Jane Austen discussion

A holiday excerpt (both Christmas and Chanukah) from Celestial Persuasion...

15th of January, 1813
Buenos Aires

Dear Captain Wentworth,

I apologize for not returning your kind letter with greater alacrity. There has been a flurry of activity and I have been remiss in keeping up with my correspondence. I shall pen a letter to Lord Fife as well, for I have not heard from the earl and I begin to worry. I do hope you enjoyed a happy Christmas, even though I must assume you are away at sea. Mrs. Frankel and I commemorated the Chanukah holiday, lighting the chanukiah we brought from home and partaking in our traditional foods. That being said, the holiday season is not quite the same in Buenos Aires; and I wonder how you would fare here, sweltering in the heat and humidity whilst eating your fill of goose and plum pudding set ablaze in brandy sauce.

Now that I have had my fun, shall I tell you my news?

After just a few months of courtship, Mr. San Martín and Miss Escalada were married on the 12th of September in the Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy. As you may well imagine; it was the first time I had set foot in a Catholic church and I was uncertain of the proceedings and protocol. In the end, I found the entire ceremony of great interest, with some similarities to my own faith, and could not help but be moved by the beauty of the bride and the look of adoration in her eyes. I wish them happy, naturally, but was saddened to hear some local gossips commenting on Mr. San Martín’s ulterior motives. His marriage to such a family will aid his career, they said, and will help solidify his standing among those who still consider him an outsider. I cannot countenance this way of thinking, for truly, I have never seen a man more besotted. But then again, I have not had the pleasure of seeing you alongside your Miss Anne. Yes! I will speak of your lady, Captain.

Perhaps having been a witness to such a ceremony has made me a romantic. I would encourage you to make amends with Miss Anne, as soon as you are able. Your concerns seem to be of little consequence, for I believe the lady would be a great comfort to you. Think of your sister, Sophia. Have you not said it yourself? She has been Admiral Croft’s dearest and constant companion. It appears clear to me, they have the ideal marriage: an equal partnership if you will. Do not deny yourself the same happiness.

I have done on that delicate subject and will now write of something dear to my own heart. I own it must be tiresome to hear me speak of it again, but I long to continue the work of the Herschels! Decades ago, William Herschel coined the phrase “planetary nebula” to describe certain circular shapes he observed through his telescopes. I consider it a misnomer, but I fear I do not have the proper instrumentation to support my hypothesis! If only I could invent the tools needed to research these objects, but I fear I lack the talent, to say nothing of the time. Therefore, I have at last decided: I am for Rosario, in the area known as Santa Fe. There, on my father’s property, I hope to continue with my discoveries, or at the very least, the witnessing of other activities. Caroline Herschel had the means to dedicate herself to her passion. I am persuaded that I must take this time for myself; for soon, I will have to dedicate myself to the academy. I will not forsake my brother’s dream.

I have been warned by Señora Tavares to expect nothing but natives and gauchos and the simplest forms of accommodation. Naturally, I have made enquiries on my own; I would not be going traipsing off ill prepared, as Mr. Gabay suggested. But that is neither here nor there. The point of the matter is that Rosario seems to be quite a charming sort of place. I have been told that there are several important country estates that date to the early 1700s and it seems that the people of Rosario have been great supporters of the cause. I am certain that even Mr. Gabay must rest assured of my safety in such a place. Regardless of that gentleman’s opinion, I worry not for the surroundings, nor for the comfort of my lodgings. I long for peace and solitude and time to contemplate the heavens. Time will tell whether I find that which I seek. I hope to share my findings with you when next I write. I pray for your continued safety and good health.

Sincerely,
Abigail J. Isaacs

Happy Holidays, any and all you celebrate