cance . They were d by grace, just little cop per wire conveying the magic current of electricity to

m - i t s illu e the fairy like designs , receives power from the dynamo .

So during t h e missio n G od sent His illuminating

’ grace into Adrien R ouquet t e s soul and invited him to a

S O new life , high , so noble, that he had never even dreamed

O f he could be found worthy to appro a ch it . Yet it was f er ed him and in respons e his whole soul wa s filled with a sweetness never before experienced and an overwhelming desire t o go forth and do great things for G od . A love was

h i s a o kindled within heart, a person l l ve for Christ , his

wa s Master , and to satisfy this love, he impelled to the priesthood . This thought alone occupied his mind . What

n mattered the rest . He had no time ow to Study ways and m means . He had no ti e for aught except t o rejoice over

- - his new found love , and it was all absorbing . Days went by and the great call wa s still a secret locked within h i s breast . The mission closed and Adrien was silent, and , it seemed , even taciturn . Every one expected to hear that

a s ol d he had disappeared of , hastening to bury himself in the forest, but their surmises were unfulfilled . He knew - 1 1 5 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

that with his impulsive nature , serious reflection should

- o precede such an all important step . Hence meditati n and

a s prayer accompanied h i s election . The final decision w B l t o a an e. made, and he went pay visit to Bishop — Adri en recounted the hi story of his life and told

t er m i n at how God seemed to call him to the Sanctuary , ing his recital with these words “ Here I am , Monseigneur you know all and have only

sa e f or . to y the word, and I will leave at Onc the Seminary T h e holy Pr elate laid h i s hand upon the head of the “ : S on young man kneeling beside him and replied My , I bless your resolution and willingly accept you as a can

id a Y ou d te for the priesthood . may enter the Seminary just as soon as you can settl e your worldly affairs and be

e ready . Come to s e me again when you are ready to de part .

a n s Adrien left to hasten his preparations, d wa soon

He a able to appoint the date . had never known wh t it

h i s For was to bind actions to the will of another . years he had come and gone to Bayou Lacombe, and even to Eu

S n o a e rope , as the Spirit moved him , O w he cted as her to fore, with perfect independence . Settling his af f airs did n ot e of a e consume much tim , so at about thirty years g , 1 844 ( ) Adrien bade adieu to the world, and went to Plat tenville to enter the Seminary .

i s b e e There little to said of the lif of a seminarian .

Adrien was a good scholar, and devoted himself entirely b . to ! is theology The uniform regularity m akes th e days

t t h T h e pret y much e same . visits of the Bishop were 1 1 6 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

o as ep chs in the life of the students, and especially when,

e f r o in the case of Adrien , they marked the p riods o his p i r ess ve . r e g steps toward Holy Orders . Mr Rouquette cei ved the Order of Sub - Deacon in 1 844 and at last th e

h i s was 1 845 goal Of ambition attained when, in , he was ordained a priest forever according to the Order of Melch

i sed eek .

1 1 8 L I FE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

“ ” l vi e w ; u ar ti er If on y the stones of the q could speak ,

f a what volumes they would tell . The wall s o the great C t h ed r al would become eloquent in describing the young

’ - sacr i fice priest s untiring devotedness , self and love drawn

’ f or t of . from his Savior s Heart , the li tle ones Christ The th e t baptismal font, the confessional , the altar and pulpi

i s were the witnesses of h zeal . Particularly in the latter did Father Rouquette display that marvellous capacity,

s a that virile energy, fiery eloquence, sublime heights of

r c ed science , and that tender piety which drew immense

a . crowds, Sunday after Sunday, to he r him preach

“ ” L a cor d ai r e h i s s The New , as many of admirer liked to name him . Besides ministering in the church , Father

th e Rouquette labored no less generously among the poor,

ol d sick , the sinful members of the parish . The flag pave ments, the dark alleys, the secluded courtyards , these

o h i s could tell f visitations , so hidden and quiet that only

r the angels knew the reco d . The night was never t oo dark or stormy f or him to

of respond at once to a sick call , and this , irrespective

or or position , nationality , or color . Rich poor, saint sin

a s ner, slave or master, Father Rouquette went lovingly,

a s s . as rea dily to one t o the other . If he ever howed a pref erence it wa s in his eager desire to regain a sinful s oul t o

of its R edeemer, for he looked first to the welfare the immortal soul . One among many similar incidents will

r illustrate h i s tender chari ty f o the poor . A family of French origin had lived f or years in the

wa s Cathedral Parish . As the custom, they owned slaves, - 1 1 9 POET MIS SION ARY OF LOUISIANA .

a s of and , some the rare cases which unfortunately did exist looked upon the negroes as creatures born t o serve in rank no better than the other domestic animals . Mad

n of Parisian gayeties would be an agreeable cha ge . S o she left her property to be sold , with several slaves too aged and useless to accompany her . Meanwhile on e ol d negress became bedridden and was

f or . T h e left destitute, starving and wanting everything

of wa s n t account her case made k own o Father Rouquette, and at once he went t o visit her .

I I I of sh e oh , in the midst dirt and disorder, was an f j ect o pity . The young priest paid a negro girl to visit

ol d h every day and attend to the woman , w ile he himself would come laden with food and clothing and even with f r . wood o fuel He would then sweep the poor hovel , make the fire and sometimes cook something f or his protegé to

n t o eat , and then , after havi g ministered her bodily needs , he would sit beside her humble bed and Speak t o her of

’ e n f or God s mercy and lov and forgiveness , prepari g her

Confession , Holy Communion and the Last Sacraments .

o of N matter what were the occupations the day , before

- l retiring to his own well earned rest, he would seek the o d brick outhouse where th e dyin g negress lay waiting f or f “ M ” the visit o on Pere . Many a time he furtively se cr et ed the best portion of h i s dinner t o take t o some such

a s f or n case . But he w more loved his perso al sympathy

f or of w and spiritual ministry than the goods this orld , which he was enabled to give . 1 20 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

By degrees Bishop Blanc pl aced more confidence in

e e Father Rouquette, gave into his care various d licat mis sions and trained him to fill the responsible position of

- Vicar General .

e o The diocese, though much reduced in siz since Bish p

’ ur s . D ub o g time , by the elevation of the Sees of St Louis ,

e Natchez , Mobile and others , was very larg , and visitations necessitated frequent and long absences . Vigilance and prudence enabled Father Rouqu ette to keep up the pros per ous and edifyin g conditions the good Bishop had worked so hard to establish .

The Seventh Plenary Council of Baltimore had sug gested to Hom e the advisability of raising N ew Orleans to

A a s a s an rchdiocese , with Bishop Blanc Metropolitan ,

a s o 1 85 . sisted by four Suffragans . This w d ne in 0 The new Archbishop had just organized all aff airs in the

A r of 1 854 chdiocese, when the General Council was con vened in Rome . He then left for the Eternal City, and was one of the few A merican Prelates present at the d efi nition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception . He wa s well pleased upon h i s return to find everything in

h i s such good condition . During administration churches had multiplied from twenty - six to seventy - three and clergy

- t - a s men from twenty seven o ninety two . All else w par a llel , and in the accomplishment of all this none was more eager to spend himself for the Lord than Father Rou

u et te of q , and no small portion the good effected wa s due

h i s to initiative and good management . Thus time went o n for fourteen years , during which Father Rouquette a s

1 22 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

very heart of the Choctaw hunting- grounds at the head f springs o Bayou Lacombe . He was standing in spirit at the altar of a woodland chapel ready to celebrate the

Divine Mysteries , surrounded by his swarthy children of

of n the forest . He could hear the chanting the woodla d

of choir, he could inhale the fragrance the wild flowers

a s of decking his rustic altar, and a sweet sentiment j oy

h i s and intense happiness pervaded whole soul , a voice of “ harmo ny divin e spoke these words : Come into the land

‘ that I have shown thee and say t o the dwellers thereof : I

’ r will be your priest and you shall be my people . In e

S on se n u p , there could only be an oblation complete, and reserved as it was, almost ecstatic in its exultant jubila tion .

of Then the scene faded , and the solemnity the pres

Fa ent action came back to banish all other thoughts , and

R on ther ouquette went with the Mass , making heartfelt acts of contrition f or having allowed his mind to wander from the august sacrifice . At the Offertory he was again thrilled by the mes i t “ sage conveyed , and an assurance seemed given him that G od was really calling him to a new mission a n d would be ” “ : his support . This is what he read The Lord will over

Hi s shadow thee with shoulders , and under His wings ” thou shalt trust .

n ot He did pause , but strove to concentrate a l l the powers of his soul upon the more solemn part of the

h i s e Mass . Soon he held in hands the v ry Body of the

of Master, whom he loved with all the strength his nature,

1 24 LIFE or T HE ABBE ROUQUETTE and then he intended revealing th e secr et to the A rch bishop . Of course he could not banish from h i s mind the s of a cene the woodland chapel , and his Chaht children , and h i s day dreams added many a realisti c detail of the life

“ se to come . He could e the dancing sunshine shimmering

" of i n glinting rays , as the visible grace the Great Spirit i escen d i n l o e d g upon the prostrate Indians , when at the c s w o f a Summer day, he gave them the Benediction of the h B . e lessed Sacrament Or, pictured himself administer

“ i n g th e Sacraments to the poor untutored children of the

« a desert , and then such longing would come over him t hat he felt he could fly at. once to embrace the labors

h i s t hat so appealed t o soul .

h i s own t Adrien Rouquette studied pas life , and then h ow e - clear it all becam in the light of this new born grace . Wh i t b ut y x was all a preparation for this mission to which

God was calling him, and his final resolve was taken , for he felt that the time was ripe for its fulfilment . A few days passed before Father Rouquette could summon the

t o c ourage tell Archbishop Blanc, whom he loved a s a father , of his determination . He knew it would be a great t b low to the aged prela e . At last he went and made known to him the call of

G od an , d he dwelt long upon the remote preparation God had provided to fit him for an Ap ostolate among the Sav a ges . ’ Archbishop Blanc did not. wish to hear the project

wa s s poken of as a divine mission . It , he said, nothing - 2 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 1 5

so t . but a day dream , and he opposed it s rongly He could n ot see the necessity . He tenderly loved the ardent priest, im and could n ot resign himself to the thought of losing h . “Ah ! ” “ said he, are there not savages enough in the ? ! city, without going to seek for them in the forest Ah my

n ot f or ! dear Adrien , this is what I have dreamed you I

ou a s son n ow ol d a e ou have loved y my , and in my g , y ’ ” ! ! n o ! ! would leave me Oh , it can t be I cannot let you go

h i s Adrien was deeply pained , soul was in anguish , torn by conflicting desires . He loved this kind and gentle i d h s G o . Superior, but he had given promise to He told — the Ar chbishop that he would pray and r eflect and then

s n o would return to tell him h i decision . Adrien w felt tha t in his perplexity the wise counsel of a friend was n on e s eeded, and he turned instinctively to whose holines

o inspired implicit confidence . He wrote a full account f

a h all th t had transpired to Monseigneur Odin , w o from

Vicar Apostolic had become Bishop of Texas . The Bishop

. h i s answered at once and encouraged him to persevere in . “ son d new vocation . Continue, my , to evote yourself t o. ” ou . o. your Indians , and God will bless y and your work S ’ great was Adrien s veneration f or Monseigneur Odin that an a dverse decision from him would have probably

a ' weighed down the rest . Bishop Odin had been pupil

of s . and later a companion Mr . de Andrei and Bishop

i es ,Rosati . Whe n the Congregation of the M ssions was t abl i sh ed in the South , Mr . Odin evangelized the States of

Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas . In the latter place he “ so s d T h e . labored strenuously that he deserve to be calle ,

Father of the Church in Texas . 1 26 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

Adrien had seen the saintly apostle in 1 841 as he passed through New Orleans . He was literally in rags,

B l an e b e and the generous Bishop , knowing well it was cause he gave everything to his flock , came to the assist ance of h i s poverty - stricken conditi on an d renewed his

’

e . wardrob , notwithstanding the holy man s supplications

’ n So impressed was Bishop Blanc with Mr . Odin s sa ctity and ability that he proposed him first as Coadjutor of

o Detroit, and when he refused the honor , as Vicar Ap stolic 1 42 o 8 . of Texas . He became Bish p in New Orleans was happy to receive him a s Archbishop

’ a h i Blanc s successor . He died at an advanced ge in s

wa s native town in France, and honored by the following “ : eulogium Archbishop Odin was a martyr by merit , with ” out the glory of martyrdom ! Such wa s the wise coun s el l or o chosen by Adrien to direct his decision , and nce

Bishop Odin had approved his resolution , all other argu

h i s w ments were excluded . Convinced that ork among th e Choctaws was awaiting him , he went again to Arch bishop Blan c and told him that hesitation wa s n o longer possible , he felt certain that God was calling him, and he must obey .

a s Grieved the Archbishop was , he had too much rev

i s erence for divine inspiration to oppose t effects . Bless

’ ing his Spiritual son , he bade him go in God s name to u n d er t a ke the mission to which he felt himself called . Adrien kissed the trembling hand j ust held over him il h i in Benediction , and s ently and sadly left s presence to

f or depart his new h ome .

CHAPTER XI;

R D A HEROIC PE IO .

The Choctaws or Chahta Indians were the fortunate people for whom Father Rouquette hear d that special call of t h i s God , that invita ion to devote the best part of life , to spend himself in order to lead those children of the fores t t o their Heavenly Father . This tribe of savages had originally dwelt in the ter r i t or y between the Tombigb ee and the Mississippi Rivers . They were more numerous than any other of the Southern

u of . n a tribes , and powerful on acco nt their number By

a c ture the Choctaw was brave , haughty and revengeful ,

e e a tive in the chas and ven in agricultur l pursuits, but cunning and deceit were traits t oo marked t o allow the

or o whites even their Indian neighb rs , to place much con tfid en ce in th e words of a Chahta . In physical appearance

- they were tall , raw boned , and had the foreheads flattened by the custom of binding bags of sand on the foreheads of children . A s soon as Georgia and Al abama became well settled the white race began that sad system of defrauding the poor Indian of his land and home ; till finally by a gen

. on eral act of ( e might say ) confiscation, the greater part

e wa s a of their t rritory t ken or exchanged, and the owners

o transferred to Indian Territory . The Choctaws of L uis

h h a iana clung to tha t region in St . Tammany, where t ey d F or T HE 1 28 LI E ABBE ROUQUETTE,

A t dwelt from time immemorial , and in like manner the t akapa s remained in the Teche country . These latter

a s Indians were once cannibals, their name signifies , mean “ ” - al l ing, man eater . Of the Southern tribes , none wove baskets with the artistic taste of the Attakapas .

Like the Natchez Indians, the Choctaws held chief t ai n sh i was f e p by right of birth , but the descent in the

For a s on of male line . inst nce , the a chief could not suc ceed t h e s on of his father , the latter must be replaced by his sister or nearest female relative . Most of these tribes worshipped the sun and called “ ” h i s wa s their chief the Great Sun, while to council given f “ ” the appellation o Little Suns . Otherwise their relig ious ideas were vagu e and undefined . This gives us a faint idea of the people f or whom Father Rouquette wa s to work and pray and wh ose deep est aff ection he was to win .

th e - b e A When would missionary left rchbishop Blanc, all was decided and he longed to depart at once, but the

Lenten services , Holy Week and all the Springtide festi vals , besides the arrangement of matters connected with

d ed the diocese had all to be thought of, prepare and settl before he would bid farewell to civilization . This kept him in town till the close of August, though allowing a few brief visits to Bayou Lacombe and the vicinity , to seek the various chiefs and confer with them as to the most f a vor abl e localities for establishing missions .

on At last September 8th , under the auspices of Our

’ Blessed Lady s Nativity , Father Rouquette Opened his

I O F B 1 3 0 L FE THE ABBE OUQUETTE,

a ov i c season we ring no c ering on his head , he made a p

wa s o . ture, once seen , never t be forgotten There a spiritual expression on h i s c ountenance that reminded

e a one of a high r life, a nobler destiny, suggesting th t

’ n such might be the reflection of a angel s face .

’ Those early days of Father R ouquett e s mission were full of toil and hardship . Tradition for many years has pointed out an old oak of giant dimensions which long served the missionary as a place of shelter in its holl ow trunk .

h e a Besides t st tion at the Ravine aux Cannes , half way between Mandeville and Bayou Lacombe he erected

Ha h un h u a or n ow a church at c c b , Alligator Bayou ,

i l k an as K d ar a O a . known , or the Cabin of the Still

L a other was built with a dwelling nearby, on Bayou h B u uwa . combe, when the chapel of c was destroyed The Bayou Lacombe mission Father Rouquette loved best of i “ ” t th e . all , calling nook , and this spot he called home f 1 5 1 861 These were the fruits o the years 8 9 to , and after - events proved that God had very abundantly blessed

’ o f or the zealous priest s lab rs, notwithstanding the ter

a rible devast tion caused by the war , no sooner had the “ ” “ ” dear Black Robe returned to the nook than h i s faithful

’ Indians flocked once more to join the shepherd s fold . In 1 861 Louisiana s eceded from the Union and joined

o a h ff r s on the C nfeder cy under t e Presidency of Je e Davis .

I n N ew a Orle ns , from the beginning of hostilities,

wa s an d business put aside all who could, and some who should not , j oined the army at Richmond . This left the O A K T R E E

A N O T H E R T R E E

P I N E T R E E S

1 3 2 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

The Northern soldiers roved all around the environ s of N ew Orleans and helped themselves t o horses and other

as . supplies , required This terrified the Indians , and they fled far back into the swamps where they knew there wa s not the slightest danger that the soldiers would follow .

t al l r They lef their homes, their ungathered crops, thei worldly possessions that could not be carried away in the

S O huge bundles with which they were laden . the Choc taws decamped , leaving behind the smiling home of peace and plenty to seek refuge in the swamp where the rattle snake l ay hid and where the very atmosphere was poi son ed by th e miasma rising from sta gnant water an d de — ca yi n g vegetable matter a poison that soon penetrates

of to the very marrow the bone, and laid prostrate num b er l es s victims .

n S ickness , misery, deprivations were but beginni g a long and painful reign .

Fortunately there wa s one soul of heroic mould sent

of t o by the Providence God, to accompany , to protect , solace, to comfort the wanderers in their dreary exile .

- n wa s Chahta Ima, as the India s called Father Rouquette, as a father in the midst of his children . He did every

f or s thing them , even nursing with tenderest care tho e stricken by illness, rendering the most menial services and never seeming to be himself even capable of feeling fati gue

f n a s and su feri g . The food w scant , the water impure , — clothing reduced to rags making the camp an abode of misery .

A l l a through the p rching heat of Summer , drenched

CHAPTER XII .

T h e wen t or th sowi n i n t eams but t h e y f g , y ” — r et rn e r ea i n th e ar e i t o P sa m s . u d p g h v st w h j y. l

o Who would have thought, during the glo my period

’ 1 8 62 - 63 64 w of and , which itnessed such dire distress throughout the Southland , that so soon after the declara tion of pe ace the mission of the Choctaws would ex

er i en ce ! wa s s p a wondrous resurrection Yet so it . Event

o hastened on , and before even the g od priest could realize it he wa s again settled downin his humble little chapel

h i s il home, with beloved Chahta ch dren building their

’ - own reed cabins near by the black robe s dwelling, each vying with his neighbor t o supply the necessities of life

h e o f . while labored for the regeneration their souls, and at the same time lent them th e protection of h i s position and authority . Perha ps during the entire period of h i s residence in the Ch octaw forest no more pleasing occurren ce had

t h e r broken monotony, if such existed , and su ely bright

’ R ou uet t e f ened Father q s life, than the visit o Father

‘ Ch oca r n e , the eminent Dominican , already made famous

a La or d ai r e by his able and ch rming life of the great c . A few words regarding this il lustrious visitor to the ” Ch a ct as n Pays des ca not be amiss , since he has con

' tributed in the following letter s o true a picture of Ad rien

’ R ou qu ett e s mission . - POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIAN A . 1 3 5

m n D Pierre Alphonse Chocar e was bor at ijon , April

4 1 2 Hi s , 8 6. parents destined him for a commercial career ,

s - n but God designed a more gloriou life work , and he c

L a or d i r t er ed the seminary and received minor orders . c a e

f n came to Dijon and gave a series o co ferences . The young Abbe Ch ocar n e was captivated by the mar vellous

of a n d eloquence the saintly Dominican , entered the ’ 7 1 849 Order s novitiate in Flavigny, October , , taking the name of Brother Bernard .

a n d f The next year he was ordained, at the age o twe n ty - nin e became Superior of the monastery at

of Toulouse , and later Master Novices at St . Maximin .

1 8 61 L a cor d a i r e In , died and Father Chocarme undertook “ ” a s of to I a work love , write the nterior Life of the great orator . We know how well he succeed ed and h ow wonder

n f of ful has bee the e fect this work . Various troubles caused Father Ch ocar n e to resign the position of Prior in

n n Bordeaux , and, obtaini g permissio to visit America, he 1 5 8 66. sailed from Liverpool September ,

won a fi ect i on an d America his from the start, , above all else , he admired the liberty enjoyed by the Church . Father Ch ocar n e began at on ce the pleasing task of pre

f or a an d h a d n t paring himself pulpit or tory , , o prudent

n on n f n friends i tervened , was the poi t o e tering a very f heated field o debate . His whole hea rt and talent were

t h e aroused by slavery question which , though n ow settled

of an m on by force arms , still stirred up i osity both sides .

Father Ch o car n e just lo n ged to fling himsel f headlon g into the opposition party an d preach with a l l the fervor of h i s O F‘ T HE 1 3 6 LIFE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

French ent husiasm against an insti tution established for

h i s of . the barter human beings Happily , the wisdom of counsellors prevailed an d Fath er Ch ocar n e relinquish-cd his plan .

Some months later found him in New Orleans , and he had the good fortune to meet the Apostle of the Choctaws . Here was a subject quite as interesting a s the slave ques tion , and the Dominican never tired asking information

a i regarding the Indians . F ther Rouquette nvited him to pay a visit to the savages in their forest h om eg a privilege most cordially accepted . A letter sent to France describing this visit tells the story s o well that it would be a loss not to give at least a good extract

I promised you an account of my visit to the home of t h a so o a e Choct w Indians, t d y I come to redeem my word . You remember my description of the passage across Lake

Pontchartrain, from New Orleans to Mandeville , which nestled near the border of th e lake with th e neighboring villas and ch a rming Summer residences stretching along

on e the shore either side . Then cam the fury of a tropical

r c b m fi m sto m , suc eeded y a agni cent sunset in the idst of clouds of gold and fire seen beyond t h e giant trees in garbs

n ow a s of green , bathed in light and illumined, it were , by an immense Bengal flame that gave the Sparkling and scin t i l l ati n a g r indrops , still trembling on the leaves , the as

ect of a o p a verit ble shower of pearls and diam nds . This

s 1 n a wa May 7th . The ext day I left M ndeville for Bon f o a uc , accompanied by the priest, a former Italian Domin

8 I B 1 3 L FE OF THE A BE ROUQUETTE,

s a e dom expres ed in every movement, bene th the shad s of

l s m h i s own m the ofty pines , a place which ee ed do ain , he bore n o resemblance to the Indians I had seen in the city

th e ol d squatting on the pavement of French Market, ex

i i r sa d h bi t n f o . g their wares sale These wore a , timid , em harrassed expression as though they felt themselves out of

‘

o . their sphere . Before no n we arrived at Bonfouca And

’ ’ ‘ ? N o ? . what is Bonfouca you may ask Is it a village , it i s a simply a church , charming little wooden structure on t h e of border the Bayou , and just beside the church is a tiny house for the priest, surrounded by a garden , and fur

on n . ther , as a backgrou d , the great forest

“ of Then we dined , and I had the pleasure a little ! excursion up the Bayou in a pirogue . It was delightful My two oarsmen sent the little bo at swiftly an d silently amidst the white and yellow blossoms wh ich open at dawn and close their sleepy eyes as the sun goes down . From time t o time an alligator raised his ugly head above the

a e d - w t r, showing a ouble row of vicious looking teeth , and then plunged to the bottom when h e perceived our prox i m i ty

a of t h e a Along the b nks B you , separated from one

e of another , at a considerabl distance by vast fields cane

of an and Indian corn , by forests great oaks d other tree s ,

h f n are t e dwellings o the pla ters . From time to time a white sail brought toward us a little fishing smack en route for the great city . “ We spent thus two hours in the midst of these wild

an a n r and picturesque scenes . Then I l ded d pushed f o

. wa s n ward , alone, into the interior There no sou d of h u - 1 39 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISI ANA .

n o of . t o man voice, sign rural labors I seemed be in a solitary forest where man had never before p en et r at d .

a of r ed Birds of a thousand colors , every sh de and hue, ,

w of s blue, bro n and yellow, looked at me with an air sur

so prise , but with little fear that I could almost touch them ere they stirred . How naturally does the soul rise to God when one is thus alone in the presence of the wonders of His creation ! I stopped once to admire a giant oak 200 whose foliage measured full feet in diameter, while its hollow trunk could have sheltered an entire family . Then

I wended my way back and, entering mv canoe , returned to Bonfouca . “ The next day was Sunday , and a festival for the

f f a s ! church of Bonfouca . How di erent w the aspect

m t s - Crowds came fro the vicini y apparently o desert like .

A l l of 1 n ranks society were there assembled , white a d

an d black yet I missed the very people I had come to seek , the dear savages . They simply will n ot mingle with t h e whites , not from timidity , but from native pride . Not so h ' the negro . He wishes nothing bet ter t an appearing i n

h i s company with his erstwhile master, but presence i s not accepted socially, while the Indian refuses all invita tions

T n . o to sociable intercourse see the I dian , therefore , I

o of had to g to the very heart the forest .

Early Monday morn ing I began an excursion in

of search my friend , the Abbe Rouquette , the Apostle of

a the Choctaws in Louisian . I had made his a cquaintance

wa s in New Orleans, and he awaiting my arrival at h i s

r hermitage in order to present me to his pa ishioners . 1 40 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

What an excellent man ! What a good and noble a h a s . heart Adrien Rouquette He is a Creole of Louisian , belonging to one of the oldest families of New Orleans . He made most of his studies in France and possesses a cultivated mind , an elevated intellect, a generous soul

A s filled with th e double love of his God and his country .

e a priest , his burning eloquence drew the entir population

a e of New Orle ns , and as a renown d orator his reputation

r was widespread and well merited . A chbishop Blanc ,

of b predecessor Arch ishop Odin , made Father Rouquette

- his Vicar General , and even dreamed of a still more ex d alte dignity for his favorite , when a decided vocation for solitude and a special attraction to devote himself to the conversion of the Indians , made him a recluse and a true th missionary . He knew the language of e Choctaws and he went to dwell in their midst, built a church and gave i h s time to their instruction .

“ f or s The beginnings were painful , the Indian doe not yield readily . To his native pride is j oined a want of

- confidence in the white race , unfortunately well founded

a in many instan ces . At first the s vages regarded Father

R a s ouquette a government spy, so they watched his every

h i s s movement, placed no reliance in promise and waited

o e e h . proofs in acti ns , more p rsuasiv t an words Later, when h i s entire devotedness showed how worthy he was of a fiecti on their and reverence , they themselves told him of the mysterious, hidden vigilance with which they had

‘ o g uarded his every movement at all times . When y u w ’ andered alone in the depths of the forest, th ey said ,

1 42 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE is on e of those figures s o appealing to an artist where every emotion , every expression lives , speaks and attracts . Such is my dear Abbe R ouquette, whom I love with all my heart . And what s hall I say of the hermitage ? You would

e i have to s ee it to form an idea . Ther s nothing borrowed , no attempt to seek the picturesque , nothing grandiose . All of its poetry is in the simplicity and poverty of the

th e little wooden chapel surrounded by charm of solitude, in this magnificent forest . This is not the first chapel that Father Rouquette built in the midst of an Indian village . The war came , dispersed the Choctaws , burnt their wigwams and confiscated their crops and herds . One

of little church still exists, but, empty robbed all it con i d t a n e a a . , and now st nds desolate ruin “ At th e close of th e war the Indians came hither and

’ grouped their dwellings about the Black Robe s home ,

o . a kn wing that ne r him they will have protection , assist

a ff e ance and the ectionat care of a father . “ T h e home of Father Rouquette, which serves also a s

a a i s of . ch pel , a sort chalet in wood , a square building

T h e surrounded by a gallery . chapel occupies the main p art of the first flo or and the gallery serves a s a sort of

e r vestibule . The chap l is ado ned with engravings, por t s of t i trai hermi s , Dominican saints, among whom s St .

e i s Rose, for Father Rouquett tenderly attached to the

Order of St . Dominic . He even off e red himself once to

a L acor d i a r e our F ther to enter Order, with the intention of bringing a branch of the old tree to plant in the soil of - 1 43 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUI SIANA .

L a cor d a i r e a Louisiana . But Father thought the pl n pre

n mature , and while dissuadi g him from its accomplish ment, encouraged him to persevere in the life of devoted ness he had undertaken for the Indians . Which he did

of L a cor d ai r e and now I , a son Father , have been priv ileged to visit the mission .

“ - t h e The semi twilight , the silence, solitude , all , dis pose the soul for prayer and render the presen ce of God

- an d sensible . But mid day came , my morning excursion

! h ow had whetted my appetite . But, Oh my illusions van

’ i sh ed ! of Instead of the hermit s meal cold water , nuts

n of and dried figs , u der the shade a tree, I found a table f laden with all the delicacies o civilization . What fairy wand had created this feast worthy of a prince ? It wa s all explained when the good Abbe introduced to me h i s brother, Mr . Felix Rouquette, who lives near by , and who , hospitable and generous , as are all these Creole planters,

’ had ordered the repast for his brother s guest . But. I was

off t o n d n impatient to be visit the Indians , a my host e joyed the fervor of my anticipation . After dinner he took N out . ow his stick and we set , ther e are no p aths to b e

’ of tray the presence the Indians wigwams , so to me we

a seemed to wander imlessly . S oon the bark of a d og an n oun ced we that were perceived , and in a few moments

a s we reached a fence , enclosing, here a garden , there a p

n ture . Three Choctaw wome were seated on the ground .

They did not rise , scarcely deigned to look up, and con w tinned their ork . My presence intimidated them , and it was in vain that the Abbe tried to draw them into conver F T HE 1 44 LIFE O ABBE ROUQUETTE,

was sation . The elder woman , evidently the mother,

a weav making a scarlet garment , one of her d ughters was

a ff . T h e ing basket, the other was parching co ee Mongol type i s readily recognized . The Choctaw has the slightly

flattened nose, the almond shaped eye , and the thick lips , while the color i s a copper red . “ Father Rouquette said a few words in Chocta w r e

c garding my presence, and they asked if I ame from beyond

f or a the great lake, raising an inst nt their large timid eyes to look at me , then bending them at once upon their work . The men were away hunting, and the women were sorry not to have some game to offer their Father on the occasion of this visit of the white m an . “ Near by wa s the cone - shaped Wigwam made of cane reed and branches . Within were hung the arms and uten

ki ves . sils , the guns and hunting were all modern I looked

f or in vain bows and arrows , tomahawks and feather dec

o . orations . On the gr und were mats and blankets This was all . Near the cabin was a little fire with a kettle hung over it, and further away a few chickens and the dog com

l et ed p the inventory of this humble home .

“ a sk n of They envy us not , nothi g us but the liberty to live after their own customs , with the forest for their — hunting grounds, the solitude their independence . The Choctaw has preserved many natural good qualities ; aside

h a s from love of drink, which he learned from the whites,

of a n n he is sober, pure morals , hospitable d ge erous . He is happier in giving than in receiving . “ of i s Every violation morals severely punished, and

1 46 O F T HE A B B E LIFE M ROUQUETTE ,

V n of love and praise and gratitude, I prayed to the ir g i

e Mother and to all the saints in Paradis . I prayed for F m m m all , for rance , my other, y brother , y sister, my

r th e —«f or b others in religion , my friends beyond seas

America, for the Indians , in a word for all . “ e n Next morning I rose early, said my Mass , and t lli g my good Abbe Rouquette how happy and grateful I wa s

h i s — for cordial hospitality, I turned mv steps again to ” ward the haunts of civilization .

No words could better describe the mission o f Father

f r R ouquette than this letter o Father Ch oca n e . It shows

- in a most vivid pen picture the work accomplished , both

war n before and after the , and may we not add , duri g the

— a th e war work so enduring that exile, privations and suff erings of those years of strife had obliterated none of

of of the teachings, none the truths Faith from the poor ’ ’ of Indians souls . Christ s message to these children the forest had been heard as well amidst the cannons ’ roar and the thunder of the battle as in the days of peace and pros

’ er i t s p y ; and once the struggle was over, the Ma ter s voice “ : r e i s was heard A is , my beloved , the Winter past and the ” n A n d n rai s are over . they responded to His i vitation

’ an d clustered once more around Christ s representative to hea r the word of eternal life .

“ ’ — One of the Ab bé s beloved nooks was a noble tree i t

- i can be found to day w thi n a few miles of Chinchuba .

H v m i ere he lo ed to ed tate , here he prayed not only for his

I h i s n a s h i s ndian friends , but also for cou try , expressed in - 1 47 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

‘ ’ ’ wn A l E l i s e o beautiful words imer g , c est aimer la

’ ’

et r v . patre , aimer la patrie , c est la se ir par la priere “ His chapels were always built under or near some glorious oak , several of them over abandoned Indian log

a ol d cabins then hundred years , built by the Choctaws

’ before they had seen a white man s face . They are all gone now but one ! It stands on the grounds of the Deaf - Mute — Institution at Chinchuba a Silent companion of the dear ones there whose lives are a s noiseless as this loved relic

h - of t e poet priest . “ The love of solitude seems to have been an inborn — need of h i s soul but i t s inspiration was h i s love of God . The beautiful forests of Louisian a reflected th e beauty of

o their Creator, and within their glo m and glory he felt near to heaven and its King . H E FO R G OM OOD .

Even the best even the holiest, even the most heroic

e — ur p rsons even those which in o poor human judgment, G od should l eave here on earth much longer to continue

t h e f or the great work they are doing for Church , the salva — tion of souls must one day close their tired eyes upon

’ f or this world s scene of action , to open them the eternal contemplation of their reward exceeding great . Sometimes the volume of a life i s ended but i s not “ P a t r i n . m e n t u m . : e u s u s co finished That soul may cry , ” “ m en d a m spi r i t um m ea ns ! but it cannot say : Co n s um mwt um es t a th e , Father, I h ve finished work Thou gavest ” e . me . Could not Adrien Rouquett claim this privilege at the close of his long career ?

- a For twenty eight long ye rs , in hardships and labor, he had devoted himself untiri n gly t o the Chahta Indians

h i s S O and so great was influence , profound the respect he

S O won inspired , unbounded the confidence he , that long

saw of on before he the period his exile earth near its end ,

wa s it well night impossible to find a savage unbaptized,

n uni structed , who did not proudly proclaim allegiance to

a - the faith of Ch hta Ima, as the Indians loved to call their B l ack R o be Father .

’ T oward the beginning of the 80s two ladies of N ew O M rleans were Spending the S ummer in andeville , and

1 50 I L FE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

h t a her little c ild . They tried o interrog te her, but soon perceived that she understood neither French nor Eng lish . Then they endeavored by signs to find out whether i n a . n the i fant had received b ptism This , too , seemed eff ectual till on e of the ladies mentioned the name of Fa

e was n ther Rouquette . At once her fac illumi ed , a flash of comprehension was followed by expressions of j oy and “ th e e reverence, and repeating nam , Rouquette, Rou ” uette - ! q , Chahta Ima she explained by gestures that her little one had received baptism from the venerable Father , and was now a child of God .

How often during the twenty - eight years of h i s apos f olate had not Father Rouquette realized his vision at the

of th e altar, that foresight, as it were, future , when with uplifted monstrance he gave the Savior ’ s Benediction to the kneeling Indians amidst. a scene of sunset glory which cast a halo round the hallowed spot . He had truly made l himself one with his people and gained them a l to Christ . One reason why Father Rouquette chose the “ Nook ” a s t the rallying place for the Choc aws after the war , was because from time immemorial the spot had been sacred to th e Chahta dea d . One of their old pagan rites had been to assemble there yearly to render homage to their a n

cestor s .

a From far and near the Indi ns came , even from

e a s G orgia , Alabama and Mississippi , as well from the

c a most remote se tions of Louisi na, and far from discour

s of c f aging thi remnant paganism , with the instin t born o loyalty to Mother Church , and in imitation of her own

n sa e deeds in paga Rome , the zealous missionary w ther in - 1 51 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

a means of apostolat e . He Christianized the pagan rite , converting it into another day of All Souls . Father Rouquette was sure to be at the place so dear

i fier en t t o to the d tribes , ready welcome the weary pil th e grims , and while pouring balm of earthly consolation

d i st r ib ut upon their bruised feet and fevered bodies , and ing food to the famished multitude, he was no less solici tous by winni n g their love a n d reverence to lead them to

n l their Heave v Father . S o when the wanderers returned to their homes far away they bore with them the seed of

— a of of an d t Faith knowledge the teachings Christ , , of en a great d esire to become worthy children of the great

Spirit. whose minister and representative was the White — - a . Father , the Black Robe Chaht Ima Thus the t iny mustard seed grew into the large and

Spreading tree .

And right here , after considering the mighty work

’ in the Master s vineyard accomplished so lovingly by this w heroic laborer, let us pause and look for ard a quarter

f of h o r o a century . Could the shade Father C ca n e return to the land of the Choctaws ; could the Spirit of the gen er ou s and devoted missionary return with him t o contem

- plate the once loved scene of a great life work, what would they say ? It is n ot given us to know the whys and ’ ’ “ of l I l I m wherefores God s designs man s regard , and the ” i t a ti on of Christ warns us n ot to inquire curiously into

the plans of Divine Providence . Still we are not forbid

d en see to the course of events allowed by God, and there

from d erive spiritual profit . 1 52 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

Where are t h e numerous tribes of Indians e vangelized by Father Rouquette ? Vanished as the mist before the s un h e , as t mark in the water left by the keel of a boat , as

o the passage in the air cleft by the wing f a bird .

an t m The Indi s in er arried with the negro race , and sought new homes at a distance ; and now it i s well nigh impossible to find a full - blooded Choctaw in the old forest homes of Louisiana .

ol d It is but a repetition of the same story, heard long T N E . h s ago in the orth , ast and West e I ndian m ust di appear from the land he once called his own and give place to the onward march of progress following the wake

. t h of the paleface invasion . It all enters into e doma in of the Divine Omniscience .

s or t a s A Father , ra her Canon Sheehan says in his

’ “ “ Parerga The social body is moved ahead along the — wheels of sn fier in g every great forward movement in

h s T h human history a been preluded by conquest . e path

s of progress is the path of pain . Bleached bone and

i ts . broken hearts , mark every inch of way How each tiniest item of creation works outward i I t and upward, subserv ng s ome higher Species . is the a d es n n ltruism of nature , the g of making all thi gs co operate in one single plan , each working for some higher existence th an its own and subser ving some higher and ” i s k en hidden purpose beyond t .

I t a a is be utiful picture to contemplate, this giving

’ of Christ s message to the last members of a race about to disappear, to vanish , from their cherished hunting

1 54 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE, the harvest to call while the garnered sheaf wa s still

h i s within hands .

1 886 r At last the time arrived . In , Adrien became ve y ill , and kind friends were obliged to insist that he permit

t o r the m to take him New Orleans, so that the good Siste s of Charity at the Hotel Dieu might do all that human skill can devi se to keep on earth a soul hom esick f or

n Heaven . They strove by every mea s within their reach to stay the progress of the malady and succeeded for some

e of 1 887 tim in checking its ravages , but with the opening all hope wa s withdrawn . The celestial citizens were claiming their companion and the poor Indians were to

- a . o be deprived of their Father, Ch hta Ima Never m re

. u was he to visit their h mble huts , making them sanctuaries d of Divine consolation as he ministered to the sick , the y

h - r t e . ing, mourner, or the new born child Neve again wa s his revered form to appear at the altar, the inter mediary between them and their God . Never again was h i s dear hand to be raised in benediction over his children h of t e forest .

‘ Hi s hour had come and science, art, love and prayer , all alike , were ineffectual . The Lord will have His way, 1 5 1 887 and on July , , fortified by all the helps of Holy

’ R ou u et t e s Mother Church , Adrien q soul took its flight ’ for the Father s H ome to reap the reward of his long and holy life and labors . All during his long illness the Indians had eagerly gleaned every item of information concerning their Black

’ tR ob e s conditions and now the sad intelligence i s given - POET MI SSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 1 55

them that all is over . Their stoicism vanishes before their

- e o child lik s rrow, and overcoming their natural timidi ty l l and reluctance to mingle with the whites, they forget a

- an a else except that Chahta Ima is dead , d th t they must

a of pay him the l st tribute their love and gratitude . They leave the forest solitudes and walk many a weary mile t o mourn beside the bier of their Father . It wa s all just

h e a a s i as himself would h ve arranged it, and his s mple , humble children of the forest laid their wreaths of wood

in h i s ! land v e and flowers upon grave, his spirit in Heaven mus t have looked down in tenderness and pity and sent earthward on e more benediction upon th e people whom

s he had loved o well .

P oet of purity ! S inger of God ! T h hi y deeds are not dden beneath the green sod . I n of m the annals earth they will ever ore shine ,

A n d of i a place in the glory heaven s thine . P O E M S .

It i s n ot without a profound reason that on e speaks “ ” of it i s a o of the Republic Letters , and with equ l wisd m that Plato wished to banish from h i s Republic al l impious

t e R p oe s , becaus a Republic and true Liberty live by e

i n l i o an d . e s a c g virtue Poets should be sacred sing r , p trioti hymnists .

s Considering poetry from thi high point of view,

of i s a which gives us a correct idea t social mission , I h ve used al l the ta len t which God gave me to glorify His name a n d s a n to er ve my country, to make vice h teful a d virtue

e lovabl .

i s There n o glory where virtue is abs ent .

’ We insert a f ew of Abbé R ouqu ett e s poems in English

and . n ot French The two English ones are translations .

E M WR N G B B E ' PO S ITTE IN EN LISH BY A ROUQ UETTE .

U Y M . NAT RE , MOTHER

0 Nature, powerful , smiling, calm

To my unquiet heart ,

Thy peace distilling as a balm ,

Thy mighty life impart .

1 58 LIF E OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

Thou risest tall

Midst struggling weeds that droop .

Thy lieges all , Most humbly bow and stoop !

! Hail, Passion Flower

e sad ! So sol mn , awful ,

I feel thy power , 0 u ! King, in p rple clad

T o heart of mine

Thou art the emblem dear ,

Of woes divine , The Flower I most revere !

T h e lily white,

The purple passion flower,

S ymbol Mount. Thabor bright The gloomy Olive bower !

i s our Such life, Al terna te joys and woes ;

c Short pea e, long strife, Few friends and many foes .

‘ h ear t awa My , y With wailings here below ; The Royal way — To realms above i s woe ! - 1 59 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

PATRIOTIC POEM .

’ ’ L A m er i ue ! l A m er i ue q , oh q ,

' ’ C est l e pays d u printemps

’ C est l e sejour poétique D e tous l es enchantements !

’ ’ C est l E d e n d e la jeunesse !

l e d u Sur deuil souvenir, I l faut que tout y renaisse !

’ ’ ’ C est l E d en de l A ven i r

La Republique sera benie Malgré la haine des potentats ;

’ ’ E t par l U n i on et l h ar m on i e

l es — o s Grandiront trente tr i Etats .

A m er i ue 0 q , ma patrie ,

ce a Dans gr nd Siecle agité ,

’ ’ N est tu pas l A r ch e chérie

’ Ouverte a l h um an i t é ?

’ N of f r es - tu pas t es savanes

et al Tes forets tes v lons , Aux nombreuses caravanes De toutes les nations ?

’ N a s d es tu pas champs fertiles ,

Entre tes deux oceans ,

’ Pour servir toujours d a S i l es

’ A cent peuples d em ig r an t s ? 1 60 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

r o r es . Au p g , a la science, Ouvre tes bras m aternels ; ’ e A l ame, a la conscienc , Rends tous ses droits éternels !

b an m er e Sous ta celeste , b Abrite la Li erté ,

’ E t sois l A r ch e h ospi ta l i er e ’ De toute l h um an i té !

TRIBUTE TO ORESTE S A . BROWNSON .

e e Oui , j comprends , Brownson, ta haute int lligence

sa n ff e Répandant sur nous tous feco de e ulgenc ,

’ J s t a n d or e comprend Revue, immense mi e

a Riche C lifornie, indigene tresor,

r l i t t er ai r e es A senal , ou nous trouvons d armes

’ ’ et l er r eu d al ar m s Pour vaincre terrasser r pleine e .

TO FATHER HECKER .

J e te comprends , Hecker , avec tes compagnons

D e E t er n el l e l o u en t s la cause e q champions ,

A ot r es d u h é r oi ues ‘ p Pays , q Paulistes ,

E van el i stes De notre Republique ardents g ,

l e Vous que ciel destine a porter de grande coups,

c m et e e a s J vous ai e salue, t j suis vec vou .

1 62 LI FE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

l e d es n -s Pour varier cour plaisirs monoto e ,

Savent comment passer d a theatre an saint - lieu E t d e l a table sainte a la table de jeu !

’ d u t r On e e l a a u Oui , a l aut l , de tombe berceau Tout est enveloppé de notre froid résea u ! De la société nous rongeons l es entrailles ;

i en tOt Le Christ verra b ses grandes funérailles ,

E t l e s a u t monde , soumi cul e des Demons ,

’ ’ N aura d ans l avenir que la f oi ‘ d es Morm ons !

’ L i n t er et et , sans amour , forme dissout les noeuds

’ ’ E t l e lit nupt ial n est qu un sepulcre aff reux !

LA POESIE E ST S A I NTE !

‘ ’ ’ L a Muse de l autel peut s a pp r och er sans crainte

L e a l e l e . B rde , apres p retre , est roi dans saint lieu ; ’ t ! La langue de David , c es la langue de Dieu

’ La poesie es t sainte ! et l E gl i se inspirée

’ N a e jamais récusé cette langue sacré ,

’ l en cen s l es et Avec , fleurs , les presents divers,

’ Le poet fid el e a d roit d off r i r ces vers !

’ ’ l E l l i S u s Oui , g e a to jour accueilli d un sourire

’ Le fil s de l h ar m on i e i n cl i n e s ur sa lyre !

’ E t c quand tout s en allait, roulant de toutes parts,

’ ’ L E l i se a u d es f ut l A r ch e d e -A ts ! g , sein flots , s Beaux r

’ ’ l au - On e sait, aujourd hui , c est elle Moyen Age l e es d . Qui , riche de tr sors , sauva a naufrage Lorsque la nuit pesait s ur tout l e genre humain - 1 63 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

s a Elle seule tenait un flambeau dans main . L a poesi est sainte ! Autrefois l e poete

’

ai ou . E t t pontife roi voyant , juge ou prophete

’ ’ ’ a n our d u aut r ef oi s Le poete j hui n est pas moins q , La harpe de David vibre en cor so n s ses doigts !

D S n esi u s ites y , Gregoire , Apollinaire

’ s d Hom er e Si vous avez marché sur les trace ,

fl eur s Si vous avez orné de la verite,

’ ’ J us u a u a q pied de l autel si vous vez chante , E t si vos chants, echos des hymnes angéliques ,

’ l es Ont transporté d amour peuples Catholiques,

! - e l e n Oh dites, ai j en vain regu meme d o ,

E t dois - j e pour mes vers implorer l e pardon ?

’ E st - cc pour qu elle reste inutile et muette Que Dieu mit une lyre dans m on coeur de poete ?

LE SOL NATAL .

s ol ! l Le natal chaque homme a tout sol e prefere,

e i l a ° Comm a toute autre femme , prefere s mere

E t est l de son nom blessé chaque homm e e vengeur, Comme i l avenge s a mere atteinte en son honneur !

’ ’ ! u un e ! Une mere pour nous, ah c est plus q e femm

A m er i ue Ton sourire, q , a fasciné mon ame ;

’ E t s il reste un obstacle entre l e ciel et m oi

’ l e e A m er i ue ! Oui, dernier obstacl , q , c est toi

’ ! t i n sul t n t ! Ah malheur a tous ceux qui e , ma mere LIFE O F T HE ABBE ROUQUETTE

s e Car mon amour , ému de toute a coler

’ fil s s a ec D un en vengeance , imitant les ex s,

’ ’ l rait jusqu a s ar m er pour qu i l s soient expulsés !

’ l i n st i n ct a l e Oui , fili l , oui, patriotisme

’ un av en l e un C est g instinct , jaloux fanatisme

’ C est aimer et hair avec notre Pays ;

’ ses m ! C est aimer a is , hair ses ennemis

sa Celui qui entendre injurier mere ,

E t n e r e on d s a e qui p pas, dans saint colere

E t n e sa m en acan t qui tire pas glaive ,

’ E t qui n e frap pe pas ce fil s n a pas de sang !

TO THE CHURCH IN AMERICA .

’ ’ ’ L E l i se d A m er i u e d es oi r g q , en qui tant p brille

’ De l E gl i s e Romaine est la plus jeune fil l e

’ a . et d aven i r R yonnante de gloire pleine .

Gl oire aux Etats - U nis ! Gl oire a l a Republique !

Rome étend chaque j our s a. main pour l a b en i r !

u et Gloire a toi , je ne libre Eglise Catholique,

b ail l n n er . et t es Pour o ta presse restreindre droits ,

’ a s un un — Tu n as p sabreur, Napoleon Trois .

1 66 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

’ - - e d ? hésiterais j e u n moment ! . Mais ici qu ai j a crain re

' ’ L i i n i s m a d r esse m es J e parle a des ou s a a ; j e a freres , a ’ — A m é r i e L e - e e s d u . amis q dirai j , Messieurs , j me sen

’ i et n e et rassuré , comme S j etais en famille, e touré de frer s

’ ’ a e d amis dévoués ; c est que j e connais votre bienveill nc ,

’ vous m avez deja donné des témoignages Si éclatants de

’ ’ a ! t e l es votre vive symp thie e j e sens, c t auj ourd hui surtout que ma voix amie et fraternelle trouvera u n écho

et oe sympathique , dans les jeunes c urs enthousiastes qui

et an co al d es me comprendront , d s les eurs plus c mes sages vieillard s qui me jugeront . ’ ’ ’ u un e n o J e n ai q crainte, Messieurs , c est de pouvoir

’ m es l es et traduire , par faibles paroles , toutes pensées tous

’ les sentiments que ce jour m i n spi r e ; toutes les em ot i on s surtout que votre p r esen ce r éveille au fond de mon ame ; m ais vos coeurs suppléeront f a ci l m en t a ce qui manquera a mes paroles ; vous devinerez cc que j e n o pourrai exprimer . ’ ’ l e e a n i l e Auj ourd hui, vous comprenez , j n a rai temps , n i l a d e force surtout de rien développer , rien démontrer j e n e ferai que quelques r ef l exi on s rapides ; j e n e pourrai

’ u i n di uer et e q q quelques grandes fécondes vérités, que j

o m ed i t ti n s umettrait a vos a o s profondes . ’ E t d ab or d i l i l , Messieurs , y a plus de quatre Siecles,

’ ’ n u l i d é e vint a homme d un Nouveau Monde . Christophe Colomb ( cc nom a quelque chose qui rappelle l a Co l om be

’ envoyée de l A ch e- Sainte pour découvr ir la terre apres l o d el u e I n s l r a g ) , Christophe Colomb eut donc une grande p

’ ’ tion ; i l fit voile vers l O cci d en t ; i l s aven t ur a dans d es

et um et mers inconnues ; j our , apres une longue périlleuse - 67 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA . 1

l e se m a n i fi ue d a navigation , soleil , en levant g q , fit surgir

’ sein des ondes i nexplorées l e Monde inconnu qu ava i t deviné

’ : cc n !— E t son génie Monde, Messieurs , c est otre patrie

’ ’ i l - t l a e y a trente cinq ans, l etoile brillan e de Louisian s est ajoutée a la radieuse constellation qui décorait deja l a zone

’ ’ L i n d é en d an ce d azur d u dr apeau american . p de la Loni

a é t é d c siane proclamée ; indépen ante , elle a parti ipé aux

et . l a bienfaits a la gloire de la République , elle a j oui de ’ i a sa . A our d h u liberté que lui assur it constitution j , voyez

- sa fil l e a la Nouvelle Orleans , inee ; comme une reine riche

’ s su r l e d e l i d é a l d es l euves ment parée , elle est as ise bord f

’ ’ ’ L r e i n a i a l s . ex ss on v g b e ( p n est pas d e moi , elle est d un

’ ‘ l l e- l . ouve o étranger ) La N Orléans, c est e plus vaste entrep t ,

’ ’ ’ l l e n c l c est e point plus importa t , est a clef, c est la reine l ’ d u Midi et de O ccid en t . Elle domine par sa position ; ell e

s es l a l a est riche surtout de produits agricoles, richesse l plus réelle . Par e nombre d es navires et des bateaux a

’ l es vapeur qu elle charge chaque année , elle étonne mers ,

l e et a les ports étrangers , fleuve toutes ses br nches tribu

’ l - tai r es . a oe Elle est s ur jumelle, l égale de New York . Elle

” forme avec l a cité d u No rd l es d eux poumons des Etats

- l a s et . Unis . Oui , Nouvelle Orlean New York , voila l es deux poumons puissants qui an iment l e commerce ; les deux

’ s l es - poumons par lesquel respirent Etats Unis . C est de ces

’ ’ . c d s é h a n l deux poumons, c est de e ouble foyer que c pp e t e

l e ui mouvement , fluide vital q circulent toutes les veines

’ - de l U n i on Américaine .

ouvel l e- La N Orléans, Messieurs , noble cité ouverte a

a l es n h O S i l i t ns étrangers la Louisia e, terre p ta er e et gene 1 68 LIFE OF . THE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

“ ! I l est reuse une vertu , nous dit Ciceron , que Theo “ ’ h ast e et p loue entre toutes les vertus , cette vertu , c est “ ’ ’ l h s i tal i t é ! f o p Rien , en e fet, n est plus beau que de voir “ les maisons des indigenes ouvertes aux étrangers ; i l y va “ ’ ’ l a l E tat i l a l i n t é r et et . d u de gloire de , y v meme de ” ! ’ crédit de ceux qui aspirent a gouverner . Eh bien j ose

’ l e r es en ce d é t r an er s l es dire ici , en p de tant g , enfants de

é é et t l a Louisian e ont toujours t hospitaliers généreux ; e ,

L oui a cause de leur généreuse hospitalité , Dieu a béni la

l flor i s san t e a et a . si ne , Louisiane a prospéré , elle est Qui pourrait pressentir tout es les graces que Dieu lui r eser ve dans l ’ avenir ? On peut dire seulement que les passé de la Louisiane est un préjugé légitime en faveur de s on avenir de bonheur et de gloire .

L es s t fete nationales , Messieurs , son des fetes religieuses ;

’ rien de cc qui intéresse 1 a patrie n est étranger a l a religion

’ a i l E l i se l e c a toutes les gr ndes v ctoires , g fait retentir hant

’ d u T D m et d a t i on s e eu , cette hymne sublime de louange c de

un graces . Dans cette cathédrale meme, vénérable prélat,

l e 6 l a vous vous rappelez , vétérans de glorieuse journée , m on sei n n eur g Dubourg, en présentant a u général une cou

d e l e a d u l or i eux r ronne lauriers , salu titre de libérateu ' g ’ et d s ec on d sa u veur d e l a at r i e — C est ue l e e p , q Seigneur,

om i n us d eu s ewer oi tuum r é Dieu des armées , D , ; celui qui p

’ side aux évolutions militaires , comme a celles de l huma

n l e et nite , qui i spire courage distribue la victoire , Dieu avait été l e premier sauveur de la patrie !

t l e d a Oui , tout en admiran génie militaire général , s n s r e s a a ien diminuer d gloire et de notre reconnaissance,

0 1 7 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE, anime ; sa grande ame plane et veille au - dess us de nous ; n s o courage est héréditaire .

sa r i l e i l Jackson a aimé p at ie , a combattu pour ell ; a fait tout ce que son amour lui a i n S p i r é pour la rendre heu

il u et a . I l reuse floriss nte était homme , a p se tromper ; mais i l l e l e i l a a voulu bien , nous croyons ; a tout f it, selon ses

- l e b on h eou r et l a d es t . convictions , pour gloire E ats Unis

sa Le génie militaire de Jackson , son courage, perse

’ vé r an ce et son sa et l ex é cuti on énergie , conception rapide

’ e con cu presque aussi rapide de c qu il avait , tout cela est

t ou a é té et ad mi r e incontesté, cela reconnu par les Amé

e l es a au ricains , comm par étrangers, en dec comme dela

’ i - o d u uer r er est . de l cean . La renommée g donc universelle ’ N a an t d u a e a - n o y a parler que 8 j nvier, j devr is peut etre

d l e l e consi érer dans Jackson que soldat heureux , guerrier

e intrépid .

Cependant i l est un fait de sa. vie ci vil l e sur lequel

’ ’ a el l l er ait r un j pp toute votre attention , parce qu il enferme

l a e s es profond enseignement, vous e s v z , dan d circonstances

’ a é t ai t . l critiques, croy nt que c e seul moyen d e sauver la

l oi m or t i s l e patrie, Jackson proclama la .

e n e r et en d s as d u ( Messieurs , j p p juger droit de Jack

’ a son , de la lég lité de l acte ; j e cite seulement ce fait a fin de

a u n est con se u en c t r pporter autre fait, qui en une q e, e qui

s l ’ e t une gloire pour e général . Je n ai aucune opinion

e n e d u a politique ; j veux en exprimer aucune, surtout h ut

de cette chaire sacrée . Si donc quelques unes de mes expressions pouvaient etre interprétées dans l e sens d ’ un

u o c l e é a oun e parti politique q elc nque , e sens, j e d s v ! ) - 1 71 POET MISSIONARY OF LOUISIANA .

Jackson trouva donc que les législateurs se livraient a ’ - i l un d es discussions oiseuses et trop lentes . Des lors , s eleva

n conflit entre l e pouvoir civil et l e pouvoir militaire . Da s

u n se a ar son cette lutte , juge distingu surtout p opposition

s on courageuse . Le général , croyant temps trop précieux

e r m a i r es a r r et er pour l e perd re a disput r su des t e civiles , fit

’ ’ I l n e l e magistrat et l él oign a de la ville . pensait qu on

’ m r d es l a devait pas s a u se a raisonner avec paroles , quand

’ a d eci d er l e-s s p trie était menacée , mais qu on devait chose

l r a ti o u l t i m o avec e canon , la derniere raison des peuples,

a / o a p p M mm .

t or L a vi c oi r e ou l a m t ! tel avait été son cri de ralliement .

’ l l r B i n t c d u en er a a m é e . e t O A c cri g , fut électrisée , la victoire

n n s ayant couro é ses armes , pendant que les vaisseaux anglai

d es o d e n l e 23 l e fuyaient loin c tes la Louisia e, janvier , gen er al vainqueur fit son en t r ee triomphale a la Nouvelle Orléans aux acclamations unanimes d e toute la population

- a au . r reconn issante , accourue devant de lui Le magist at

se et e courageux , de retour de son exil , portant juge parti

sa con d an m n dans propre cause , a Jackson a une amende de “ - i l . e d mille piastres Général , lui dit , j vous regar e comme l e l a l sauveur de patrie ; mais , pour avoir désobéi a a ma

i str at ur e g , j e vous condamne a une amende de mille pias ” ’ i n ua i . n vo a n s tres Jackson q pour s justification, a victoire , n i cette ancienne maxime d es Romains : en t er ar m a si l en t

l e es e-n d e l es ] s g , temps guerre , lois sont muettes . 1 e soumit

’ ’ l aut or i té i l l i n st an t a civile ; acquitta a cette somne, en “ ces o : disant mémorables par les Juge , cette meme épée

ui d a s d ’ l q a servi a éfendre la p trie vou défen rait , s il e f al 1 72 LIFE OF THE ABBE ROUQUETTE

” e t sa o d a i l lait ; , a s rtie tribun al , fut porté en triomphe

’ s u a s j u q a d emeure .

a u d u l o Sublime exemple , milieu succes militaire plus

l a éclatant , de la soumission plus humbl e aux lois et a

’ ‘ l a r i s ur l e ut o t é civile . Admirez Jackson champ de

l l e bataille ; admirez e soldat courageux , guerrier couronné

’ e a d m i r e l par la victoir ; moi, j e Simple citoyen qui se laisse

’ ’ et a et l ex em l e j uger cond mner , qui donne p de l obeissance

’ ’ al a ut or ité légitim e qu il avait cru pouvoir violer dans une circonstance tout exceptionnelle on i l fallait sauver la patrie .

t i l u au : i n t er ar m si l n Sans dou e, aurait p dire juge a. e t l l e s e . I l g e , quand canon gronde , les lois sont muettes s ’ est tu !

’ C est. que Jackson aimait son pays ; i l savait que ce

’ un l e l es qui rend Etat florissant, c est respect pour lois

’ ’ ’ et l aut or i té d u t l a , c est la sainteté sermen , c est justice ,

’ ’ c est la vertu , c est la religion .

i l s d ev0 1 r s . Oui , Messieurs , savait que tou les peuvent

l es l se concilier, parce que tous devoirs , comme toutes es l es t l vérités , sont solidaires ; oui tous devoirs e toutes es

’ l or d r e et vérités dans religieux , civile politique .

Tous les pouvoirs légitimes aussi , parce que tous vien

t d e s e e S nen Dieu , peuvent concili r, e maintenir dans

’ ’ ’ l é ui l ib r e et l h ar m on i e S i l h ar m on i e q ; mais est détruite ,

’ ’ confli t . i l n a s s il y a entre les divers pouvoirs , alors y a p a ’ i l u aux hésiter ; vaut mieux obéir a Dieu q hommes . ’ R en z D i eu e ui es t d D i eu et a é s ar d e d c q , C cc qui est d ’ ’ é r E t ob é i r ai l autor i t é et C s a . moi aussi , j a civile politique ;

B 1 74 LIFE OF THE A BE ROUQUETTE,

on ses parents les plus chers , reposent les cendres de ses

’ ’ oui l l a r e-n ti ssa et d es et l a peres , fit pp ge l essai vertus de

’ ’ et gloire . La patrie , en tant qu elle est sacrée qu elle doit

t l oii l e l etre chérie e défendue , est dans e pays beau e bien , l e e bon sont en bonheur , ou la vérité est connue t la vertu tolérée .

’ ’ E t oil a s il n , en effet, Messieurs , serait la p trie y avait

’ s si n é t ai en t ? i l pas d e lois ou les lois pas exécutées Non ,

’ l s ol L i d é e n e faut pas prendre e pour la patrie . de patrie

’ est une idée complexe ; l amour de la patrie se compose , pour

l a oe les sociétés civilisées, de religion , des lois , des m urs ,

’ et d es d u et . des souvenirs espérances , passé de l avenir ' e d u oe d u On peut distingu r trois patries , celle c ur , celle

’ l r a devoir ci celle de i n té é t . Je regretter i toujours la pre

d a cmur c e e miere , la patrie , par e que j suis homme t que

’ ’ ’ rien de l homm e n e m est étranger ; j ab an d on n er ai au plus

et grand nombre , a la foule cupide matérialiste , la patrie

’ ’ l i n té r é t et e m att a ch er a i d u de , j inviolablement a la patrie l et d u . e a un s en devoir sacrifice Oui , vr i patriotisme est t i m en t et t a la fois naturel , politique religieux , e voila ce qui explique la supériorité d es chrét iens dans leur amour

’ ’ pour la patrie ; voila cc qui explique l h é r oi sm e de leurs

et vertus de leurs sacrifices , la constance de leur abnega tion “ L es A lm er i cai n s S i com l , dit Tocqueville , confondent , p é t em en t dan s leur esprit l e christianisme et la liberté ( et

’ ’ a out er a i l e i m o moi j j patriotisme ) , qu il est presque p s

’ ’ ’ posible de leur faire concevoir l un sans l autre ; et cc n est ’ poi n t chez eux l une de ces croyances que l e passé legue - Y 1 5 POET MISSIONAR OF LOUISIANA . 7

au r esen t t p , e qui semble moins vivre que végéter a u fond “ ’ ” d e l ame . Quels sont donc nos d evoirs envers l a patrie ? Nous lui

n os devons nos biens , talents , notre vie . Nous lui devons ’ l ’ e . l i n t é r t nos biens , c est plus petit sacrifice Le bien , e

u l particulier doit céder a bien général . Qui sert e public

r se t chaque individ u .

n os et vi e Nous lui devons talents notre . “ l e d e s Parmi peuple Dieu , nous dit Bo suet , dans les “ ’ l E tat l e ’ besoins de , tout monde était obligé d all er a l a t e . S i guerre, voila p ourquoi les armées étaient nom ” ’ l E r i t u r b r eu ses . c e n l Nous lisons, dans Sai te, que es sol dats commandés par Machabee étaient p r et s a mourir pour

o et e r o l e i ba s cl a tr i a m om: a/r ati leurs l is l ur patrie , p g p p . ’ ’ o i l sa a C est qu il est d ux , est beau de mourir pour p trie , meme aux yeux d ’ un pai’ en

l r u ce et d eco um e st r o at r i a m r i . H r D p p o ( o . )

’ Vous rappellerai - j e une loi de l a Grece sur l amour de la patrie ?

Les jeunes A th é n i en s parvenus a vingt ans se conso “ cr ai en t a la p atrie en p r ét an t l e serment qui suit : Je com

“ ’ us u a i n té r ets battrai , j q mon dernier soupir, pour les de

“ ’ l a religion et de l E t a t ; j e combattrai avec les autres

’ i n S l . e citoyens , seul , faut Je contribuerai jamais a rendre

ma patrie malheureuse, mais j e contribuerai de tout mon

l e pouvoir a a rendre florissante . Je S rai soumis aux ” s et l e magistrat aux lois . Admirable serment , que plus sublime amour d e l a patrie pouvait seul inspirer ! 1 76 U LIFE OF THE ABBE RO QUETTE,

’ ’ L es B ab l on e n on t d a utr e et Juifs , captifs a y , j oie ’ d aut r e consolation que celle que leur donne l e souveni r d e “ r u sal m N on s o s s o m m e as s i s ar l e b ar d d es l euv s Jé e . n u s s f e

’ d e B a b l on e d i s en t - i l s et I d n o as av n s l eur e en n ous y , , o p “ d n n o h ar s ou n a n e i n N o ns a oon s . s n s en s es an d: ve t d S o . p p . “ ’ sa a l e ui cr oi ss en t cl an s l a t er r e d ewi l et n ous s om m es s q , “ ’ ’ ' m t s m m en t mon s - n on s ch a/nt r es t es u e . C o an e a n

“ can ti qn e d e j oi e da n s u n e t er r e

T h é m i st o l e a u n c , banni en Perse ,posséd nt immense

l e territoire , comblé de bienfaits par roi étranger , oublie

’ cc l en t our e et s tout qui dans Magnésie , demand e a es

’ O d an S l A t ti ue amis de porter ses S q .

l e l Aussi , vous vous rappelez , Messieurs , Virgile, e l cygne harmonieux de Mantoue, voulant peindre e tendre

’ et impérissable amour d un citoyen vertueux pour sa

un e patrie , Virgile nous montre jeun Grec mourant sur

’ et au e une terre etrangere , , moment qu il xpire , occupé d u seul souvenir de sa chere Argos

n r m i n i i r E a d ul ces m or i e s e sc t ur A g os .

’ S é cr i ait 6 m a m er e ! Thebes , Pindare ,

’ ces l a n t i ui té Mais , apres exemples touchants de q sacrée

’ er m i tt ez- et poétique, p moi , Messieurs , de vous citer l ex

’ il P r em pl e non moins touchant d un jeune Sauvage ex é a a i s .

I l se nommait P ot av é r i : ce n om est devenu synonyme

’ x i l e a d amour de la patrie . Cet enfant e ét it triste , malade

’ et languissant i l n e pouvait s e consoler d etre S i loin de la

’ l o e et foret natale . Pour distraire , l amitie ingénieus deli

’ d l e et d u cate, apres l avoir promené ans Musée les galeries

1 78 or T HE LIFE ABBE ROUQ UETTE,

’

. O b ei r . D eo est la liberté a Dieu , c est etre vraiment libre

‘ r r l i ber t a e t a e e s s é n e ue . p . Ce sont les paroles de S q La raison ’ d de l homme est émanée e la raison divine et souveraine ,

’ et c est en l a soumettant volontairement a cette raison que

’ r a i son ab l e es t . l homme , créature , vraiment libre La liberté consiste donc a etre soumis aux lois éternelles de

’ ’ ’ l or d r e ! t con n avoi r d aut r es . Quoi la liber é pourrait sister a

’ s es et ce lois que désirs ses passions, a faire tout que l on

! ! n on l e veut Oh , messieurs , celui qui fait mal est esclave ;

’ ’ ’ i l n a v er teux y que l homme de bien , l homme , qui soit libre !

L a e liberté , c est la faculté de choisir ; mais cett

’ ' m - l e l o l i at i on faculté , re arquez bien , implique b g de choisir

’ ’ l e d es et bien . L homme est libre , parce qu il a devoirs ,

’ ’ ’ l ex er ci ce sa l a ccom l i ssem en t de liberté, c est p de ses devoirs .

N on n e , la liberté consiste pas a etre affranchi de tous l es d . evoirs , a etre indépendant de tout supérieur La liberté

’ 5 e la plus grande , la plus pure , laquelle l homme puiss

’ u n aspirer raisonnablement, c est de vivre sous gouverne

’ I l n l a on ment . juste . y a de vraie liberté que regne la

s a et ju tice , la justice que Ciceron ppelle la reine la maitresse d e toutes l es vertus : h ae e en i m u n a vi r t ue

f n i r e l tr m om u m es t d o mi n o, et g/i n a o t ut u

’ d e l a et Mais avec l amour patrie , avec la liberté la

’ i l l - u l e e . ce justice, faut courage Qu est q e courage , Mes

’ ? s u r l e sieurs Le courage , champ de bataille , n est souvent

’ ’ ’ l ff e n d n b el l i u ese s u r que e t momenta é u e ardeur q , d une

l e ( l e d e excitation causée par bruit les armes , mouvement - 1 79 P O E T M I S S I O N A R Y OF L O U I S I A N A .

’ ’ i l un l ar m é e et meme l od eur de la poudre . Mais est

et courage plus calme , plus constant , plus difficile , par

’ . l e l e cela meme plus rare , c est courage civil , courage

l e politique, courage moral qui résiste aux menaces , aux

£1 . promesses , toutes les séductions Le courage dans les chambres, dans la magistrature, dans toutes les positions i l sociales ofi y a de grands d evoirs a remplir , de grands

’ ’ s im os er l on sacrifices a p , et rencontre des périls sans

’ n a s d u nombre qu il faut affronter . J e e vous parle p courage religieux ; celui - la est invincible ; i l brave les tyrans et et I e i l les bourreaux , la hache feu ; triomphe de toutes les tortures et se réj ouit sous la palme d u martyre .

et Amour de la patrie , liberté , justice courage, voila ,

Messieurs, les vertus républicaines les plus vitales . Les

n e d e peuples , comme les individus , vivent pas seulement

’ pain et de spectacles ; l e bien - etre m ater i el n est p a s l e seul

’ - u i l bien etre q s recherchent . Les peuples , comme les indi I l et . vidus , vivent de vérité de vertu faut que Dieu préside

i l ’ l et a leurs hautes destinées, faut qu il les éc aire les guide

e dans leur marche vers n u avenir de bonheur t d e gloire .

’ l il l é ch o Je e sais , Messieurs , y a eu de aujourd hui ,

’ vo ztt e n l es sous cette sacrée , toutes les fois que j ai pro oncé i ’ i et t . . a t mots de patrie de liber é Mais , plaise a D eu qu il

’ eu aussi um écho intime et universe] toutes les fois que j ai

’ ’ l e m ot n ! prononcé de religio C est que la religion , c est l a

’ d es oe et d e s s - base m urs lois , c e t la sauve garde de la justice

’ et d e l e l es la liberté , c est pal adium d républiques commes des monarchies . Vous avez sans doute compris et ad m i r e les trois I HE 1 80 LIFE OF ABBE ROUQUETTE,

' couleurs symboliques d u drapeau américain . Le fond

’ ’ d é toil es l e d a zur semé , nous rappelle ciel , la p atrie de

l d a notre ame immortelle ; e rouge, couleur éclatante

r é t s martyre, marque que nous devons etre toujours p a verser notre sang pour notre patrie , a mourir glorieuse

l e l e l a a ment pour a république ; t blanc , couleur virgin le ,

’ nous commande 1 a bonne foi et . l in oor r upti b il ité dans

et toutes nos relations commerciales , civiles politiques ;

’ ’ i i i r dans toutes nos relations d am t é et d n t é é t .

m s - e l e e l e r o O e chers concitoyens , oserai j prédir , p clamer avec une conviction profonde d u haut de cette chaire : n u jour viendra on For et l es plaisirs cesseront

’ d etre l e mobile. l e plus puissant de notre societe ; 1 a r e

’ l i i on a l es r i t g se propagera , elle régner parmi nous ; p de

l e o e l et Dieu pénétrera dans c eur de cett societe nouvel e , i 1 d e y aura encore nobles dévouements , des vertus h é r oi ques : l e génie et l a vertu sont impérissables dans

’ ’ l h um an i t é l a n a n n n en un ; comme mer, ils b a d o t rivage que

’ pour se porter vers un autre rivage ; l e feu sacré de l amour

’ l a et n e s é t ei n t de patrie , de la j ustice de la liberté dans

’ un oe u n . t c ur que pour se rallumer dans autre Oui , c es

’ ’ l or d r e d es o vi el l i s une loi de providentiel , qu a m ndes succede un nouveau monde

’ ’ L A m é r i ue l A m é r i ue e st et e ° q est jeune , q grande fort ’ l A m er i que est appelée a de m ag n i fiques d es tinées ; la civili

’ s l e o ation , comme soleil , marche l rient en Occident .

n e s Sparte , Athenes , Thebes , Carthage , sont plu ; mais

’ ’ l A m é r i a l A tl an t i ue d d e u e. q a surgi sein q Le passé , les

’ ’ o a l es souvenirs sont pour l rient l venir , espérances p our

1 O F T HE 82 LIFE ABBE ROUQUETTE, profit d es passions i n fim es et des besoins i n at é r i el s de

’ ’ ? ! e a o et l homme Oh Messieurs , j proteste , nom de l ame

’ l i n tel l i en ce a u d a st de g , nom génie , qui e lui aussi une

’ d i n S i r a ti on d e au n om d e sorte p ivine ; j proteste, la philo

et e sophie de la religion , oui , j proteste contre cet abus de

’ et d e l i n d u str i ! est la science e modernes La science bonne,

’ l i n d u st r i e est un moyen de prospérité ; mais i l faut p our

’ cela qu elles servent a u développement des nobles facultés

o que nous av ns recues de Dieu .

’ i l n d r Messieurs , y a e bonheu pour les peuples , comme

’ i l n a pour les individus ; y de force , de grandeur, de

’ g loire véritables que d ans la vertu : la vertu est l ame de l a

’ et - l e i l n a societe ; , croyez , y de vertu solide , constante ,

: incorruptible , immortelle, que dans la religion la religion est l ’ ame de la vertu !

i d et Relig on , amour e la patrie , j ustice , liberté courage,

. l es e voila donc mots que j voudrais voir scintiller, en letters

l e l radieuses, sur drapeau de a république de Washington .

“ ’ 0 république de I V ash i n gt on ! s est écrié L a cor d ai r e

’ a ot r e l a cet éloquent p de jeunesse francaise , que n a tourné ses yeux vers toi dans ces moments 0 11 la patrie

’ ’ ! n e fatigue Qui s est assis , dans la pensée, a l ombre des ’ l A r i forets et des lois de m é qu e l . A D D E N D A .

POEM OF ABBE ROUQUETTE .

s . B . E .

TR ANSLATED FR O M THE FR E NC H

S on ! Adrien , Can the sad words be true You are scorning the language your infancy knew " D oes t h e cold Saxon speech appeal to your heart Where only the music of France once had part ? Do y ou forget h ow my love wa s expressed In the songs which I sang a s you lay on my breast ? Has French lost to you all its melody rare ? Do you no more f or its harmony care ?

! son And the voice of your Muse It gave you, my ,

a All the honor and glory your verses h ve won . Then scorn not the language you lisped in your youth ;

o f a d It taught you the lessons virtue n truth .

’ i t an swer ed Heed a mother s fond prayer , be ' by you,

I ! To God , to your country, to me, this S due 1 84 or T HE LIFE ABBE ROUQUETTE,

f w The following partial Addenda o Choctaw ords ,

’ ' R ou uette s a written by Abbé q own h nd, show a beautiful devotion to a mother’ s wishes and a touching promptness

- son in obeying them . She had pleaded with her poet ( see p oem ) never to prefer the Saxon tongue to his own native

French . Notic e how the translation of the Choctaw vocabulary

ve s opens with fi word in English , then suddenly that language ceases , and is not used again in the entire work of many hundred words !

FR O M EXTRACT VOCABULARY .

Toli stone b i h I hullo, ahui love ( verb ) b Nan i hullo , heh a ni love ( noun ) U b a a n u m p a iksa To play tricks Iti wi sak ch i tree t op

S h ut i k

N i sh k ob o .

I k oul a

Noti .

Sinti .

S h i l uk . Hopi

Ch uku sh fi O .

K a t u t s .

L I FE O F T HE E ABB ROUQUETTE ,

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 pere mere dormir douleur p ar esseur faible Onna matin Opia soir Hocha riviere

d os Noli . I bb ak main A ka ku sh i poule hache joug Chito grand I ski t i n i p etit

. profond K of ota vapeur Hokch i pla n ter K l am pko puissance Hoyo chercher Ho p o yuk s a sage h t Na e . frere

Tchouka - hanta calybite qui habite une cabane u n blanc adieu - M O F POET ISSIONARY LOUISIANA . 1 87

It is remarkable that the Choctaws had single words

our complicated expressions of relationship .

- - i k instance Brother i h law was m al a . “ ” - i n - Sister law was ipo . “ ” - i n - Uncle law was iki . “ Hi s - s sh i step son wa u t ob a . “ - i n - a s i m Her father law w af o . “ - i n - i oh h i His father law was p c . “ - i n - i k n i Her mother law was po . “ n akfish Her younger sister was . “ a kn Her eldest sister w s a i . or C A LIFO R N IA

U N IV E R SIT Y O F CALIFO R N IA LIB R AR Y Lo s An g el es

D E n h a m T h i s book i s U o t e l st d at e st a p ed bel ow .

— For m L 9 1 5m ( B 1 0 3 9 444