Louise Burke is an advice columnist who lives in the French Quarter of New Orleans, on Barracks Street, between Chartres and Royal. Each afternoon, her Chihuahua, Bucephalus, rests on her lap as Louise answers mail and prepares her column.  

Lanky and over six feet tall, Louise is easy to spot as she walks Ceph through the streets of the Quarter and the adjoining Faubourg Marigny.

She attended school at Yoknapatawpha Community College in Mississippi, where she majored in Pugilism. Later, she took a Master’s in Oenology at the Culinary Institute of Bogalusa. Louise made New Orleans her home in 2011.

Louise is a distant niece of the famous William Burke, of Edinburgh, Scotland. In the early 19th century, William and his colleague W. Hare established the Burke & Hare Medical Charity.  Some of his effects are on display at the Anatomical Museum of Edinburgh Medical School.  

Sensitivity and charm are the guideposts Louise follows in her written advice. “Sweet macaroon Jesus,” Louise penned to one letter-writer. “You know, you have a lot in common with the cosmos. Scientists are still looking for intelligence there.”

Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes the reason is you’re stupid and make bad decisions.

Marion G. Harmon, Ronin Games

Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking.

The Scarecrow, The Wizard of Oz.

There is no sin except stupidity.

Oscar Wilde

If people learn by doing stupid things, you must be the most educated person here.

Louise Burke

If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can’t it get us out?

Will Rogers

No one’s ever cornered the stupidity market.

Louise Burke

_______________________________

Banner credit: Wikimedia Commons