    /**
     *  call-seq:
     *  new(host, port, socket, user, password, retrytime, tries)
     *
     *  Initiates a connection to "host" on "port" or to the unix "socket" on
     *  the local machine and authenticates with "user" and "password".  Failed
     *  connections will be retried for "tries" times on interval "retrytime".
     *  If "tries" is 0 then retries will continue forever.  If "retrytime" is 0
     *  then retries will be attempted on a default interval.
     *  If the "socket" parameter is nether nil nor "" then an attempt will be
     *  made to connect through it before attempting to connect to "host" on
     *  "port".  If it is nil or "" then no attempt will be made to connect
     *  through the socket.*/
    static VALUE sqlrcon_new(VALUE self, VALUE host, VALUE port, VALUE socket,
                                    VALUE user, VALUE password,
                                    VALUE retrytime, VALUE tries) {